1 Samuel 15:20–35
20 “But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered.C “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”u
Does the Lordv take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.w
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,x
and defiance is like wickednessy and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.z
24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned.aa I have transgressed the Lord’s commandab and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. 25 Now therefore, please forgive my sinac and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”
26 Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord,ad the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you todayae and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.af 29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israelag does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”ah
30 Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor meai now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.”aj 31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.
32 Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of Amalek.”
Agag came to him trembling,A for he thought, “Certainly the bitterness of death has come.”B,C
As your sword has made women childless,
so your mother will be childless among women.a
Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.
34 Samuel went to Ramah,b and Saul went up to his home in Gibeahc of Saul. 35 Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again.d Samuel mourned for Saul,e and the Lord regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.