Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 13:9
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
9. Bring hither a burnt offering, &c.] “Bring hither to me the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings,” which were ready, awaiting Samuel’s arrival.
he offered the burnt offering ] The same phrase is used of David (2Sa 24:25), and Solomon (1Ki 3:4), and probably does not mean that they actually performed the sacrifice themselves, If they did do so, it must be inferred that it was lawful for the king to act as priest. At any rate there is no hint here that Saul’s sin consisted in the usurpation of priestly functions.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
There is a difference of opinion among commentators whether Saul himself offered the sacrifices prepared for Samuel, thus entrenching upon the priests office; or whether he ordered the priests to sacrifice, as Solomon did. In the latter case his sin consisted in disobeying the word of God, who had bidden him wait until Samuel came. And this is, on the whole, the more probable; since Samuels rebuke says nothing of any assumption of priesthood, such as we read in the case of Uzziah 2Ch 26:18.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. And he offered the burnt-offering.] This was most perfectly unconstitutional; he had no authority to offer, or cause to be offered, any of the Lord’s sacrifices.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Either himself; or rather by the priest, as Solomon is said to offer, 1Ki 3:4. Compare 1Sa 1:3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9-14. Saul said, Bring hither aburnt offering to me, and peace offeringsSaul, thoughpatriotic enough in his own way, was more ambitious of gaining theglory of a triumph to himself than ascribing it to God. He did notunderstand his proper position as king of Israel; and although awareof the restrictions under which he held the sovereignty, he wished torule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power both in civil andsacred things. This occasion was his first trial. Samuel waited tillthe last day of the seven, in order to put the constitutionalcharacter of the king to the test; and, as Saul, in his impatient andpassionate haste knowingly transgressed (1Sa13:12) by invading the priest’s office and thus showing hisunfitness for his high office (as he showed nothing of the faith ofGideon and other Hebrew generals), he incurred a threat of therejection which his subsequent waywardness confirmed.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Saul said,…. Being impatient, and seeing the people deserting him apace, and unwilling to engage in a battle without first sacrificing to God, and imploring his help and assistance:
bring hither a burnt offering to me; that is, a creature for a burnt offering, a bullock, sheep, goat, or lamb:
and peace offerings; which also were either of the herd, or of the flock:
and he offered the burnt offering; either he himself, or by a priest. In this unsettled time, while the tabernacle, altar, and ark, were at different places, and not yet fixed, it is thought that such who were not priests might offer, and that in high places, and where the tabernacle and altar were not.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) Bring hither a burnt offering to me.It has been supposed by many that the greatness of the sin of Saul consisted in his offering sacrifice with his own hand, but not a hint of this is anywhere given us. It is more than probable that the sacrifice which was offered so prematurely in the absence of the seer of God was performed by the hand of Ahiah the priest, who, no doubt, was in attendance on the king. No unlawful assumption of priestly functions, as in the case of King Uzziah (2Ch. 26:18), is anywhere charged on Saul.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. He offered the burnt offering We need not suppose that Saul offered this sacrifice with his own hand. As we have observed on chap. 1Sa 7:9, the presence of priests on such occasions is naturally understood, and no specification of that fact was necessary. So Saul’s blowing of the trumpet (1Sa 13:3) throughout all the land is not to be understood of his personal act. The command, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, is but a part of the order to offer such sacrifice in his presence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
Ver. 9. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering. ] The heathens also were wont to sacrifice before they went to war: whence also they called a sacrifice hostia, from the enemies they went against. It was Saul’s error here, that he thought God would be pleased with the external act of sacrifice, though it were not offered up in faith and obedience. Luther a calleth such hypocrites Cainists. But what saith a reverend man b here? If Saul were among the prophets before, will he now be among the priests? Can there be any devotion in disobedience? O vain man! what can it avail to sacrifice to God, against God?
And he offered the burnt offering.
a Luth., in Decal.
b Dr Hall.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
offered = offered up. See App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he offered: 1Sa 13:12, 1Sa 13:13, 1Sa 14:18, 1Sa 15:21, 1Sa 15:22, Deu 12:6, 1Ki 3:4, Psa 37:7, Pro 15:8, Pro 20:22, Pro 21:3, Pro 21:27, Isa 66:3
Reciprocal: 1Sa 19:13 – a pillow 1Sa 28:18 – obeyedst