וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֤וּל אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל֙ חָטָ֔אתִי כִּֽי־עָבַ֥רְתִּי אֶת־פִּֽי־יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ כִּ֤י יָרֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע בְּקוֹלָֽם׃
At sinabi ni Saul kay Samuel: “Nagkasala ako, sapagkat nilabag ko ang utos ng Walang-Hanggan at ang iyong mga salita; sapagkat natakot ako sa bayan, at pinakinggan ko ang kanilang tinig.”
Tze'enah Ure'enah
“Saul said to Samuel” [15:24]. Saul said: I have sinned that I have transgressed the words of God and also your words. I was afraid of the people and I listened to them. Therefore, I ask you to forgive my sins and go with me that I will ask God that He should pardon me. Samuel responded: I will not go with you. You have shamed the words of God. Therefore, God will not have you as a king. Samuel wanted to turn away to go and Saul held him and tore his garment. Saul held on strongly to Samuel’s garment and that is why the garment of Samuel tore.
Rashi
I feared the people. [Referring to] Do'eg, the Edomite,27 He was the head of the Sanhedrin and was considered a giant in his Torah scholarship. See Maseches Sanhedrin 106b. who was as important as all of them.