1 Samuel 15

1Samuel said to Saul, “Yahweh sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. So now listen to the words of Yahweh.

2This is what Yahweh of Armies says: ‘I have taken note of what Amalek did to Israel, how they opposed them on the way as they came up out of Egypt.

3Now go and strike Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

4So Saul summoned the people and mustered them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers, and ten thousand men from Judah.

5Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.

6Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go away! Leave the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

8He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and he completely destroyed all the people with the sword.

9But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fattened calves and the lambs, and everything that was good. They were unwilling to destroy them completely. But everything that was despised and worthless they completely destroyed.

10Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel:

11“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to Yahweh all night.

12Early in the morning Samuel got up to meet Saul, and Samuel was told, “Saul went to Carmel and set up a monument for himself there, and then he turned and went on down to Gilgal.”

13When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said to him, “May Yahweh bless you! I have carried out the command of Yahweh.”

14But Samuel said, “Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of cattle that I hear?”

15Saul answered, “They brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to Yahweh your God, but the rest we completely destroyed.”

16Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.

17Samuel said, “Though you were small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel.

18Then Yahweh sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go and completely destroy those sinners, the Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’

19Why then did you not obey Yahweh? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do what was evil in the sight of Yahweh?”

20Saul said to Samuel, “But I did obey Yahweh. I went on the mission Yahweh sent me on. I brought back Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

21But the people took from the plunder sheep and cattle, the best of what was devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.”

22Samuel said, “Does Yahweh delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen is better than the fat of rams.

23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has rejected you as king.”

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I have disobeyed the command of Yahweh and your instructions, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them.

25Now please forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship Yahweh.”

26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you as king over Israel.”

27As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.

28Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.

29And the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

30Saul said, “I have sinned. But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship Yahweh your God.”

31So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh.

32Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” Agag came to him confidently. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

33But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” Then Samuel cut Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.

34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home at Gibeah of Saul.

35Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. Yahweh regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.