1 Samuel 15

Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

Samuel told Saul, "God chose me to crown you as king of His people, Israel. So now, listen carefully to His divine message."

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

The Lord of hosts declares that He hasn't forgotten how Amalek ambushed Israel during their journey from Egypt.

Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Now go and attack Amalek. Destroy everything they have and show no mercy. Put to death every man, woman, and child, even the babies, and every animal, from the smallest lamb to the largest camel.

And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

Saul rallied his people, counting them in Telaim. He found himself leading a mighty force of 200,000 foot soldiers, with an additional 10,000 brave men from Judah.

And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

Saul arrived at an Amalekite city, hiding with anticipation in the valley.

And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

Saul pleaded with the Kenites, "Leave the Amalekites' side, or you'll perish with them. You were kind to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt." Hearing this, the Kenites quickly left the Amalekites.

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

Saul passionately defeated the Amalekites, battling them from Havilah all the way to Shur, near Egypt.

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, sparing his life, but he put all the others to death with the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Despite God's command, Saul and his people couldn't bring themselves to destroy Agag, or the finest of the livestock. They held onto what was good, only eliminating what was worthless and repulsive.

Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

Then, Samuel felt a profound message from the LORD stirring within him.

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

I regret making Saul king, for he's stopped obeying me and ignored my commands. This deeply saddened Samuel, who spent the entire night praying to the Lord.

And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

When Samuel woke up early to see Saul, he was informed, "Saul has been to Carmel, where he established a spot for himself. Now, he's moved on and headed down to Gilgal."

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

Samuel approached Saul, who greeted him warmly, "May God's blessings be upon you. I have faithfully carried out God's orders."

And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

Samuel asked, "Why do I hear the sheep's cries and the oxen's moans?"

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.

Saul explained, "They were taken from the Amalekites. The people saved the finest sheep and oxen to offer to your God. The rest, we've completely eliminated."

Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

Samuel pleaded with Saul, "Wait, let me share what God revealed to me tonight." Saul responded, "Go ahead, I'm listening."

And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

Samuel asked, "When you felt small and insignificant, weren't you chosen to lead the tribes of Israel? Didn't God himself crown you as their king?"

And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

God guided you on a path, passionately urging, "Embark on this mission, completely rid the world of the sinful Amalekites. Battle them until they are no more."

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

Why didn't you listen to God, but instead chose to greedily take what wasn't yours, doing wrong in His eyes?

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

Saul assured Samuel, his voice filled with conviction, "Yes, I've followed God's command. I've walked the path He set for me, captured King Agag of Amalek, and completely wiped out the Amalekites."

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.

The people, against better judgment, took the best of the spoils - sheep and oxen, things that should have been completely destroyed. They did this to offer sacrifices to the Lord in Gilgal.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Samuel asked, "Does God prefer our burnt offerings and sacrifices over listening and obeying His words? Remember, obedience to God is more valuable than any sacrifice, and truly hearing Him is better than offering the richest of rams."

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Rebellion is as harmful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as sinful as worshiping false gods. Since you've turned away from God's teachings, He too has turned away from you, stripping you of your kingship.

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Saul confessed to Samuel, "I have sinned. I disobeyed God's law and your instructions because I was scared of the people and listened to them instead."

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

Please, forgive my sin and come back with me, so I can worship God.

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Samuel told Saul, "I can't go back with you. You've ignored God's commands and now, God has decided you're no longer fit to rule Israel."

And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the hem of his cloak, and it tore.

And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

Samuel told him, "Today, God has taken the rule of Israel from you and given it to someone better, someone close to you."

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

The Might of Israel never deceives or changes His mind; He isn't human to have regrets.

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

He admitted, "I have sinned. But please, show me respect in front of the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so I can worship your God."

So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

Samuel, with a heavy heart, returned to Saul. And there, Saul, in humble reverence, praised the LORD.

Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

Samuel called out, "Bring Agag, the Amalekite king, to me." Agag came to him cheerfully, saying with a sigh of relief, "Surely death's bitter sting is past."

And Samuel said, As the sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Samuel declared, "Just as your sword has stolen children from their mothers, so too will your mother grieve without children." Then Samuel cut Agag to pieces before God in Gilgal.

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

Samuel journeyed to Ramah, filled with purpose; while Saul, heavy-hearted, returned to his home in Gibeah.

And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel never visited Saul again until his last breath, yet he grieved deeply for him. God, too, felt regret for appointing Saul as Israel's king.