Saul to Be Anointed Over Israel
Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was aKish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2 Now he had a son whose name was Saul, a achoice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; bfrom his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the young men, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” 4 Thus he passed through athe hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of bShalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of cShaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
5 They came to the land of aZuph. And Saul said to his young man who was with him, “Come, and let us return, blest my father cease to be concerned about the donkeys and become anxious for us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold now, there is aa man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; ball that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, cperhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have gone.” 7 Then Saul said to his young man, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack, and there is ano present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 And the young man answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God, and he will atell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called aa seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his young man, “Your word is good; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they were going up the slope to the city, athey found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 And they answered them and said, “He is! Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for athe people have a sacrifice on bthe high place today. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes because ahe must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. So now, go up for you will find him at once.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out to meet them to go up to the high place.
15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, aYahweh had revealed this in Samuel’s hearing, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and ayou shall anoint him to be ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For bI have regarded My people because their cry has come to Me.” 17 Now Samuel saw Saul, and Yahweh answered him, “aBehold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall restrict My people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your heart. 20 aAs for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they have been found. And bfor whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” 21 And Saul answered and said, “aAm I not a Benjamite, of bthe smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”
22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the chamber and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’” 24 Then the cook atook up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 Then they came down from the high place into the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul aon the roof. 26 And they arose early; and at the breaking of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the young man that he might pass before us and pass onwards, but you remain standing now, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.”
Saul Among the Prophets
Then aSamuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, bkissed him, and said, “Has not cYahweh anointed you a ruler over dHis inheritance? 2 When you go from me today, then you will find two men close to aRachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘bThe donkeys which you went to search for have been found. Now behold, your father has ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the aoak of Tabor, and there three men going up bto God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine; 4 and they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread. And you will take them from their hand. 5 Afterward you will come to athe hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet ba group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and cthey will be prophesying. 6 Then athe Spirit of Yahweh will come upon you mightily, and byou shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man. 7 Now it will be when these signs come to you, ado for yourself whatever your hand finds to do, for bGod is with you. 8 And ayou shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and bsacrifice peace offerings. cYou shall wait seven days until I come to you and make you know what you should do.”
9 Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God achanged his heart; and all those signs came about on that day. 10 aAnd they came to the hill there, and behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them. 11 Now it happened that all who knew him previously saw, and behold, he was prophesying with the prophets, so the people said to one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? aIs Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man there answered and said, “Now, who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “aIs Saul also among the prophets?” 13 Then he finished prophesying and came to the high place.
14 Now aSaul’s uncle said to him and his young man, “Where did you go?” And he said, “bTo look for the donkeys. And we saw that they were not anywhere, so we went to Samuel.” 15 And Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 So Saul said to his uncle, “aHe told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had said.
Saul the King
17 Then Samuel called the apeople together to Yahweh at Mizpah; 18 and he said to the sons of Israel, “aThus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 But you ahave today rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us!’ So now, btake your stand before Yahweh by your tribes and by your clans.”
20 Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but they looked for him, and he could not be found. 22 Therefore athey inquired further of Yahweh, “Has the man come here yet?” So Yahweh said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.” 23 So they ran and took him from there, and he stood among the people. And ahe was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him awhom Yahweh has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “bLong live the king!”
25 Then Samuel spoke with the people about athe legal judgments of the kingdom and wrote them in the book and bplaced it before Yahweh. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house. 26 Saul also went ato his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But certain avile men said, “How can this one save us?” And they despised him and bdid not bring him any present. But he kept silent.
Saul Strikes Down the Ammonites
And aNahash the Ammonite came up and besieged bJabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Cut ca covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will cut it with you on this condition, athat I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it ba reproach on all Israel.” 3 aThen the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4 Then the messengers came ato Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people blifted up their voices and wept.
5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field abehind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 Then athe Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he burned with anger exceedingly. 7 Then he took a pair of oxen and acut them in pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “bWhoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out cas one man. 8 And he numbered them in aBezek; and the bsons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. 9 And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have salvation.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “aTomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good in your eyes.” 11 Then the next morning Saul put the people ain three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people said to Samuel, “aWho is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ bBring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “aNot a man shall be put to death this day, for today bYahweh has accomplished salvation in Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to aGilgal and brenew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king abefore Yahweh in Gilgal. There they also boffered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel were exceedingly glad.
Samuel Speaks to Israel
Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, aI have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and I bhave appointed a king over you. 2 So now, ahere is the king walking before you, but bI am old and gray, and behold, cmy sons are with you. And dI have walked before you from my youth even to this day. 3 Here I am; bear witness against me before Yahweh and aHis anointed. bWhose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or cfrom whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you.” 4 And they said, “You have not extorted us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.” 5 So he said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that ayou have found nothing bin my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”
6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who aappointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. 7 So now, take your stand, athat I may judge you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh which He did for you and your fathers. 8 aWhen Jacob went into Egypt and byour fathers cried out to Yahweh, then cYahweh sent Moses and Aaron dwho brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9 But athey forgot Yahweh their God, so bHe sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and cinto the hand of the Philistines and dinto the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 aAnd they cried out to Yahweh and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served bthe Baals and the Ashtaroth; but cnow deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ 11 Then Yahweh sent aJerubbaal and bBedan and cJephthah and dSamuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security. 12 But you saw athat Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, and you said to me, ‘bNo, but a king shall reign over us,’ calthough Yahweh your God was your king. 13 So now, abehold, the king whom you have chosen, bwhom you have asked for, and behold, Yahweh has set a king over you. 14 aIf you will fear Yahweh and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow Yahweh your God. 15 aBut if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the command of Yahweh, then bthe hand of Yahweh will be against you, cas it was against your fathers. 16 Even now, atake your stand and see this great thing which Yahweh will do before your eyes. 17 aIs it not the wheat harvest today? bI will call to Yahweh, that He may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that cyour wickedness is great which you have done in the eyes of Yahweh by asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called to Yahweh, and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day; and aall the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
19 Then all the people said to Samuel, “aPray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins bthis evil by asking for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet ado not turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. 21 And you must not turn aside, for then you would go after ameaningless things which cannot profit and cannot deliver, because they are meaningless. 22 For aYahweh will not abandon His people bon account of His great name, because Yahweh chas been pleased to make you a people for Himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, afar be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you; but bI will instruct you in the good and upright way. 24 aOnly fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for see bwhat great things He has done for you. 25 aBut if you still do wickedly, bboth you and your king cwill be swept away.”
Saul Strikes Down the Philistines
Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.
2 And Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in aMichmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at bGibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. 3 And Jonathan struck athe garrison of the Philistines that was in bGeba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul cblew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 Then all Israel heard the news that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel ahad become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and apeople like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of bBeth-aven. 6 Now the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed). Then athe people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. 7 Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of aGad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saul Doesn’t Keep Yahweh’s Commandment
8 So ahe waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring near to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And ahe offered the burnt offering. 10 And as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and aSaul went out to meet him and to greet him. 11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that athe Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “aYou have acted foolishly; byou have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you, for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom over Israel cforever. 14 But anow your kingdom shall not endure. bYahweh has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.”
15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to aGibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, babout six hundred men. 16 Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in aGeba of Benjamin, and the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17 And athe raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned toward bOphrah, to the land of Shual, 18 and another company turned to the way of aBeth-horon, and another company turned to the way of the border which overlooks the valley of bZeboim toward the wilderness.
19 Now ano blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make bswords or spears.” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his goad. 21 And the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the goad. 22 So it happened on the day of battle that aneither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan. 23 And athe garrison of the Philistines went out to bthe pass of Michmash.
Jonathan Slaughters the Philistines
Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 And Saul was staying in the outskirts of aGibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in bMigron. And the people who were with him were cabout six hundred men, 3 and Ahijah, the ason of Ahitub, bIchabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at cShiloh, dwas wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 aNow between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba.
6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of athese uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will work for us, for bYahweh is not restrained to save by many or by few.” 7 And his armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your heart.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “aBehold, we will cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for Yahweh has given them into our hands; and athis shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, “Behold, aHebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us, and awe will make you know something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for bYahweh has given them into the hands of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. 14 And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. 15 And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and athe raiders trembled, and bthe earth quaked so cthat it became a great trembling.
16 Then Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away; and they went here and there. 17 So Saul said to the people who were with him, “Number now and see who has gone from us.” And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “aBring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God was at that time with the sons of Israel. 19 aAnd it happened that while Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, aevery man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even athey also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Now all the amen of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, and they pursued them closely in the battle. 23 So aYahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond bBeth-aven.
Saul’s Oath Makes the People Weary
24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day. And Saul had aput the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now all the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 So the people entered the forest, and behold, athere was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the sworn oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under a sworn oath; therefore, ahe put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and bhis eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the people answered and said, “Your father strictly put the people under a sworn oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. 29 Then Jonathan said, “aMy father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”
31 Then they struck among the Philistines that day from aMichmash to bAijalon. And the people were very weary. 32 aSo the people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and they took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them bwith the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are asinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.” 34 And Saul said, “Scatter yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against Yahweh by eating with the blood.’” So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there. 35 And aSaul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.
36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good in your eyes.” So athe priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul aasked of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But bHe did not answer him on that day. 38 And Saul said, “aDraw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see how this sin has happened today. 39 For aas Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good in your eyes.” 41 Therefore, Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “aGive a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “aTell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “bI indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I must die!” 44 And Saul said, “aMay God do this to me and more also, for byou shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, anot one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for bhe has worked with God this day.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul Fights Against His Enemies
47 Now Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, and he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, athe sons of Ammon, Edom, bthe kings of Zobah, and cthe Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment. 48 And he acted valiantly and astruck down the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
49 Now athe sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn bMerab and the name of the younger cMichal. 50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And athe name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 aAnd Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
52 Now the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul; and Saul would see any mighty man or any man of valor and would agather him to his staff.
Saul’s Disobedience
Then Samuel said to Saul, “aYahweh sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; so now, obey the voice of the words of Yahweh. 2 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek afor what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and adevote to destruction all that he has, and do not spare him; but bput to death both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
4 Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in aTelaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6 And Saul said to athe Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; byou showed lovingkindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 So aSaul struck the Amalekites, from bHavilah as you go to cShur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he seized aAgag the king of the Amalekites alive and bdevoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people aspared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
Yahweh Regrets He Made Saul King
10 Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying, 11 “aI regret that I have made Saul king, for bhe has turned back from following Me and has not established My words.” And Samuel became angry and ccried out to Yahweh all night. 12 Then Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told to Samuel, saying, “Saul came to aCarmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to bGilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “aBlessed are you of Yahweh! I have established the word of Yahweh.” 14 But Samuel said, “aWhat then is this sound of the sheep in my ears and the sound of the oxen which I am hearing?” 15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for athe people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God; but the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what Yahweh spoke to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”
17 And Samuel said, “Is it not true, athough you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Yahweh anointed you king over Israel, 18 and Yahweh sent you on a mission and said, ‘aGo and devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh, abut rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh?”
20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “aI did obey the voice of Yahweh and went on the way on which Yahweh sent me and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But athe people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,
“aHas Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of Yahweh?
Behold, bto obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of adivination,
And insubordination is as bwickedness and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh,
cHe has also rejected you from being king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “aI have sinned; bI have indeed trespassed against the command of Yahweh and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 So now, aplease forgive my sin and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh.” 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for ayou have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 Then Samuel turned to go, but aSaul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “aYahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. 29 Also the aEternal One of Israel bwill not lie or have regret; for He is not a man that He should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; abut please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, bthat I may worship Yahweh your God.” 31 So Samuel returned, following after Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag near to me, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him in chains. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death has departed.” 33 But Samuel said, “aAs your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel went to aRamah, but Saul went up to his house at bGibeah of Saul. 35 aSo Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel bgrieved over Saul. And Yahweh regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.