Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord has sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel.”. So listen to the word of the Lord.

This is what the Lord of hosts says: When the Israelites left Egypt, I have not forgotten how the Amalekites treated them and how they resisted them along the way.

Now go and strike the Amalekites, destroy all they have, and do not spare them. Kill all men and women, children, sucklings, cows, sheep, camels, and donkeys.

So Saul gathered the people at Tirain and numbered them, with a total of 200000 infantry and 10000 Jews.

Saul arrived at the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.

Saul said to the Kenites, “Leave the Amalekites and go down, or I will kill you and the Amalekites together.”. Because you showed kindness to the Israelites when they left Egypt. So the Kenites left the Amalekites.

Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur in front of Egypt,

He captured King Agag of Amalek alive and killed all the people of Amalek with the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and also cherished the finest cattle, sheep, calves, lambs, and all the beautiful things, refusing to destroy them. Kill all those who are lowly and weak.

The word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying,

I have made Saul king, and I regret it. Because he turned around not following me and not following my commands. Samuel was deeply saddened and cried out to the Lord all night long.

Samuel woke up early in the morning to welcome Saul. Someone told Samuel, “When Saul arrived at Carmel, he erected a memorial tablet there, and then turned around and went down to Gilgal.”.

Samuel came to Saul and he said to him, “May the Lord bless you. I have kept the Lord’s commands.”.

Samuel said, “Where did I hear sheep and cows chirping in my ears?”?

Saul said, This is what the people brought from the Amalekites. Because they cherish the finest cattle and sheep, and will offer them to the Lord your God. The rest, we have all been wiped out.

Samuel said to Saul, “Stop talking.”. I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night. Saul said, “Speak up.”.

Samuel said to Saul, “Have you not been appointed as the head of the tribe of Israel, even though you considered yourself small in the past?”? The Lord anoints you as the king of Israel.

The Lord sent you and commanded you, saying, Go and strike down the wicked Amalekites, and destroy them completely.

Why did you not obey the command of the Lord, rushing to plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?

Saul said to Samuel, “Truly, I have obeyed the command of the Lord, and have walked the path that the Lord has sent me. I have taken Agag, the king of Amalek, and destroyed all the Amalekites.”.

But the people took the best cattle and sheep from the things that should be destroyed, and offered them to the Lord your God in Gilgal.

Samuel said, Is the Lord more pleased with burnt offerings and peace offerings than with people obeying his voice? Obedience is better than sacrifice. Obedience is better than the fat of a ram.

The crime of rebellion is equal to the crime of practicing witchcraft. The sin of stubbornness is the same as the sin of worshipping idols and idols. Since you have rejected the commands of the Lord, the Lord has also rejected you as king.

Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I have disobeyed the commands of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”.

Now forgive my sins and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord.

Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you.”. Because you have rejected the commands of the Lord, and the Lord has also rejected you as king over Israel.

Samuel turned around to leave, and Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, which tore open.

Samuel said to him, “Thus, today the Lord has cut off the kingdom of Israel from you and given it to those who are better than you.”.

The Mighty One of Israel will not lie or regret. Because he is far from the world, he will never regret it.

Saul said, I have sinned. Nevertheless, lift me up before the elders of my people and the children of Israel, and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.

So Samuel turned around and followed Saul back, and Saul worshipped the Lord.

Samuel said, Bring Agag king of Amalek to me. Agag came to him with joy and said in his heart, The suffering of death will surely pass.

Samuel said, “If you use the sword to make a woman lose her son, then your mother will also lose her son among women.”. So Samuel killed Agag before the Lord in Gilgal.

Samuel returned to Rama. Saul went up to his home in Gibeah, where he was staying.

Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. But Samuel mourned for Saul because the Lord regretted making him king over Israel.