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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</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/bsb/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="/bmc//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="/1_samuel/">1 Samuel</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 align="center" id="jump2"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/15.htm">NIV</a> • <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/15.htm">NLT</a> • <a href="/esv/1_samuel/15.htm">ESV</a> • <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/15.htm">KJV</a> • <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/15.htm">NKJ</a> • <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/15.htm">NAS</a></div><br /><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="1%" valign="top">BSB</td><td width="99%" valign="top" align="right"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/15.htm" style="font-weight:normal" title="Parallel Chapters">Parallel Chapters ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><A name="2"></a><p class="hdg">Saul’s Disobedience<p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>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. <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">a</a></span> 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.’<span class="thinq"> </span>” <A name="5"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>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.” <p class="reg"> So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. <A name="8"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. <A name="10"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">b</a></span> and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless. <A name="11"></a><p class="hdg">Samuel Denounces Saul<p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” <p class="reg"> And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night. <A name="13"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>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.” <A name="14"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.” <A name="15"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>But Samuel replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?” <A name="16"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>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.” <A name="17"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” <p class="reg">“Tell me,” Saul replied. <A name="18"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>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 <A name="19"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ <A name="20"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” <A name="21"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“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. <A name="22"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>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.” <A name="23"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>But Samuel declared: <p class="indent1stline">“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices <p class="indent2"> as much as in obedience to His voice? <p class="indent1"> Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, <p class="indent2"> and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. <A name="24"></a><p class="indent1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>For rebellion is like the sin of divination, <p class="indent2"> and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. <p class="indent1"> Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, <p class="indent2"> He has rejected you as king.” <A name="25"></a><p class="hdg">Saul’s Confession<p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>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. <A name="26"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.” <A name="27"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>“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.” <A name="28"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. <A name="29"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>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. <A name="30"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.” <A name="31"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>“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.” <A name="32"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD. <A name="33"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” <p class="reg"> Agag came to him cheerfully,<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">c</a></span> for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">d</a></span> <A name="34"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>But Samuel declared: <p class="indent1stline">“As your sword has made women childless, <p class="indent2"> so your mother will be childless among women.” <p class="reg"> And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. <A name="35"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>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.</p><A name="fn"></a><div id="fnlink"><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:</b><br><br><span class="fnverse">3</span> <span class="footnotesbot">a</span> Forms of the Hebrew <i>cherem</i><span class="thin"> </span> refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 8, 9, 15, 18, 20, and 21.<br><span class="fnverse">9</span> <span class="footnotesbot">b</span> Or <i>the grown bulls</i><span class="thin"> </span><br><span class="fnverse">32</span> <span class="footnotesbot">c</span> Or <i>cautiously</i><span class="thin"> </span> or <i>in chains</i><span class="thin"> </span>; see DSS and LXX.<br><span class="fnverse">32</span> <span class="footnotesbot">d</span> Or <i>“Surely this is the bitterness of death.”</i><span class="thin"> </span> See DSS and LXX.<br><br /></div><br /></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Berean Bible (<a href=http://berean.bible>www.Berean.Bible</a>) <a href=http://bereanbible.com>Berean Study Bible (BSB)</a> © 2016, 2020 by <a href=http://biblehub.com>Bible Hub</a> and <a href=http://berean.bible>Berean.Bible</a>. 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