Saul’s Disobedience 1 ULT And Samuel said to Saul,“Yahweh sent me to anoint you as king over his people, over Israel. And now, listen to the voice of the words of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.
2 ULT Thus says Yahweh of Armies,‘I observed what Amalek did to Israel when he set against him in the way in his coming up from Egypt. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt.
3 ULT Now go and strike Amalek and devote all that{ is} to him, and do not have compassion on him, but kill from man to woman, from child and to infant, from ox and to sheep, from camel and to donkey.’” BSB BSB: Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
4 ULT And Saul made the people hear, and he mustered them at Telaim, 200, 000 footsoldiers and 10, 000 men of Judah. BSB BSB: So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.
5 ULT Then Saul came to the city of Amalek, and he lay in ambush in the wadi. BSB BSB: Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.
6 ULT And Saul said to the Kenite,“Go, depart, go down from the midst of the Amalekite, lest I remove you with him. For you, you did kindness with all of the sons of Israel in their coming up from Egypt.” And the Kenite departed from the midst of Amalek. BSB BSB: And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7 ULT And Saul struck Amalek from Havilah{ to} your coming{ to} Shur, which{ is} on the face of Egypt. BSB BSB: Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
8 ULT Now he seized Agag, the king of Amalek, alive, but he devoted all of the people to the mouth of the sword. BSB BSB: He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.
9 ULT But Saul and the people had compassion on Agag and on the best of the sheep and the cattle and the second ones and on the lambs and on all of the good, and they were not willing to devote them. But all of the despised and weakened property, they devoted it. BSB BSB: Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
Samuel Denounces Saul 10 ULT And the word of Yahweh was to Samuel, saying, BSB BSB: Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,
11 ULT “I regret that I have made Saul reign as king, for he has turned from after me and has not raised up my words.” And it was hot to Samuel, and he cried out to Yahweh all of the night. BSB BSB: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
12 ULT And Samuel arose early in the morning to meet Saul. And it was declared to Samuel, saying,“Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he was setting up a hand for himself, then he turned and passed on and went down{ to} Gilgal.” BSB BSB: Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.”
13 ULT And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him,“{ May} you{ be} blessed by Yahweh! I have raised up the word of Yahweh.” BSB BSB: When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”
14 ULT And Samuel said,“Then what{ is} this sound of a flock in my ears? And the sound of cattle that I am hearing?” BSB BSB: But Samuel replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?”
15 ULT And Saul said,“They have brought them from the Amalekite. For the people had compassion on the best of the flock and the cattle, to sacrifice{ them} to Yahweh your God. But the remainder, we devoted.” BSB BSB: Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”
16 ULT And Samuel said to Saul,“Stop, and let me declare to you what Yahweh spoke to me this night.” And he said to him,“Speak.” BSB BSB: “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.
17 ULT And Samuel said,“{ Is it} not, if you{ were} small in your eyes, you{ are} the head of the tribes of Israel? For Yahweh has anointed you as king over Israel. BSB BSB: And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel
18 ULT And Yahweh sent you on your way, and he said,‘Go, and you shall devote the sinners, Amalek. And you shall fight with him until the finishing of them.’ BSB BSB: and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’
19 ULT So why did you not listen to the voice of Yahweh? But you swooped down on the plunder, and you did evil in the eyes of Yahweh.” BSB BSB: So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”
20 ULT But Saul said to Samuel that,“I have listened to the voice of Yahweh, and I have gone on the way that Yahweh sent me. And I have brought Agag, the king of Amalek, and I have devoted Amalek. BSB BSB: “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.
21 ULT And the people took from the plunder sheep and cattle, the first of the devoted thing, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.” BSB BSB: The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
22 ULT And Samuel said,“{ Is} the delight of Yahweh in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in listening to the voice of Yahweh? Behold, listening{ is} better than sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams. BSB BSB: But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
23 ULT For rebellion{ is} the sin of divination, and to insist{ is} iniquity and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has rejected you from{ being} king.” BSB BSB: For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
Saul’s Confession 24 ULT And Saul said to Samuel,“I have sinned. For I have crossed over the mouth of Yahweh and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. BSB BSB: Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
25 ULT But now, please take away my sin and return with me so I may worship Yahweh.” BSB BSB: Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”
26 ULT But Samuel said to Saul,“I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of Yahweh, so Yahweh has rejected you from{ being} king over Israel.” BSB BSB: “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”
27 ULT And Samuel turned to go, but he seized the edge of his robe, and it was torn. BSB BSB: As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.
28 ULT And Samuel said to him,“Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from upon you today, and he has given it to your fellow,{ one} better than you. BSB BSB: So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.
29 ULT For indeed the Glory of Israel does not lie and does not change his mind. For he{ is} not a man, to change his mind.” BSB BSB: Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
30 ULT And he said,“I have sinned! Now please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship Yahweh your God.” BSB BSB: “I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”
31 ULT So Samuel returned behind Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh. BSB BSB: So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
32 ULT And Samuel said,“Bring Agag, the king of Amalek, to me.” And Agag went to him{ in} bonds. And Agag said,“Surely the bitterness of death has turned aside.” BSB BSB: Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
33 ULT But Samuel said,“Just as your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces to the face of Yahweh at Gilgal. BSB BSB: But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.
34 ULT Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house{ at} Gibeah of Saul. BSB BSB: Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
35 ULT And Samuel did not resume to see Saul up to the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul. And Yahweh regretted that he had made Saul reign over Israel. BSB BSB: And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.