NASB — 1 Samuel 15 — KJV

Saul’s Disobedience

1 Then Samuel° said° to Saul°, “aThe LORD° sent° me to anoint° you as king° over° His people°, over° Israel°; now° therefore, listen° to the Iwords° of the LORD°. 2 Thus° says° the LORD° of hosts°, ‘I will Ipunish° Amalek° a[for] 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 autterly° destroy° all° that he has, and do not spare° him; but bput° to death° both° man° and woman°, child° and infant°, ox° and sheep°, camel° and donkey°.’”

[1] ILit sound of the words a1S 9:16; 10:1
[2] IOr visit aEx 17:8-16; Nu 24:20; Dt 25:17-19
[3] aNu 24:20; Dt 20:16-18; Jsh 6:17-21 b1S 22:19

4 ¶ Then Saul° summoned° the people° and Inumbered° them in aTelaim°, 200,000°° foot° soldiers° and 10,000°° men° of Judah°. 5 Saul° came° to the city° of Amalek° and set° an ambush° in the valley°. 6 Saul° said° to athe Kenites°, “Go°, depart°, go° down° from among° the Amalekites°, so that I do not destroy° you with them; for byou showed° kindness° to all° the sons° of Israel° when they came° up from Egypt°.” So the Kenites° departed° from among° the Amalekites°. 7 So aSaul° Idefeated° the Amalekites°, from bHavilah° as you go° to cShur°, which° is IIeast°° of Egypt°. 8 He captured° aAgag° the king° of the Amalekites° alive°, and butterly° destroyed° 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 were not willing° to destroy° them utterly°; but everything°° despised° and worthless°, that they utterly° destroyed°.

[4] ILit mustered aJsh 15:24
[6] aNu 24:21; Jg 1:16; 4:11 bEx 18:9, 10; Nu 10:29-32
[7] ILit smote IILit before a1S 14:48 bGn 25:18 cGn 16:7; Ex 15:22; 1S 27:8
[8] aNu 24:7; 1S 15:20; Es 3:1 b1S 27:8, 9; 30:1; 2S 8:12
[9] a1S 15:3, 15, 19

Samuel Rebukes Saul

10 ¶ Then the word° of the LORD° came° to Samuel°, saying°, 11aI regret° that I have made° Saul° king°, for bhe has turned° back° from Ifollowing° Me and has not carried° out My commands°.” And Samuel° was distressed° and ccried° out to the LORD° all° night°. 12 Samuel° rose° early° in the morning° to meet° Saul°; and it was told° Samuel°, saying°, “Saul° came° to aCarmel°, and behold°, he set° up a monument° for himself, then turned° and proceeded° on Idown° to bGilgal°.” 13 Samuel° came° to Saul°, and Saul° said° to him, “aBlessed° are you of the LORD°! I have carried° out the command° of the LORD°.” 14 But Samuel° said°, “aWhat° then is this° Ibleating° of the sheep° in my ears°, and the Ilowing° of the oxen° which° I hear°?” 15 Saul° said°, “They have brought° them from the Amalekites°, for athe people° spared° the best° of the sheep° and oxen°, to sacrifice° to the LORD° your God°; but the rest° we have utterly° destroyed°.” 16 Then Samuel° said° to Saul°, “Wait°, and let me tell° you what° the LORD° said° to me last night°.” And he said° to him, “Speak°!”

[11] ILit after aGn 6:6, 7; Ex 32:14; 1S 15:35; 2S 24:16 bJsh 22:16; 1S 13:13; 1K 9:6, 7 cEx 32:11-13; Lk 6:12
[12] ILit and went down aJsh 15:55; 1S 25:2 b1S 13:12, 15
[13] aGn 14:19; Jg 17:2; Ru 3:10; 2S 2:5
[14] ILit sound aEx 32:21-24
[15] aGn 3:12, 13; Ex 32:22, 23; 1S 15:9, 21

17 ¶ 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 the LORD° anointed° you king° over° Israel°, 18 and the LORD° sent° you on a Imission°, and said°, ‘aGo° and utterly° destroy° the sinners°, the Amalekites°, and fight° against them until° they are exterminated°.’ 19 Why° then did you not obey° the voice° of the LORD°, abut rushed° upon the spoil° and did° what° was evil° in the sight° of the LORD°?”

[17] a1S 9:21; 10:22
[18] ILit way a1S 15:3
[19] a1S 14:32

20 ¶ Then Saul° said° to Samuel°, “aI did obey° the voice° of the LORD°, and went° on the Imission° on which° the LORD° sent° me, and have brought° back Agag° the king° of Amalek°, and have utterly° destroyed° the Amalekites°. 21 But athe people° took° [some] of the spoil°, sheep° and oxen°, the choicest° of the things° devoted° to destruction°, to sacrifice° to the LORD° your God° at Gilgal°.” 22 Samuel° said°,
  “aHas the LORD° as much delight° in burnt° offerings° and sacrifices°
  As in obeying° the voice° of the LORD°?
  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 biniquity° and idolatry°.
  Because° you have rejected° the word° of the LORD°,
  cHe has also rejected° you from [being] king°.”

[20] ILit way a1S 15:13
[21] aEx 32:22, 23; 1S 15:15
[22] aPs 40:6-8; 51:16, 17; Is 1:11-15; Mi 6:6-8; He 10:6-9 bJr 7:22, 23; Ho 6:6; Mt 12:7; Mk 12:33
[23] aDt 18:10 bGn 31:19, 34 c1S 13:14

24 ¶ Then Saul° said° to Samuel°, “aI have sinned°; bI have indeed° transgressed° the Icommand° of the LORD° and your words°, because° I feared° the people° and listened° to their voice°. 25 Now° therefore, aplease° pardon° my sin° and return° with me, that I may worship° the LORD°.” 26 But Samuel° said° to Saul°, “I will not return° with you; for ayou have rejected° the word° of the LORD°, and the LORD° has rejected° you from being° king° over° Israel°.” 27 As Samuel° turned° to go°, a[Saul] seized° the edge° of his robe°, and it tore°. 28 So Samuel° said° to him, “aThe LORD° has torn° the kingdom° of Israel° from you today° and has given° it to your neighbor°, who is better° than° you. 29 Also° the IaGlory° of Israel° bwill not lie° or change° His mind°; for He is not a man° that He should change° His mind°.” 30 Then he said°, “I have sinned°; a[but] please° honor° me now° before° the elders° of my people° and before° Israel°, and go° back° with me, bthat I may worship° the LORD° your God°.” 31 So Samuel° went° back° following° Saul°, and Saul° worshiped° the LORD°.

[24] ILit mouth aNu 22:34; 2S 12:13; Ps 51:4 bPv 29:25; Is 51:12, 13
[25] aEx 10:17
[26] a1S 13:14; 16:1
[27] a1K 11:30, 31
[28] a1S 28:17, 18; 1K 11:31
[29] IOr Eminence a1Ch 29:11 bNu 23:19; Ezk 24:14; Tit 1:2
[30] aJn 5:44; 12:43 bIs 29:13

32 ¶ Then Samuel° said°, “Bring° me Agag°, the king° of the Amalekites°.” And Agag° came° to him Icheerfully°. And Agag° said°, “Surely° the bitterness° of death° is past°.” 33 But Samuel° said°, “aAs your sword° has made° women° childless°, so° shall your mother° be childless° among° women°.” And Samuel° hewed° Agag° to pieces° before° the LORD° at Gilgal°.

[32] IOr in bonds
[33] aGn 9:6; Jg 1:7; Mt 7:2

34 ¶ Then Samuel° went° to aRamah°, but Saul° went° up to his house° at bGibeah° of Saul°. 35 aSamuel° did° not see° Saul° again° until° the day° of his death°; for Samuel° bgrieved° over° Saul°. And the LORD° regretted° that He had made° Saul° king° over° Israel°.

[34] a1S 7:17 b1S 11:4
[35] a1S 19:24 b1S 16:1


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Samuel sendeth Saul to destroy Amalek.

1 ¶ Samuelº also saidºª unto² Saul,º The LORDº sentºª me to anointºª thee [to be] kingº over² his people,º over² Israel:º now² therefore hearkenºª thou unto the voiceº of the wordsº of the LORD.º 2 Thus² saithºª the LORDº of hosts,º I rememberºª [that]² which² Amalekº didºª to Israel,º how² he laidºª [wait] for him in the way,º when he came upºª from Egypt.º² 3 Now² go¹ª² and smiteºª² Amalek,º and utterly destroyºª² all² that² they have, and spareºª² them not;² but slayºª both manº² and² woman,º infantº² and suckling,ºª oxº² and sheep,º camelº² and ass.º 4 And Saulº gathered¹ª the people¹ together,ºª²² and numberedºª them in Telaim,º two hundredº thousandº footmen,º and tenº thousandº² menº of Judah.º 5 And Saulº cameºª to² a cityº of Amalek,º and laid waitº¹ªª in the valley.º

[1] 1S 9:16; 10:1; 12:14; 13:13; 15:16, 17; 2S 23:2; 1Ch 22:12; Ps 2:10.
[2] Ex 17:8; Nu 24:20; Dt 25:17; Jr 31:34; Ho 7:2; Am 8:7.
[3] Gn 3:17; Ex 20:5; Lv 27:28; Nu 24:20; 31:17; Dt 13:15; 20:16; Jsh 6:17; Is 14:21; Ro 8:20.
[4] Jsh 15:24; 1S 11:8; 13:15.
[5] 1S 15:5.

Saul favoureth the Kenites.

6 ¶ And Saulº saidºª unto² the Kenites,º Go,¹ª² depart,ºª get you downºª from amongº² the Amalekites,º lest² I destroyºª you with² them: for ye² shewedºª kindnessº to² all² the childrenº of Israel,º when they came upºª out of Egypt.º² So the Kenitesº departedºª from amongº² the Amalekites.º 7 And Saulº smoteºª² the Amalekitesº from Havilahº² [until] thou comestºª to Shur,º that² [is] over² againstº Egypt.º

[6] Gn 18:25; 19:12; Ex 18:9, 19; Nu 10:29; 16:26, 34; 24:21; Jg 1:16; 4:11; 5:24; 1S 27:10; 1Ch 2:55; Pv 9:6; Ac 2:40; 2Co 6:17; 2Ti 1:16; Rv 18:14.
[7] Gn 2:11; 16:7; 25:18; 1S 14:48; 27:8; Jb 21:30; Ec 8:13.

He spareth Agag and the best of the spoil.

8 And he tookºª² Agagº the kingº of the Amalekitesº alive,º and utterly destroyedºª all² the peopleº with the edgeº of the sword.º 9 But Saulº and the peopleº sparedºª² Agag,º and the bestº of the sheep,º and of the oxen,º and of the fatlings,º and the lambs,º and all² [that was] good,º and wouldºª not² utterly destroyºª them: but every² thingº [that was] vileº and refuse,ºª that they destroyed utterly.ºª

[8] Nu 24:7; Jsh 10:39; 11:12; 1S 15:3; 27:8; 30:1; 1K 20:30, 34; Es 3:1.
[9] Jsh 7:21; 1S 15:3, 15, 19; 2S 6:13.

Samuel denounceth unto Saul, commending and excusing himself, God's rejection of him for his disobedience.

10 ¶ Then came² the wordº of the LORDº unto² Samuel,º saying,ºª 11 It repenteth¹ª me² that² I have set upºª² Saulº [to be] king:º for² he is turned backºª from followingº² me, and hath not² performedºª my commandments.º And it grievedºª Samuel;º and he criedºª unto² the LORDº all² night.º 12 And when Samuelº rose earlyºª to meetºª Saulº in the morning,º it was toldºª Samuel,º saying,ºª Saulº cameºª to Carmel,º and, behold,² he set him upºª a place,º and is gone about,ºª and passed on,ºª and gone downºª to Gilgal.º 13 And Samuelº cameºª to² Saul:º and Saulº saidºª unto him, Blessedºª [be] thou² of the LORD:º I have performedºª² the commandmentº of the LORD.º 14 And Samuelº said,ºª What² [meaneth] then this² bleatingº of the sheepº in mine ears,º and the lowingº of the oxenº which² I² hear?ºª 15 And Saulº said,ºª They have broughtºª them from the Amalekites:º² for² the peopleº sparedºª² the bestº of the sheepº and of the oxen,º to sacrificeºª² unto the LORDº thy God;º and the restºª we have utterly destroyed.ºª 16 Then Samuelº saidºª unto² Saul,º Stay,ºª and I will tellºª thee² what² the LORDº hath saidºª to² me this night.º And he saidºª unto him, Say on.ºª 17 And Samuelº said,ºª When² thou² [wast] littleº in thine own sight,º [wast] thou² not² [made] the headº of the tribesº of Israel,º and the LORDº anointedºª thee kingº over² Israel?º 18 And the LORDº sentºª thee on a journey,º and said,ºª Go¹ª² and utterly destroyºª² the sinnersº² the Amalekites,º and fightºª against them until² they be consumed.ºª 19 Wherefore² then didst thou not² obeyºª the voiceº of the LORD,º but didst flyºª upon² the spoil,º and didstºª evilº in the sightº of the LORD?º 20 And Saulº saidºª unto² Samuel,º Yea,² I have obeyedºª the voiceº of the LORD,º and have gone¹ª² the wayº which² the LORDº sentºª me, and have broughtºª² Agagº the kingº of Amalek,º and have utterly destroyedºª the Amalekites.º 21 But the peopleº tookºª of the spoil,º² sheepº and oxen,º the chiefº of the things which should have been utterly destroyed,º to sacrificeºª unto the LORDº thy Godº in Gilgal.º 22 And Samuelº said,ºª Hath the LORDº [as great] delightº in burnt offeringsº and sacrifices,º as in obeyingºª the voiceº of the LORD?º Behold,² to obeyºª [is] betterº than sacrifice,º² [and] to hearkenºª than the fatº² of rams.º 23 For² rebellionº [is as] the sinº of witchcraft,º and stubbornnessºª [is as] iniquityº and idolatry.º Because² thou hast rejectedºª² the wordº of the LORD,º he hath also rejectedºª thee from [being] king.º²

[11] Gn 6:6; Jsh 22:16; 1S 12:23; 13:13; 15:3, 9, 35; 16:1; 2S 24:16; 1K 9:6; Ps 36:3; 78:41, 57; 109:4; 110:4; 119:136; 125:5; Jr 9:1, 18; 13:17; 18:7; Am 7:3; Jna 3:10; 4:2; Zp 1:6; Mt 5:44; 24:13; Lk 6:12; 19:41; Ro 9:1; He 10:38.
[12] Jsh 4:8; 15:55; 1S 7:12; 25:2; 2S 18:18; 1K 18:42.
[13] Gn 3:12; 14:19; Jg 17:2; Ru 3:10; 1S 13:10; 15:9, 11; Pv 27:2; 28:13; 30:13; 31:31; Lk 17:10; 18:11.
[14] Ps 36:2; 50:16; Jr 2:18, 22, 34; Mal 3:13; Lk 19:22; Ro 3:19; 1Co 4:5.
[15] Gn 3:12; Ex 32:22; 1S 15:9, 21; Jb 31:33; Pv 28:13; Mt 2:8; Lk 10:29.
[16] 1S 9:27; 12:7; 1K 22:16.
[17] Jg 6:15; 1S 9:21; 10:1, 22; 15:1; Ho 13:1; Mt 18:4.
[18] Gn 13:13; 15:16; Nu 16:38; Jb 31:3; Pv 10:29; 13:21.
[19] 2Ch 33:2, 6; 36:12; Pv 15:27; Jr 7:11; Hab 2:9; 2Ti 4:10.
[20] 1S 15:3, 8, 13; Jb 33:9; 34:5; 35:2; 40:8; Mt 19:20; Lk 10:29; 18:11; Ro 10:3.
[21] Gn 3:13; Ex 32:22; 1S 15:15.
[22] Ex 19:5; Ps 50:8; 51:16; Pv 21:3; Ec 5:1; Is 1:11; Jr 7:22, 23; 11:4, 7; 26:13; Ho 6:6; Am 5:21; Mi 6:6; Mt 5:24; 9:13; 12:7; 23:23; Mk 12:33; He 10:4.
[23] Ex 22:18; Lv 20:6, 27; Nu 14:9; Dt 9:7, 24; 18:10; Jsh 22:16; 1S 2:30; 12:14; 13:14; 16:1; 2K 17:15; 1Ch 28:9; Jb 34:37; Ps 107:11; Is 8:19; 19:3; Jr 28:16; 29:32; Ezk 2:5; 2Co 6:16; Ga 5:20; Rv 21:8; 22:15.

Saul's humiliation.

24 ¶ And Saulº saidºª unto² Samuel,º I have sinned:ºª for² I have transgressedºª² the commandmentº of the LORD,º and thy words:º because² I fearedºª² the people,º and obeyedºª their voice.º 25 Now² therefore, I pray thee,² pardonºª² my sin,º and turn againºª with² me, that I may worshipºª the LORD.º 26 And Samuelº saidºª unto² Saul,º I will not² returnºª with² thee: for² thou hast rejectedºª² the wordº of the LORD,º and the LORDº hath rejectedºª thee from being²² kingº over² Israel.º 27 And as Samuelº turned aboutºª to go away,¹ª² he laid holdºª upon the skirtº of his mantle,º and it rent.ºª 28 And Samuelº saidºª unto² him, The LORDº hath rentºª² the kingdomº of Israelº from²² thee this day,º and hath givenºª it to a neighbourº of thine, [that is] betterº than² thou. 29 And also² the Strengthº of Israelº will not² lieºª nor² repent:ºª for² he [is] not² a man,º that he² should repent.ºª 30 Then he said,ºª I have sinned:ºª [yet] honourºª me now,² I pray thee,² before² the eldersº of my people,º and before² Israel,º and turn againºª with² me, that I may worshipºª the LORDº thy God.º 31 So Samuelº turned againºª afterº Saul;º and Saulº worshippedºª the LORD.º

[24] Gn 3:12, 17; Ex 9:27; 10:16; 23:2; Nu 22:34; 1S 2:29; 15:9, 15, 30; 2S 12:13; Jb 31:34; Pv 29:25; Is 51:12; Jr 38:5; Mt 27:4; Lk 23:20; Ga 1:10; Rv 21:8.
[25] Ex 10:17.
[26] Gn 42:38; 43:11; 1S 2:30; 13:14; 15:23, 31; 16:1; Jr 6:19; Ho 4:6; Lk 24:28; 2Jn 1:11.
[28] 1S 2:7; 13:14; 16:12; 28:17; 1K 11:30; Jr 27:5; Dn 4:17, 32; Jn 19:11; Ac 13:22; Ro 13:1.
[29] Nu 14:28; 23:19; Dt 33:27; Ps 29:11; 68:35; 95:11; Is 45:24; Ezk 24:14; Jol 3:16; 2Co 12:9; Php 4:13; 2Ti 2:13; Tit 1:2; He 6:18.
[30] Is 29:13; Hab 2:4; Lk 18:9; Jn 5:44; 12:43; 2Ti 3:5.

Samuel killeth Agag.

32 ¶ Then saidºª Samuel,º Bring ye hitherºª to² me² Agagº the kingº of the Amalekites.º And Agagº came¹ª² unto² him delicately.º And Agagº said,ºª Surelyº the bitternessº of deathº is past.ºª 33 And Samuelº said,ºª As² thy swordº hath made womenº childless,ºª so² shall thy motherº be childlessºª among women.º² And Samuelº hewed¹ª Agag¹ in piecesºª²² beforeº the LORDº in Gilgal.º

[32] Jr 48:44; 1Th 5:3; Rv 18:7.
[33] Gn 9:6; Ex 17:11; Nu 14:45; 25:7; Jg 1:7; 1K 18:40; Is 34:6; Jr 48:10; Mt 7:2; Jm 2:13; Rv 16:6; 18:6.

Samuel and Saul part.

34 ¶ Then Samuelº went¹ª² to Ramah;º and Saulº went upºª to² his houseº to Gibeahº of Saul.º 35 And Samuelº came no² moreºª to seeºª² Saulº until² the dayº of his death:º neverthelessº Samuelº mournedºª for² Saul:º and the LORDº repentedºª that² he had made Saul¹ kingºª²² over² Israel.º

[34] 1S 11:4.
[35] Gn 6:6; 1S 15:11; 16:1; 19:24; Ps 119:136, 158; Jr 9:1; Ro 9:2; Php 3:18.


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