1 Samuel, Chapter 15:

Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 15 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.

1 Samuel - Old Testament — 1 Samuel – Old Testament

The Lord rejects Saul as king

1. Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one whom the Lord sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Therefore, listen now to the word of the Lord.
2. This is what the Lord of hosts says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they attacked the people leaving Egypt.
3. Now go and attack the Amalekites, and completely destroy everything that belongs to them. Spare nothing; kill men, women, children, newborn babies, oxen, sheep, camels and donkeys' “.
4. Then Saul summoned the soldiers and gathered them together in Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.
5. Saul went to the city of the Amalekites and prepared an ambush in the valley.
6. He said to the Kenites, “You who were kind to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, separate yourselves from the Amalekites, so that I will not destroy you along with them.” Then the Kenites turned away from the Amalekites.
7. Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
8. He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive and destroyed all his people.
9. However, Saul and the army spared Agag and the best sheep and oxen, the fat animals and the lambs. They destroyed only what was weak and useless.
10. Then the Lord spoke to Samuel:
11. “I regret choosing Saul as king, because he abandoned me and did not follow my instructions.” Samuel was very sad and cried out to the Lord all night.
12. The next morning, Samuel went to meet Saul. But they said to him, “Saul went to Carmel, where he built a monument in his own honor. Then he went to Gilgal.”
13. When Samuel finally found Saul, he said, “May the blessing of the Lord be upon you! I carried out the Lord’s orders.”
14. Samuel asked, “So what is this noise of sheep and cattle that I hear with my own ears?”
15. Saul replied, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to offer sacrifices to the Lord their God. But we destroyed everything that was despicable and worthless.”
16. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be still! I will tell you what the Lord told me tonight.” And Saul replied, “Speak, please.”
17. Samuel said, “Though you are small in your own eyes, have you not been chosen by the Lord to be leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed him as king over Israel
18. and sent him on a mission, commanding: 'Go and completely destroy the Amalekites, these evil people. Fight them until they are exterminated.'
19. Why didn't you obey the Lord? Why did he take the spoils and do evil in the sight of the Lord?”
20. Saul replied, “But I obeyed the Lord! I fulfilled the mission he gave me. I brought King Agag of the Amalekites, but I destroyed all the other Amalekites.
21. The soldiers took the sheep and the cattle from the spoils, the best things that should be consecrated to the Lord, to offer sacrifices to him in Gilgal.”
22. Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord delight more in burnt offerings and sacrifices than in obeying his word? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than rams' fat.
23. For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and arrogance is like idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, he also rejects you as king.”
24. Then Saul admitted, “I have sinned. I disobeyed the Lord's instructions and his words. I was scared of the people and attended to them.
25. Now I ask you, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I can worship the Lord.”
26. But Samuel replied, “I will not return with you, because you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has also rejected you as king of Israel!”
27. As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the hem of Samuel's cloak, and the cloak was torn.
28. Then Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and given it to someone better.
29. He, the Glory of Israel, does not lie nor repent, for he is not a human being to repent.”
30. Saul admitted: “I have sinned. Now honor me before the leaders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so that I can worship the Lord your God.”
31. Then Samuel returned with him, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
32. Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag of the Amalekites.” Agag came joyfully, thinking, “Surely the danger of death is past.”
33. But Samuel said, “Just as your sword left many women childless, so now your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.
34. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house in Gibeah of Saul.
35. And Samuel never saw Saul again until the day of his death. Even so, Samuel mourned for Saul, for the Lord regretted making Saul king of Israel.