1 Then Samuelsaid to Saul, "1The LORDsent me to anoint you as kingover His people, overIsrael; now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.
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"Thussays the LORD of hosts, 'I will punishAmalek2for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt.
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'Nowgo and strikeAmalek and 3utterlydestroyall that he has, and do not spare him; but 4put to deathbothman and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' "
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Then Saulsummoned the people and numbered them in 5Telaim, 200,000*footsoldiers and 10,000*men of Judah.
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Saulcame to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.
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Saulsaid to 6the Kenites, "Go, depart, godown from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you with them; for 7you showedkindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenitesdeparted from among the Amalekites.
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So 8Sauldefeated the Amalekites, from 9Havilah as you go to 10Shur, which is east* of Egypt.
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He captured11Agag the king of the Amalekitesalive, and 12utterlydestroyedall the people with the edge of the sword.
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But Saul and the people13sparedAgag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything*despised and worthless, that they utterlydestroyed.
Samuel Rebukes Saul
10 Then the word of the LORDcame to Samuel, saying,
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"14I regret that I have madeSaulking, for 15he has turnedback from following Me and has not carried out My commands." And Samuel was distressed and 16cried out to the LORDallnight.
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Samuelroseearly in the morning to meetSaul; and it was toldSamuel, saying, "Saulcame to 17Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to 18Gilgal."
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Samuelcame to Saul, and Saulsaid to him, "19Blessed are you of the LORD! I have carried out the command of the LORD."
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But Samuelsaid, "20What then is thisbleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxenwhich I hear?"
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Saulsaid, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for 21the peoplespared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have utterlydestroyed."
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Then Samuelsaid to Saul, "Wait, and let me tell you what the LORDsaid to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak!"
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Samuelsaid, "Is it not true, 22though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORDanointed you kingoverIsrael,
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and the LORDsent you on a mission, and said, '23Go and utterlydestroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.'
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"Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, 24but rushed upon the spoil and didwhat was evil in the sight of the LORD?"
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Then Saulsaid to Samuel, "25I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORDsent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterlydestroyed the Amalekites.
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"But 26the peopletook some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the thingsdevoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
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Samuelsaid, "27Has the LORD as much delight in burntofferings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, 28to obey is betterthansacrifice, And to heedthan the fat of rams.
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"For rebellion is as the sin of 29divination, And insubordination is as 30iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, 31He has also rejected you from being king."
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Then Saulsaid to Samuel, "32I have sinned; 33I have indeedtransgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.
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"Now therefore, 34pleasepardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD."
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But Samuelsaid to Saul, "I will not return with you; for 35you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from beingkingoverIsrael."
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As Samuelturned to go, 36Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.
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So Samuelsaid to him, "37The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is betterthan you.
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"Also the 38Glory of Israel39will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind."
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Then he said, "I have sinned; 40but pleasehonor me nowbefore the elders of my people and beforeIsrael, and goback with me, 41that I may worship the LORD your God."
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So SamuelwentbackfollowingSaul, and Saulworshiped the LORD.
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Then Samuelsaid, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." And Agagcame to him cheerfully. And Agagsaid, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."
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But Samuelsaid, "42As your sword has madewomenchildless, so shall your mother be childlessamongwomen." And SamuelhewedAgag to piecesbefore the LORD at Gilgal.
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Then Samuelwent to 43Ramah, but Saulwent up to his house at 44Gibeah of Saul.
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45Samueldid not seeSaulagainuntil the day of his death; for Samuel46grievedoverSaul. And the LORDregretted that He had madeSaulkingoverIsrael.