1 Samuel 15:6-31

6But Saul said to 1the Kenites, “Go, get away, go down from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them; for 2you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they went up from Egypt.” So the Kenites got away from among the Amalekites. 7Then 3Saul 4defeated the Amalekites, from 5Havilah 6going toward 7Shur, which is 8east of Egypt. 8He captured 9Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and 10completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9But Saul and the people 11spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the more valuable animals, the lambs, and everything that was good, and were unwilling to destroy them completely; but everything despicable and weak, that they completely destroyed.

10Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11“12I regret that I have made Saul king, because 13he has turned back from 14following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was furious and 15cried out to the Lord all night. 12Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was reported to Samuel, saying, “Saul came to 16Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on 17down to 18Gilgal.” 13So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “19Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.” 14But Samuel said, “20What then is this 21bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the 22bellowing of the oxen which I hear?” 15Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for 23the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have completely destroyed.” 16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and let me inform you of what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”

17So Samuel said, “24Is it not true, 25though you were 26insignificant in your own eyes, that you became the head of the tribes of Israel? For the Lord anointed you as king over Israel. 18And the Lord sent you on a 27mission, and said, ‘28Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’ 19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? 29Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord!”

20Then Saul said to Samuel, “30I did obey the voice of the Lord, for I went on the 31mission on which the Lord sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21But 32the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 22Samuel said, “33Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, 34to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.23For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of 35divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as 36false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, 37He has also rejected you from being king.”

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “38I have sinned, for 39I have violated the 40command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25Now then, 41please pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” 26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for 42you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27Then Samuel turned to go, but 43Saul grasped the edge of his robe, and it tore off. 28So Samuel said to him, “44The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. 29Also the 4546Glory of Israel 47will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind.” 30Then Saul said, “I have sinned; 48but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before all Israel, and go back with me, 49so that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.