1 Samuel 15:1-21 ▼

1 Then Samuel (his name is El) said to Saul (desired), “The LORD {YHWH} sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel (he wrestles with God). Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.

2 This is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) did to the Israelites (God prevails) when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt (land of bondage).

3 Now go and attack the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) and devote to destruction {cherem} 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.’”

4 So Saul (desired) summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim (lambs)—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah (praised).

5 Saul (desired) came to the city of Amalek (dweller in a valley) and lay in wait in the valley.

6 And he (desired) warned the Kenites (smiths), “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites (God prevails) when they came up out of Egypt (land of bondage), go on and get away from the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley). Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

7 Then Saul (desired) struck down the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) all the way from Havilah (circle) to Shur (wall), which is east of Egypt (land of bondage).

8 He captured Agag (I will overtop) king of Amalek (dweller in a valley) alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

9 Saul (desired) and his troops spared Agag (I will overtop), along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves (the grown bulls) and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

10 Then the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Samuel (his name is El), saying,

11 “I regret that I have made Saul (desired) king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel (his name is El) was distressed and cried out to the LORD {YHWH} all that night.

12 Early in the morning Samuel (his name is El) got up to confront Saul (desired), but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel (garden-land), and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal (a wheel).”

13 When Samuel (his name is El) reached him (desired), Saul said to him, “May the LORD {YHWH} bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

14 But Samuel (his name is El) replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?”

15 Saul (desired) answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley); they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka}, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

16 “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel (his name is El) (desired). “Let me tell you what the LORD {YHWH} said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.

17 And Samuel (his name is El) said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God)? The LORD {YHWH} anointed you king over Israel

18 and sent {YHWH} you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites (dwellers in a valley). Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’

19 So why did you not obey the LORD {YHWH}? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

20 “But I did obey the LORD {YHWH},” Saul (desired) (his name is El) replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag (I will overtop) king of Amalek (dweller in a valley) and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.

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 {YHWH Eloheka} at Gilgal (a wheel).”