Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!” Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 32. Trembling. Hebrew “and Agag came to him delicately.” Septuagint “trembling,” ( Bible.) or walking with a soft step, or “with bands or chains;” mahadannoth. See Pagnin. Menochius.—Some think that he presented himself boldly, like a king, fearing nothing. Vatab.—Manner. Hebrew “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” I have obtained pardon from Saul. But the sense of the Vulg. seems preferable, as he must have perceived, from the looks of the prophet, that death was hanging over him. Hence others translate, “is pouring upon me,” instead of, is past. Septuagint “Is death thus bitter?” Chal. “I pray my Lord: the bitterness of death.” Bible.—O death! how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath peace in his possessions, and so forth Sirach 41:1. So Aristotle (Nicom. iii. 6.) says, “Death is most terrible, (περας γαρ) for it is a passage,” or separation, from all the things which could attach a man to this world. Calmet.—This catastrophe of Agag and Saul, had been long before predicted. Numbers 24:7. Bible.