1 One|strong="H1697" day Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H7586", “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" anoint|strong="H4886" you|strong="H7971" king|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" people|strong="H5971" Israel|strong="H3478". Now|strong="H6258" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H5921" message|strong="H1697".
2 The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" All-Powerful says|strong="H0559": ‘When|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" came|strong="H5927" out|strong="H0853" of|strong="H3068" Egypt|strong="H4714", the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6002" tried to|strong="H0559" stop them|strong="H0853" from|strong="H3478" going|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0559" Canaan. I|strong="H0834" saw what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6002" did|strong="H6213".
3 Now|strong="H6258" go fight against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Amalekites|strong="H6002". You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" completely|strong="H3605" destroy|strong="H2763" the|strong="H3605" Amalekites|strong="H6002" and|strong="H0376" everything|strong="H3605" that|strong="H0834" belongs to|strong="H5704" them|strong="H0853". Don’t|strong="H3808" let|strong="H6258" anything|strong="H3605" live; you|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" and|strong="H0376" women|strong="H0802" and|strong="H0376" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0376" their|strong="H3605" children|strong="H5768" and|strong="H0376" little|strong="H5768" babies|strong="H0802". You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" kill|strong="H4191" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0376" their|strong="H3605" cattle|strong="H7794" and|strong="H0376" sheep|strong="H7716" and|strong="H0376" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0376" their|strong="H3605" camels|strong="H1581" and|strong="H0376" donkeys|strong="H2543".’”
4 Saul|strong="H7586" gathered|strong="H6485" the|strong="H0853" army|strong="H5971" together|strong="H5971" at|strong="H7586" Telaim|strong="H2923". There were|strong="H0376" 200,000 foot|strong="H7273" soldiers|strong="H0376" and|strong="H3063" 10,000 other|strong="H0376" men|strong="H0376", including the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" Judah|strong="H3063".
5 Then|strong="H0935" Saul|strong="H7586" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0935" Amalek|strong="H6002" and|strong="H0935" waited in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" valley|strong="H5158".
6 He|strong="H6213" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Kenites|strong="H7017", “Go|strong="H5927" away|strong="H5493"! Leave|strong="H5493" the|strong="H3605" Amalekites|strong="H6002". Then|strong="H0859" I|strong="H4714" won’t destroy|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0859" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3605" Amalekites|strong="H6002". You|strong="H0859" showed kindness|strong="H2617" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" when|strong="H1121" they|strong="H0559" came|strong="H5927" out|strong="H0413" of|strong="H1121" Egypt|strong="H4714".” So|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" Kenites|strong="H7017" left|strong="H5493" the|strong="H3605" Amalekites|strong="H6002".
7 Saul|strong="H7586" defeated|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6002". He|strong="H0834" fought them|strong="H0853" and|strong="H0935" chased them|strong="H0853" all the|strong="H0853" way|strong="H6440" from|strong="H0935" Havilah|strong="H2341" to|strong="H0935" Shur|strong="H7793", at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" border|strong="H0935" of|strong="H6440" Egypt|strong="H4714".
8 Agag|strong="H0090" was|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" Amalekites|strong="H6002". Saul captured|strong="H8610" Agag|strong="H0090" alive|strong="H2416". Saul let Agag|strong="H0090" live|strong="H2416", but|strong="H4428" he|strong="H0853" killed|strong="H2719" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H5971" in|strong="H4428" Agag’s|strong="H2763" army|strong="H5971".
9 Saul|strong="H7586" and|strong="H6629" the|strong="H3605" Israelite|strong="H3808" soldiers|strong="H5971" felt bad about|strong="H5921" destroying everything|strong="H3605". So|strong="H3808" they|strong="H5921" let|strong="H3808" Agag|strong="H0090" live. They|strong="H5921" also|strong="H0853" kept the|strong="H3605" fat cattle|strong="H1241", the|strong="H3605" best|strong="H4315" sheep|strong="H6629", and|strong="H6629" the|strong="H3605" lambs|strong="H3733". They|strong="H5921" kept everything|strong="H3605" that|strong="H3605" was|strong="H7586" worth keeping. They|strong="H5921" didn’t|strong="H3808" want|strong="H0014" to|strong="H5921" destroy|strong="H2763" those|strong="H3605" things|strong="H3605". They|strong="H5921" destroyed only|strong="H3605" what|strong="H2896" was|strong="H7586" not|strong="H3808" worth keeping.
10 Then|strong="H1961" Samuel|strong="H8050" received|strong="H1961" this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068":
11 “Saul|strong="H7586" has|strong="H3068" stopped|strong="H7725" following|strong="H0310" me|strong="H0413", so|strong="H3808" I|strong="H3588" am|strong="H3068" sorry|strong="H5162" that|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" made|strong="H7725" him|strong="H0413" king|strong="H4428". He|strong="H3588" is|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" doing what|strong="H1697" I|strong="H3588" tell|strong="H3605" him|strong="H0413".” Samuel|strong="H8050" became|strong="H2734" angry|strong="H2734" and|strong="H6965" cried|strong="H2199" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3605" night|strong="H3915".
12 Samuel|strong="H8050" got|strong="H7925" up|strong="H7925" early|strong="H7925" the|strong="H0559" next|strong="H3027" morning|strong="H1242" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" meet|strong="H7122" Saul|strong="H7586". But|strong="H2009" the|strong="H0559" people told|strong="H5046" Samuel|strong="H8050", “Saul|strong="H7586" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" Carmel|strong="H3760". He|strong="H1242" went|strong="H0935" there|strong="H2009" to|strong="H0559" set|strong="H5324" up|strong="H7925" a|strong="H0935" stone monument|strong="H3027" to|strong="H0559" honor himself|strong="H3027". Then|strong="H2009" he|strong="H1242" left|strong="H3381" there|strong="H2009" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" down|strong="H3381" to|strong="H0559" Gilgal|strong="H1537".”
13 When|strong="H0935" Samuel|strong="H8050" came|strong="H0935" near to|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H7586", Saul|strong="H7586" greeted|strong="H1288" him|strong="H0413" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" bless|strong="H1288" you|strong="H0859"! I|strong="H1697" have|strong="H0859" obeyed the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" commands|strong="H0559".”
14 But|strong="H8085" Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559", “Then|strong="H2088" what|strong="H4100" is|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" sound|strong="H6963" I|strong="H0834" hear|strong="H8085"? Why|strong="H4100" do|strong="H4100" I|strong="H0834" hear|strong="H8085" sheep|strong="H6629" and|strong="H6963" cattle|strong="H1241"?”
15 Saul|strong="H7586" said|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0853" soldiers|strong="H5971" took|strong="H0853" them|strong="H0853" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6003". They|strong="H0834" saved|strong="H3498" the|strong="H0853" best|strong="H4315" sheep|strong="H6629" and|strong="H0935" cattle|strong="H1241" to|strong="H0559" burn as|strong="H0834" sacrifices|strong="H2076" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430". But|strong="H3498" we|strong="H0834" destroyed everything|strong="H0834" else.”
16 Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H7586", “Stop! Let|strong="H7503" me|strong="H0413" tell|strong="H5046" you|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" told|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" last night|strong="H3915".”
17 Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559", “In|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" past you|strong="H0859" didn’t|strong="H3808" think|strong="H5869" that|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0859" were|strong="H3478" important, but|strong="H0518" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" chose|strong="H4886" you|strong="H0859" to|strong="H0559" be|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428". So|strong="H3808" you|strong="H0859" became the|strong="H0559" leader|strong="H7218" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" tribes|strong="H7626" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478".
18 The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H7971" you|strong="H7971" on|strong="H1870" a|strong="H7971" special mission|strong="H1870". He|strong="H5704" said|strong="H0559", ‘Go|strong="H7971" and|strong="H3068" destroy|strong="H3615" all|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6002". They|strong="H3068" are|strong="H3068" evil people. Destroy|strong="H3615" them|strong="H0853" all|strong="H5704"! Fight|strong="H3898" them|strong="H0853" until|strong="H5704" they|strong="H3068" are|strong="H3068" completely|strong="H3615" finished|strong="H3615".’
19 So|strong="H6213" why|strong="H4100" didn’t|strong="H3808" you|strong="H6213" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" LORD|strong="H3068"? You|strong="H6213" did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H4100" the|strong="H0413" LORD|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0413" is|strong="H3068" wrong|strong="H7451" because|strong="H0413" you|strong="H6213" wanted to|strong="H0413" keep|strong="H6213" what|strong="H4100" you|strong="H6213" took in|strong="H0413" battle.”
20 Saul|strong="H7586" said|strong="H0559", “But|strong="H8085" I|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" obey|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068"! I|strong="H0834" went|strong="H0935" where|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413". I|strong="H0834" destroyed all the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6002". I|strong="H0834" brought|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" only one|strong="H0834"—their|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4428" Agag|strong="H0090".
21 And|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3947" soldiers|strong="H5971" took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H3947" best sheep|strong="H6629" and|strong="H3068" cattle|strong="H1241" to|strong="H3068" sacrifice|strong="H2076" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3947" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" at|strong="H3068" Gilgal|strong="H1537".”
22 But|strong="H2009" Samuel|strong="H8050" answered|strong="H0559", “Which pleases the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" more: burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" sacrifices|strong="H2077" or|strong="H8085" obeying|strong="H8085" his|strong="H3068" commands|strong="H0559"? It|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" better|strong="H2896" to|strong="H0559" obey|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" than|strong="H2896" to|strong="H0559" offer|strong="H2077" sacrifices|strong="H2077" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H6963". It|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" better|strong="H2896" to|strong="H0559" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H6963" than|strong="H2896" to|strong="H0559" offer|strong="H2077" the|strong="H0559" fat|strong="H2459" from|strong="H8085" rams|strong="H0352".
23 Refusing to|strong="H3068" obey is|strong="H3068" as|strong="H1697" bad as|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0853" sin|strong="H2403" of|strong="H4428" sorcery. Being stubborn and|strong="H3068" doing what|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3588" want is|strong="H3068" like|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0853" sin|strong="H2403" of|strong="H4428" worshiping idols|strong="H8655". You|strong="H3588" refused to|strong="H3068" obey the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" command|strong="H1697", so|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" now|strong="H3588" refuses to|strong="H3068" accept you|strong="H3588" as|strong="H1697" king|strong="H4428".”
24 Then|strong="H0853" Saul|strong="H7586" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samuel|strong="H8050", “I|strong="H3588" have|strong="H1697" sinned|strong="H2398". I|strong="H3588" did not|strong="H3588" obey|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" commands|strong="H0559", and|strong="H3068" I|strong="H3588" did not|strong="H3588" do|strong="H8085" what|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3588" told|strong="H0559" me|strong="H0413". I|strong="H3588" was|strong="H3068" afraid|strong="H3372" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971", and|strong="H3068" I|strong="H3588" did what|strong="H1697" they|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559".
25 Now|strong="H6258" I|strong="H6258" beg|strong="H4994" you|strong="H7725", forgive|strong="H5375" me|strong="H4994" for|strong="H3068" doing this|strong="H6258" sin|strong="H2403". Come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H4994", so|strong="H6258" I|strong="H6258" may|strong="H4994" worship|strong="H7812" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068".”
26 But|strong="H3588" Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H7586", “I|strong="H3588" won’t|strong="H3808" go|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H3588". You|strong="H3588" rejected|strong="H3988" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" command|strong="H1697", and|strong="H3068" now|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" rejects|strong="H3988" you|strong="H3588" as|strong="H1697" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478".”
27 When Samuel|strong="H8050" turned|strong="H5437" to|strong="H5437" leave, Saul|strong="H2388" caught|strong="H2388" Samuel’s|strong="H8050" robe|strong="H4598". The|strong="H2388" robe|strong="H4598" tore|strong="H7167".
28 Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H0559", “In|strong="H5921" this|strong="H3068" same|strong="H4480" way|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" torn|strong="H7167" the|strong="H0853" kingdom|strong="H4468" of|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478" from|strong="H4480" you|strong="H5414" today|strong="H3117". He|strong="H3117" has|strong="H3068" given|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" kingdom|strong="H4468" to|strong="H0413" one|strong="H4480" of|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" friends|strong="H7453", a|strong="H5414" man who|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" a|strong="H5414" better|strong="H2896" person|strong="H0413" than|strong="H4480" you|strong="H5414".
29 The|strong="H3588" one|strong="H0120" who|strong="H1931" lives forever|strong="H5331", the|strong="H3588" God|strong="H3808" of|strong="H3808" Israel|strong="H3478", does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" lie|strong="H8266" and|strong="H3478" will|strong="H3478" not|strong="H3808" change|strong="H5162" his|strong="H3588" mind|strong="H5162". He|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" not|strong="H3808" like|strong="H3808" a|strong="H3588" man|strong="H0120" who|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" always|strong="H5331" changing his|strong="H3588" mind|strong="H5162".”
30 Saul|strong="H0559" answered|strong="H0559", “All right, I|strong="H6258" sinned|strong="H2398"! But|strong="H3513" please|strong="H4994" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H4994". Show|strong="H5973" me|strong="H4994" some|strong="H5971" respect in|strong="H0430" front|strong="H5048" of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0559" leaders|strong="H2205" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478". Come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H4994" so|strong="H6258" that|strong="H3068" I|strong="H6258" may|strong="H4994" worship|strong="H7812" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430".”
31 Samuel|strong="H8050" went|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" with|strong="H3068" Saul|strong="H7586", and|strong="H3068" Saul|strong="H7586" worshiped|strong="H7812" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068".
32 Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559", “Bring|strong="H5066" King|strong="H4428" Agag|strong="H0090" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" Amalekites|strong="H6002" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413".”
33 But|strong="H3651" Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Agag|strong="H0090", “Your|strong="H3068" sword|strong="H2719" took|strong="H0853" babies|strong="H0802" from|strong="H6440" their|strong="H3068" mothers|strong="H0517". So|strong="H3651" now|strong="H0802", your|strong="H3068" mother|strong="H0517" will|strong="H3068" have|strong="H0834" no children|strong="H7921".” And|strong="H3068" Samuel|strong="H8050" cut Agag|strong="H0090" to|strong="H0559" pieces|strong="H8158" before|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" at|strong="H3068" Gilgal|strong="H1537".
34 Then|strong="H5927" Samuel|strong="H8050" left|strong="H5927" and|strong="H1004" went|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" Ramah|strong="H7414". And|strong="H1004" Saul|strong="H7586" went|strong="H5927" up|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H0413" home|strong="H1004" in|strong="H0413" Gibeah|strong="H1390".
35 After|strong="H5921" that|strong="H3588" Samuel|strong="H8050" never|strong="H3808" saw|strong="H7200" Saul|strong="H7586" again|strong="H3254". Samuel|strong="H8050" was|strong="H3068" very|strong="H5704" sad for|strong="H3588" Saul|strong="H7586". And|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" was|strong="H3068" very|strong="H5704" sorry|strong="H5162" that|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" had|strong="H3068" made Saul|strong="H7586" king|strong="H4427" of|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478".