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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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 15:21 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."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/15-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/09_1Sa_15_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 15:21 - Samuel Denounces Saul" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to 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class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/15.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the people took <i>some</i> of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But the people took <i>some</i> of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But the people took <i>some</i> of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things [that were] to be totally destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />All the animals were going to be destroyed anyway. That's why the army brought the best sheep and cattle to Gilgal as sacrifices to the LORD your God." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The army took some of their belongings-the best sheep and cows were claimed for God-in order to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />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." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The people took some of the spoil—sheep, cattle, and the best of what was to be completely destroyed—to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle--the best of what was to be slaughtered--to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD thy God in Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and the people take of the spoil of the flock and herd, the first part of the devoted thing, for sacrifice to your God YHWH in Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the people taketh of the spoil of the flock and herd, the first part of the devoted thing, for sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the people will take from the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief devoted to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoils sheep and oxen, as the firstfruits of those things that were slain, to offer sacrifice to the Lord their God in Galgal. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, as the first-fruits of those things that were slain, to immolate to the Lord their God at Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But from the spoil the army took sheep and oxen, the best of what had been banned, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But from the spoil the people took sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the people took from the spoil, the best sheep and bulls, devoted that they would sacrifice them to LORD JEHOVAH your God in Galgala!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But the people took of the spoils the best flocks and herds <i>out</i> of that which was destroyed, to sacrifice before the Lord our God in Galgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/15-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=4208" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/15.htm">Samuel Denounces Saul</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">20</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. <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">The troops</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">took</a> <a href="/hebrew/6629.htm" title="6629: ṣōn (N-cs) -- Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock. Or tsaown; from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock; also figuratively.">sheep</a> <a href="/hebrew/1241.htm" title="1241: ū·ḇā·qār (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Cattle, herd, an ox. From baqar; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender; collectively, a herd.">and cattle</a> <a href="/hebrew/7998.htm" title="7998: mê·haš·šā·lāl (Prep-m, Art:: N-ms) -- A prey, spoil, plunder, booty. From shalal; booty.">from the plunder,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7225.htm" title="7225: rê·šîṯ (N-fsc) -- Beginning, chief. From the same as ro'sh; the first, in place, time, order or rank.">the best of</a> <a href="/hebrew/2764.htm" title="2764: ha·ḥê·rem (Art:: N-ms) -- A net, a doomed object, extermination. Or cherem; from charam; physical a net; usually a doomed object; abstr. Extermination.">the things devoted to destruction,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2076.htm" title="2076: liz·bō·aḥ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To slaughter for sacrifice. A primitive root; to slaughter an animal.">in order to sacrifice them</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">to the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God</a> <a href="/hebrew/1537.htm" title="1537: bag·gil·gāl (Prep-b, Art:: N-proper-fs) -- Circle (of stones), the name of several places in Pal. The same as gilgal; Gilgal, the name of three places in Palestine.">at Gilgal.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/13-13.htm">1 Samuel 13:13-14</a></span><br />“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. / But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-32.htm">1 Samuel 14:32-35</a></span><br />So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it. / Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” / Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-18.htm">1 Samuel 28:18</a></span><br />Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-6.htm">2 Samuel 6:6-7</a></span><br />When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/24-24.htm">2 Samuel 24:24</a></span><br />“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-11.htm">Isaiah 1:11-15</a></span><br />“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-21.htm">Jeremiah 7:21-23</a></span><br />This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! / For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices, / but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/6-6.htm">Hosea 6:6</a></span><br />For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-21.htm">Amos 5:21-24</a></span><br />“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/6-6.htm">Micah 6:6-8</a></span><br />With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/9-13.htm">Matthew 9:13</a></span><br />But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-7.htm">Matthew 12:7</a></span><br />If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-6.htm">Mark 7:6-9</a></span><br />Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-46.htm">Luke 6:46</a></span><br />Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-42.htm">Luke 11:42</a></span><br />Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.</p><p class="hdg">the people</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">1 Samuel 15:15</a></b></br> And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-13.htm">Genesis 3:13</a></b></br> And the LORD God said unto the woman, What <i>is</i> this <i>that</i> thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-22.htm">Exodus 32:22,23</a></b></br> And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they <i>are set</i> on mischief… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Best</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-38.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-29.htm">Choicest</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-18.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-20.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-20.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-18.htm">Devoted</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Herd</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-2.htm">Part</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-19.htm">Plunder</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-15.htm">Soldiers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-19.htm">Spoil</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-20.htm">Utterly</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/21-7.htm">Best</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-7.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/job/22-25.htm">Choicest</a> <a href="/2_samuel/16-9.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-3.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-57.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-61.htm">Devoted</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Herd</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-34.htm">Part</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-19.htm">Plunder</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-11.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-23.htm">Soldiers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-53.htm">Spoil</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-12.htm">Utterly</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 15</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-1.htm">Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-6.htm">Saul favors the Kenites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-7.htm">He spares Agag and the best of the spoil</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-10.htm">Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-24.htm">Saul's humiliation</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-32.htm">Samuel kills Agag</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/15-34.htm">Samuel and Saul part</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder</b><br>This phrase highlights the actions of Saul's soldiers after the battle against the Amalekites. In the context of ancient warfare, it was common for victors to take spoils from the defeated, including livestock. However, God had commanded through Samuel that everything should be destroyed (<a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a>). This disobedience reflects a failure to fully adhere to God's instructions, emphasizing the importance of complete obedience to divine commands. The taking of plunder contrasts with the concept of herem, or things devoted to destruction, which were to be completely annihilated as an offering to God.<p><b>the best of the things devoted to destruction</b><br>The phrase "devoted to destruction" refers to items that were to be completely destroyed as an act of devotion to God, signifying the total eradication of sin and evil. The choice to keep "the best" indicates a selective obedience, where Saul and his troops prioritized their judgment over God's command. This mirrors the temptation to compromise on God's standards for personal gain or reasoning. The act of keeping the best for themselves shows a misunderstanding of what true sacrifice and devotion to God entail.<p><b>in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God</b><br>This justification for keeping the plunder reveals a misguided attempt to rationalize disobedience. The intention to sacrifice suggests a desire to worship, but it is marred by the initial act of disobedience. This reflects a broader biblical theme that God desires obedience over sacrifice (<a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">1 Samuel 15:22</a>). The phrase "your God" may indicate a distancing in Saul's relationship with God, as if acknowledging Samuel's God rather than his own, highlighting Saul's spiritual decline.<p><b>at Gilgal</b><br>Gilgal holds significant historical and religious importance in Israel's history. It was the first campsite of the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (<a href="/joshua/4-19.htm">Joshua 4:19-20</a>). It became a place of renewal and covenant, where Saul was confirmed as king (<a href="/1_samuel/11-14.htm">1 Samuel 11:14-15</a>). The mention of Gilgal here underscores the irony of Saul's disobedience in a place associated with commitment to God. It serves as a reminder of the need for faithfulness to God's commands, especially in places of spiritual significance.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a></b><br>The first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. He was commanded by God to completely destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/samuel.htm">Samuel</a></b><br>The prophet who anointed Saul as king and delivered God's commands to him. He plays a crucial role in conveying God's displeasure with Saul's disobedience.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/amalekites.htm">Amalekites</a></b><br>A nomadic tribe that was a longstanding enemy of Israel. God commanded their complete destruction as a form of divine judgment.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gilgal.htm">Gilgal</a></b><br>A significant location in Israel's history, often associated with renewal and covenant. It is where Saul intended to offer sacrifices with the plunder.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_troops.htm">The Troops</a></b><br>The soldiers under Saul's command who took the plunder, rationalizing their disobedience by intending to offer sacrifices to God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_over_sacrifice.htm">Obedience Over Sacrifice</a></b><br>God desires our obedience more than our rituals. True worship is reflected in our willingness to follow His commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/rationalizing_disobedience.htm">Rationalizing Disobedience</a></b><br>Like Saul's troops, we often justify our disobedience with seemingly good intentions. We must be vigilant against self-deception.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_partial_obedience.htm">The Consequences of Partial Obedience</a></b><br>Partial obedience is still disobedience. We must strive for complete adherence to God's instructions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership.htm">The Role of Leadership</a></b><br>Leaders bear responsibility for guiding others in obedience to God. Saul's failure highlights the importance of godly leadership.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_heart_of_worship.htm">The Heart of Worship</a></b><br>Genuine worship stems from a heart aligned with God's will, not merely external acts of sacrifice.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 15</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_goliath's_death_accounts.htm">How do we reconcile 2 Samuel 21:19 (attributing Goliath's death to Elhanan) with David's victory in 1 Samuel 17?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_elhanan_kill_goliath's_brother.htm">1 Chronicles 20:5: Why does this text say Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, whereas 2 Samuel 21:19 seems to conflict about who killed Goliath?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_1_chr_21_5_and_2_sam_24_9_differ.htm">Why are the census figures in 1 Chronicles 21:5 different from those in 2 Samuel 24:9?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_killed_goliath.htm">Who killed Goliath? (1 Samuel 17:49 vs. 2 Samuel 21:19)</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/15-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The troops</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֧ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">took</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקַּ֨ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sheep</span><br /><span class="heb">צֹ֥אן</span> <span class="translit">(ṣōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6629.htm">Strong's 6629: </a> </span><span class="str2">Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and cattle</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבָקָ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇā·qār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1241.htm">Strong's 1241: </a> </span><span class="str2">Beef cattle, ox, a herd</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the plunder,</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהַשָּׁלָ֛ל</span> <span class="translit">(mê·haš·šā·lāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7998.htm">Strong's 7998: </a> </span><span class="str2">A prey, spoil, plunder, booty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the best of which</span><br /><span class="heb">רֵאשִׁ֣ית</span> <span class="translit">(rê·šîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7225.htm">Strong's 7225: </a> </span><span class="str2">The first, in place, time, order, rank</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was devoted to destruction</span><br /><span class="heb">הַחֵ֑רֶם</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥê·rem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2764.htm">Strong's 2764: </a> </span><span class="str2">A net, a doomed object, extermination</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to sacrifice</span><br /><span class="heb">לִזְבֹּ֛חַ</span> <span class="translit">(liz·bō·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2076.htm">Strong's 2076: </a> </span><span class="str2">To slaughter for sacrifice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽיהוָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at Gilgal.”</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃</span> <span class="translit">(bag·gil·gāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gilgal -- 'circle (of stones)', the name of several places in Palestine</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/15-21.htm">1 Samuel 15:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/15-21.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/15-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 15:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 15:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 15:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 15:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>