10 Then Yahweh told Shemuel, 11 “I regret that I’ve appointed Sha’ul as king because he’s turned away from following me and hasn’t obeyed my instructions.” That really upset Shemuel and he cried out to Yahweh all night. 12 Early the next morning, Shemuel got up to meet Sha’ul, but someone told him, “Sha’ul went to Karmel, and wow, he set up a monument to himself. Then he turned around and went to Gilgal.” 13 When Shemuel caught up with Sha’ul, Sha’ul told him, “May Yahweh bless you. I’ve followed Yahweh’s instructions.”

14 “Then what’s that bleating of sheep that I can hear?” asked Shemuel. “And I’m sure I can hear cattle sounds too?”

15 “Ah, the warriors took them from the Amalekites,” Sha’ul answered. “They wanted to save the best of the sheep and the cattle in order to sacrifice to your God Yahweh. But we completely destroyed the rest.”

16 “Stop,” said Shemuel, “and let me tell you what Yahweh told me last night.”

“Go ahead,” Sha’ul responded.

17 So Shemuel told him, “Although you consider yourself insignificant, aren’t you the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you as king over Israel, 18 then sent you off with the task of completely destroying the sinful Amalekites—fighting until they were all destroyed. 19 So why didn’t you obey Yahweh’s command? Instead, you headed straight for the plunder and disobeyed Yahweh.”

20 “I did listen to Yahweh’s instructions,” Sha’ul insisted. “and I did what he asked. So now I’ve brought Amalekite King Agag here and I’ve completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 Yes, the people kept some of the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to your God Yahweh here at Gilgal.”

22 But Shemuel asked,

“Is Yahweh happier with burnt offerings and sacrifices

than with those who follow his instructions?

Listen, obedience is better than sacrifice—

≈paying attention is worth more than the fat of rams.

23 Rebellion is as sinful as doing sorcery,

≈and being stubborn is as sinful as worshipping idols.

Because you have rejected Yahweh’s instructions,

≈he has rejected you as king.”

24 “Yes, I’ve sinned,” Sha’ul responded. “I can see that I’ve disobeyed Yahweh’s instruction, and yours too, because I feared the people and did what they were requesting. 25 But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so I can worship Yahweh.”

26 “No, I won’t return with you.” Shemuel replied. “You’ve rejected Yahweh’s instructions, and Yahweh has already rejected you as Israel’s king.”

27 As Shemuel turned around to go, Sha’ul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore.[ref] 28 “Today, Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you,” Shemuel told him. “And he’s given it to another man who’s better than you. 29 And by the way, Israel’s powerful God doesn’t go back on his word, and doesn’t change his mind like people tend to do.

30 “It’s true that I’ve sinned,” Sha’ul said, “but please honour me now in front of the Israeli people and their elders. And then return with me, so I can worship your God Yahweh.” 31 So Shemuel followed Sha’ul back, and Sha’ul worshipped Yahweh.

32 Then Shemuel commanded, “Bring the Amalekite King Agag over here to me.”

So they brought him over, and trembling,[fn] he said, “I’ve faced up to death now.”[fn]

33 Then Shemuel told him,

“Just as your sword has made women childless,

so too will your mother be made childless among women.”

And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces in front of Yahweh there at Gilgal.

34 Then Shemuel went home to Ramah, and Sha’ul returned to his house in Gibeah. 35 After that, Shemuel never saw Sha’ul again, but he mourned for him, and Yahweh regretted that he’d made Sha’ul king over Israel.