1 Samuel 2:23

2:23 He said to them, “Why do you behave in this way? For I hear about these evil things from all these ¹  people.

1 Samuel 3:10

3:10 Then the Lord came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening!”

1 Samuel 8:9

8:9 So now do as they say. ²  But seriously warn ³  them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.” ⁴ 

1 Samuel 8:22

8:22 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say ⁵  and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”

1 Samuel 15:1

Saul Is Rejected as King

15:1 Then Samuel said to Saul, “I was the one the Lord sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now listen to what the Lord says. ⁶ 

1 Samuel 15:22

15:22 Then Samuel said,

“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as he does in obedience? ⁷ 

Certainly, ⁸  obedience ⁹  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than ¹⁰  the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 23:11

23:11 Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, please inform your servant!”

Then the Lord said, “He will come down.”

1 Samuel 28:22

28:22 Now it’s your turn to listen to your servant! Let me set before you a bit of bread so that you can eat. When you regain your strength, you can go on your way.”

¹ tc For “these” the LXX has “of the Lord” (κυρίου, kuriou), perhaps through the influence of the final phrase of v. 24 (“the people of the Lord”). Somewhat less likely is the view that the MT reading is due to a distorted dittography of the first word of v. 24. The Vulgate lacks the word.

² tn Heb “and now, listen to their voice.”

³ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the imperative for emphasis.

⁴ tn Heb “and tell them the manner of the king who will rule over them.”

³ tn Heb “listen to their voice.”

⁴ tn Heb “to the voice of the words of the Lord” (so KJV).

⁵ tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

⁶ tn Heb “look.”

⁷ tn Heb “listening.”

⁸ tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).