1 Samuel 15:17

When thou wast little. A literal translation of the Hebrew of v. 17 permits either the rendering, “Though [or, when] you [were] little in your own sight, [were] you not [made] head of the tribes of Israel?” or, “Though you [are] little in your own sight, [are] you not head of the tribes of Israel?” In the Hebrew text the verbs are implied rather than expressed, and translation into English requires that they be supplied. Assuming that Samuel here refers to a past experience, the KJV uses the past tense, whereas the RSV and other modern translations consider that he is thinking of Saul’s statement of v. 15, and so addresses him in terms of the present. The KJV understands Samuel to be drawing a contrast between Saul’s previous humility and present pride, but the RSV and others take the statement as a contrast between Saul’s expressed subordination to the will of the people (v. 15), a false humility, and his divine appointment as their leader (v. 17).

The phrase, “the Lord anointed thee king over Israel,” appears to be simply a repetition of the preceding statement, “Wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?” Furthermore, Saul had accounted for his conduct on the basis that it was “the people” who had kept “the best” of the spoils — implying that he had not been able to restrain them (v. 15). According to the RSV, Samuel challenged Saul’s evasion of responsibility — “you are little in your own eyes,” that is, unable to exercise effective control over your men — with a solemn affirmation that he was their leader. In vs. 17-19 (see vs. 1-3) Samuel then proceeds to remind Saul of his personal responsibility in the matter: The Lord had (1) anointed him king, and thus leader of all Israel, (2) sent him against the Amalekites, and (3) commanded him to destroy them utterly. Why had he not obeyed? The question of obedience is ever central in our relations to the God of heaven.

According to the KJV, Samuel was here reminding Saul of his statement at the time of his anointing (ch. 9:21), when from a humble position he had been elevated to be the leader of Israel. It is not God’s plan to place His servants where they cannot be tempted, nor is it His plan to thrust them into the midst of temptation, where, when they yield, He must forgive and then permit them to continue in sin. Rather, it is His desire so to reclaim them that they can win the battle against sin here and now. The Holy Spirit led Christ into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan (Mark 1:12). Saul was given unmistakable evidence that the Lord loved him and would be his constant helper. He could never charge that God, knowing his egotistical nature, failed to give him every opportunity to make good and to overcome his bad traits. The fact that God gave him another heart (1 Sam. 10:9) did not mean that Saul could not return to his old manner of life if he so desired. Would Saul exalt himself? Then God must humble him.