1 Samuel 15

Chapter 15

Saul Destroys the Amalekites

1 One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the LORD who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the LORD!2 This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.

3 Now go and completely destroyt the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”
4 So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.5 Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley.

6 Saul sent this warning to the Kenites: “Move away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites packed up and left.
7 Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt.8 He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else.

9 Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

The LORD Rejects Saul

10 Then the LORD said to Samuel,

11 “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.

12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”

13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the LORD bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the LORD’s command!”

14 “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.

15 “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!”
“What did he tell you?” Saul asked.
17 And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel.18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’

19 Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?”
20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.

21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

22 But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the LORD:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king.”

Saul Pleads for Forgiveness

24 Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.

25 But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the LORD.”

26 But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the LORD’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.28 And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.

29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”
30 Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

31 So Samuel finally agreed and went back with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Samuel Executes King Agag

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, “Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!”t

33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul.

35 Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.

1 SAMUEL 15

Saul Disobeys the [Lord]

1  t One day, Samuel told Saul:
The [Lord] told me to choose you to be king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the [Lord]:

2 t “When the Israelites were on their way out of Egypt, the nation of Amalek attacked them. I am the [Lord] All-Powerful, and now I am going to make Amalek pay!

3 “Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don't have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.”
4 Saul sent messengers who told every town and village to send men to join the army at Telaim. There were 210,000 troops in all, and 10,000 of these were from Judah. Saul organized them, 5 then led them to a valley near one of the towns int Amalek, where they got ready to make a surprise attack.

6 Some Kenites lived nearby, and Saul told them, “Your people were kind to our nation when we left Egypt, and I don't want you to get killed when I wipe out the Amalekites. So stay away from them.”
The Kenites left, 7 and Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilaht to Shur, which is just east of Egypt. 8 Every Amalekite was killed except King Agag.

9 Saul and his army let Agag live, and they also spared the best sheep and cattle. They didn't want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak.t

The [Lord] Rejects Saul

11 “Saul has stopped obeying me, and I'm sorry that I made him king.”
Samuel was angry, and he cried out in prayer to the [Lord] all night.

12 Early the next morning he went to talk with Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to Carmel, where he had a monument built so everyone would remember his victory. Then he left for Gilgal.”

13 Samuel finally caught up with Saul, t and Saul told him, “I hope the [Lord] will bless you! I have done what the [Lord] told me.”

14 “Then why,” Samuel asked, “do I hear sheep and cattle?”

15 “The army took them from the Amalekites,” Saul explained. “They kept the best sheep and cattle, so they could sacrifice them to the [Lord] your God. But we destroyed everything else.”

16 “Stop!” Samuel said. “Let me tell you what the [Lord] told me last night.”
“All right,” Saul answered.
17 Samuel continued, “You may not think you're very important, but the [Lord] chose you to be king, and you are in charge of the tribes of Israel. 18 When the [Lord] sent you on this mission, he told you to wipe out those worthless Amalekites.

19 Why didn't you listen to the [Lord]? Why did you keep the animals and make him angry?”
20 “But I did listen to the [Lord]!” Saul answered. “He sent me on a mission, and I went. I captured King Agag and destroyed his nation.

21 All the animals were going to be destroyedt anyway. That's why the army brought the best sheep and cattle to Gilgal as sacrifices to the [Lord] your God.”
22 “Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the [Lord] really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him.

23 Rebelling against God or disobeying him because you are proud is just as bad as worshiping idols or asking them for advice. You refused to do what God told you, so God has decided that you can no longer be king.”
24 “I have sinned,” Saul admitted. “I disobeyed both you and the [Lord]. I was afraid of the army, and I listened to them instead.

25 Please forgive me and come back with me so I can worship the [Lord].”

26 “No!” Samuel replied, “You disobeyed the [Lord], and I won't go back with you. Now the [Lord] has said that you can't be king of Israel any longer.”
27  t As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the edge of Samuel's robe. It tore! 28 Samuel said, “The [Lord] has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he will give it to someone who is better than you.

29 Besides, the eternalt God of Israel isn't a human being. He doesn't tell lies or change his mind.”

30 Saul said, “I did sin, but please honor me in front of the leaders of the army and the people of Israel. Come back with me, so I can worship the [Lord] your God.”
31 Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the [Lord].

32 Then Samuel shouted, “Bring me King Agag of Amalek!”
Agag came in chains, t and he was saying to himself, “Surely they won't kill me now.”t

33 But Samuel said, “Agag, you have snatched children from their mothers' arms and killed them. Now your mother will be without children.” Then Samuel chopped Agag to pieces at the place of worship in Gilgal.
34 Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his home in Gibeah.

35 Even though Samuel felt sad about Saul, Samuel never saw him again.

The [Lord] Chooses David //To Be King