151 Samuel 15

Saul Disobeys the

1One day, Samuel told Saul: The Lord told me to choose you to be king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord:Select 1 Samuel 15:1

2“When the Israelites were on their way out of Egypt, the nation of Amalek attacked them. I am the Lord All-Powerful, and now I am going to make Amalek pay!Select 1 Samuel 15:2

3“Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don't have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.”Select 1 Samuel 15:3

4Saul sent messengers who told every town and village to send men to join the army at Telaim. There were 210,000 troops in all, and 10,000 of these were from Judah. Saul organized them,Select 1 Samuel 15:4

5then led them to a valley near one of the towns in Amalek, where they got ready to make a surprise attack.Select 1 Samuel 15:5

6Some Kenites lived nearby, and Saul told them, “Your people were kind to our nation when we left Egypt, and I don't want you to get killed when I wipe out the Amalekites. So stay away from them.” The Kenites left,Select 1 Samuel 15:6

7and Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is just east of Egypt.Select 1 Samuel 15:7

8Every Amalekite was killed except King Agag.Select 1 Samuel 15:8

9Saul and his army let Agag live, and they also spared the best sheep and cattle. They didn't want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak.Select 1 Samuel 15:9

The Rejects Saul

10The Lord told Samuel,Select 1 Samuel 15:10

11“Saul has stopped obeying me, and I'm sorry that I made him king.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out in prayer to the Lord all night.Select 1 Samuel 15:11

12Early the next morning he went to talk with Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to Carmel, where he had a monument built so everyone would remember his victory. Then he left for Gilgal.”Select 1 Samuel 15:12

13Samuel finally caught up with Saul, and Saul told him, “I hope the Lord will bless you! I have done what the Lord told me.”Select 1 Samuel 15:13

14“Then why,” Samuel asked, “do I hear sheep and cattle?”Select 1 Samuel 15:14

15“The army took them from the Amalekites,” Saul explained. “They kept the best sheep and cattle, so they could sacrifice them to the Lord your God. But we destroyed everything else.”Select 1 Samuel 15:15

16“Stop!” Samuel said. “Let me tell you what the Lord told me last night.” “All right,” Saul answered.Select 1 Samuel 15:16

17Samuel continued, “You may not think you're very important, but the Lord chose you to be king, and you are in charge of the tribes of Israel.Select 1 Samuel 15:17

18When the Lord sent you on this mission, he told you to wipe out those worthless Amalekites.Select 1 Samuel 15:18

19Why didn't you listen to the Lord? Why did you keep the animals and make him angry?”Select 1 Samuel 15:19

20“But I did listen to the Lord!” Saul answered. “He sent me on a mission, and I went. I captured King Agag and destroyed his nation.Select 1 Samuel 15:20

21All 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.”Select 1 Samuel 15:21

22“Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him.Select 1 Samuel 15:22

23Rebelling against God or disobeying him because you are proud is just as bad as worshiping idols or asking them for advice. You refused to do what God told you, so God has decided that you can no longer be king.”Select 1 Samuel 15:23

24“I have sinned,” Saul admitted. “I disobeyed both you and the Lord. I was afraid of the army, and I listened to them instead.Select 1 Samuel 15:24

25Please forgive me and come back with me so I can worship the Lord.”Select 1 Samuel 15:25

26“No!” Samuel replied, “You disobeyed the Lord, and I won't go back with you. Now the Lord has said that you can't be king of Israel any longer.”Select 1 Samuel 15:26

27As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the edge of Samuel's robe. It tore!Select 1 Samuel 15:27

28Samuel said, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he will give it to someone who is better than you.Select 1 Samuel 15:28

29Besides, the eternal God of Israel isn't a human being. He doesn't tell lies or change his mind.”Select 1 Samuel 15:29

30Saul said, “I did sin, but please honor me in front of the leaders of the army and the people of Israel. Come back with me, so I can worship the Lord your God.”Select 1 Samuel 15:30

31Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.Select 1 Samuel 15:31

32Then Samuel shouted, “Bring me King Agag of Amalek!” Agag came in chains, and he was saying to himself, “Surely they won't kill me now.”Select 1 Samuel 15:32

33But Samuel said, “Agag, you have snatched children from their mothers' arms and killed them. Now your mother will be without children.” Then Samuel chopped Agag to pieces at the place of worship in Gilgal.Select 1 Samuel 15:33

34Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his home in Gibeah.Select 1 Samuel 15:34

35Even though Samuel felt sad about Saul, Samuel never saw him again. The Lord was sorry he had made Saul the king of Israel.Select 1 Samuel 15:35