1 Samuel 15:8-35

8He captured 1Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and 2completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9But Saul and the people 3spared 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“4I regret that I have made Saul king, because 5he has turned back from 6following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was furious and 7cried 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 8Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on 9down to 10Gilgal.” 13So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “11Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.” 14But Samuel said, “12What then is this 13bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the 14bellowing of the oxen which I hear?” 15Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for 15the 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, “16Is it not true, 17though you were 18insignificant 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 19mission, and said, ‘20Go 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? 21Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord!”

20Then Saul said to Samuel, “22I did obey the voice of the Lord, for I went on the 23mission on which the Lord sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21But 24the 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, “25Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, 26to 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 27divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as 28false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, 29He has also rejected you from being king.”

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “30I have sinned, for 31I have violated the 32command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25Now then, 33please 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 34you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27Then Samuel turned to go, but 35Saul grasped the edge of his robe, and it tore off. 28So Samuel said to him, “36The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. 29Also the 3738Glory of Israel 39will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind.” 30Then Saul said, “I have sinned; 40but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before all Israel, and go back with me, 41so that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

32Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him 42cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is gone!” 33But Samuel said, “43As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

34Then Samuel went to 44Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at 45Gibeah of Saul. 35And 46Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, though Samuel 47mourned for 48Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.