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Why Samuel changed his mind
1 Samuel 15:24-31 (JDV)
1 Samuel 15:24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed Yahveh’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.
1 Samuel 15:25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship Yahveh.”
1 Samuel 15:26 Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of Yahveh, Yahveh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
1 Samuel 15:27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore.
1 Samuel 15:28 Samuel said to him, “Yahveh has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.
1 Samuel 15:29 Furthermore, the Endless One of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”
1 Samuel 15:30 Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to Yahveh your God.”
1 Samuel 15:31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to Yahveh.
Why Samuel changed his mind
Samuel “finally yielded to Saul’s pleading, but not until he had, by his stern and solemn acts and words, made on his mind deep and lasting impressions of God’s anger against him. It was also one object of his turning with Saul to execute the judgment of God upon the king of the Amalekites.” (Whedon, D. D., Daniel Steele, and Milton Spenser Terry. Commentary on the Old Testament. New York: Nelson & Phillips, 1875. p. 397).
