10 Then Yahweh told Shmuel (Samuel), 11 “I regret that I’ve appointed Sha’ul (Saul) as king because he’s turned away from following me and hasn’t obeyed my instructions.” That really upset Shmuel and he cried out to Yahweh all night. 12 Early the next morning, Shmuel 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 Shmuel 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 Shmuel. “And I’m sure I can hear cattle sounds too?”
15 “Ah, the warriors took them from the Amalekim,” 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 Shmuel, “and let me tell you what Yahweh told me last night.”
“Go ahead,” Sha’ul responded.
17 So Shmuel told him, “Although you consider yourself insignificant, aren’t you the head of the tribes of Yisrael (Israel)? Yahweh anointed you as king over Yisrael, 18 then sent you off with the task of completely destroying the sinful Amalekim—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 Amaleki King Agag here and I’ve completely destroyed the Amalekim. 21 Yes, the people kept some of the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to your god Yahweh here at Gilgal.”
22 But Shmuel 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 (Saul) 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.” Shmuel (Samuel) replied. “You’ve rejected Yahweh’s instructions, and Yahweh has already rejected you as Yisrael’s (Israel’s) king.”
27 As Shmuel turned around to go, Sha’ul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore.[ref] 28 “Today, Yahweh has torn the Yisrael kingdom away from you,” Shmuel told him. “And he’s given it to another man who’s better than you. 29 And by the way, Yisrael’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 Shmuel followed Sha’ul back, and Sha’ul worshipped Yahweh.
32 Then Shmuel commanded, “Bring the Amaleki 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 Shmuel told him,
“Just as your sword has made women childless,
so too will your mother be made childless among women.”
And Shmuel hacked Agag to pieces in front of Yahweh there at Gilgal.
34 Then Shmuel went home to Ramah, and Sha’ul (Saul) returned to his house in Giveah. 35 After that, Shmuel never saw Sha’ul again, but he mourned for him, and Yahweh regretted that he’d made Sha’ul king over Yisrael (Israel).
