1Samuel - Chapter 15 | Good News Translation

  • 1. Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one whom the LORD sent to anoint you king of his people Israel. Now listen to what the LORD Almighty says.
  • 2. He is going to punish the people of Amalek because their ancestors opposed the Israelites when they were coming from Egypt.
  • 3. Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys."
  • 4. Saul called his forces together and inspected them at Telem: there were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 from Judah.
  • 5. Then he and his men went to the city of Amalek and waited in ambush in a dry riverbed.
  • 6. He sent a warning to the Kenites, a people whose ancestors had been kind to the Israelites when they came from Egypt: "Go away and leave the Amalekites, so that I won't kill you along with them." So the Kenites left.
  • 7. Saul defeated the Amalekites, fighting all the way from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt;
  • 8. he captured King Agag of Amalek alive and killed all the people.
  • 9. But Saul and his men spared Agag's life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good; they destroyed only what was useless or worthless.
  • 10. The LORD said to Samuel,
  • 11. "I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands." Samuel was angry, and all night long he pleaded with the LORD.
  • 12. Early the following morning he went off to find Saul. He heard that Saul had gone to the town of Carmel, where he had built a monument to himself, and then had gone on to Gilgal.
  • 13. Samuel went up to Saul, who greeted him, saying, "The LORD bless you, Samuel! I have obeyed the LORD's command."
  • 14. Samuel asked, "Why, then, do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?"
  • 15. Saul answered, "My men took them from the Amalekites. They kept the best sheep and cattle to offer as a sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have destroyed completely."
  • 16. "Stop," Samuel ordered, "and I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul said.
  • 17. Samuel answered, "Even though you consider yourself of no importance, you are the leader of the tribes of Israel. The LORD anointed you king of Israel,
  • 18. and he sent you out with orders to destroy those wicked people of Amalek. He told you to fight until you had killed them all.
  • 19. Why, then, did you not obey him? Why did you rush to grab the loot, and so do what displeases the LORD?"
  • 20. "I did obey the LORD," Saul replied. "I went out as he told me to, brought back King Agag, and killed all the Amalekites.
  • 21. But my men did not kill the best sheep and cattle that they captured; instead, they brought them here to Gilgal to offer as a sacrifice to the LORD your God."
  • 22. Samuel said, "Which does the LORD prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him.
  • 23. Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you as king."
  • 24. "Yes, I have sinned," Saul replied. "I disobeyed the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of my men and did what they wanted.
  • 25. But now I beg you, forgive my sin and go back with me, so that I can worship the LORD."
  • 26. "I will not go back with you," Samuel answered. "You rejected the LORD's command, and he has rejected you as king of Israel."
  • 27. Then Samuel turned to leave, but Saul caught hold of his cloak, and it tore.
  • 28. Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today and given it to someone who is a better man than you.
  • 29. Israel's majestic God does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being---he does not change his mind."
  • 30. "I have sinned," Saul replied. "But at least show me respect in front of the leaders of my people and all of Israel. Go back with me so that I can worship the LORD your God."
  • 31. So Samuel went back with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
  • 32. "Bring King Agag here to me," Samuel ordered. Agag came to him, trembling with fear, thinking to himself, "What a bitter thing it is to die!"
  • 33. Samuel said, "As your sword has made many mothers childless, so now your mother will become childless." And he cut Agag to pieces in front of the altar in Gilgal.
  • 34. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and King Saul went home to Gibeah.
  • 35. As long as Samuel lived, he never again saw the king; but he grieved over him. The LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king of Israel.
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