Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 15:23

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry : because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king .

i. e. Disobedience to Gods express Precept, which was Saul's case.

Is, though not so great, yet as inexcusable and impudent a sin, as Witchcraft; as plainly Condemned, and as certainly Destructive and Damnable.

Either, wilful and presumptuous sin, whereby a man violently breaks loose from Gods command, and resists his Authority: Or rather, Perseverance or Contumacy in sin, justifying it, and pleading for it, which was Saul's present crime.

Or, the Iniquity of Idolatry; this being an Hendiadis; as Iudgment and Iustice, Deut. 16. 18. is put for the Iudgment of Iustice, or Iust Iudgment. Or, Idolatry (for so the Hebrew word Aven, signifies, as Ier. 10. 15. Hos. 4. 15. and 10. 5. Compare with 1 King. 12. 29.) even the Teraphim, which is here mentioned as one of the worst kinds of Idolatry.

i. e. Hath pronounced the Sentence of Rejection: for that he was not actually Rejected or Deposed by God, plainly appears, because not onely the People, but even David, after this, owned him as King; and Samuel, at Saul's desire, did honour him; i. e. own him as King, before the People, v. 30.

Marginal references: Heb. divination.; See Isa. 66. 3. Heb.