Saul Disobeys and Samuel Confronts Him

Samuel reminded Saul that the Lord had anointed him king over Israel, so he must listen to the Lord’s words. Then Samuel gave the command against Amalek because of what Amalek had done to Israel on the way from Egypt. Saul gathered his army, told the Kenites to leave safely, and struck the Amalekites.

But Saul did not do everything the Lord had commanded. He kept Agag, the Amalekite king, alive. Saul and the people also spared the best sheep, cattle, calves, lambs, and everything they considered good. Only the things they saw as worthless were completely destroyed.

Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel. The Lord said Saul had turned back from following him and had not carried out his commands. Samuel was angry and cried out to the Lord through the night. In the morning, Samuel learned that Saul had set up a monument for himself and then gone down to Gilgal.

When Samuel met Saul, Saul said he had obeyed the Lord. But Samuel could hear sheep bleating and cattle lowing. Saul said the people had spared the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel answered that obeying the Lord is better than sacrifice. Because Saul had rejected the Lord’s word, the Lord had rejected Saul as king.

Saul admitted that he had sinned and said he had feared the people and obeyed their voice. When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed his robe and tore it. Samuel said the kingdom would be torn from Saul and given to another. Samuel then went back with Saul, and later he put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal. After that, Samuel returned to Ramah, Saul went home, and Samuel did not see Saul again before his death, though Samuel mourned for him.