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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 15 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_samuel/15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_samuel/15-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > 1 Samuel 15</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_samuel/14.htm" title="1 Samuel 14">◄</a> 1 Samuel 15 <a href="../1_samuel/16.htm" title="1 Samuel 16">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/1_samuel/15.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Saul Defeats the Amalekites</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the LORD who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the LORD! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Now go and completely destroy<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Saul sent this warning to the Kenites: “Move away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites packed up and left.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.</p><p class="hdg">The LORD Rejects Saul</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Then the LORD said to Samuel, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the LORD bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the LORD’s command!”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!”</p><p class="reg">“What did he tell you?” Saul asked.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>But Samuel replied, </p><p class="b"/><p class="line1">“What is more pleasing to the LORD:</p><p class="line2">your burnt offerings and sacrifices</p><p class="line2">or your obedience to his voice?</p><p class="line1">Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,</p><p class="line2">and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,</p><p class="line2">and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.</p><p class="line1">So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,</p><p class="line2">he has rejected you as king.”</p><p class="hdg">Saul Pleads for Forgiveness</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the LORD.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the LORD’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So Samuel finally agreed and went back with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">Samuel Executes King Agag</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, “Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!”<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>But Samuel said, “As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:3 </span><span class="ft">The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the </span><span class="sc">Lord</span><span class="ft">, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in 15:8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:32 </span><span class="ft">Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read </span><span class="it">Agag arrived hesitantly, for he thought, “Surely this is the bitterness of death.”</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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