1 Samuel 12:15

12:15 But if you don’t obey ¹  the Lord and rebel against what the Lord says, the hand of the Lord will be against both you and your king. ² 

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? ³ 

Certainly, ⁴  obedience ⁵  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than ⁶  the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 28:12

28:12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. ⁷  The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

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.”

[12:15]  ¹ tn Heb “listen to the voice of.”

[12:15]  ² tc The LXX reads “your king” rather than the MT’s “your fathers.” The latter makes little sense here. Some follow MT, but translate “as it was against your fathers.” See P. K. McCarter, 1 Samuel (AB), 212.

[15:22]  ³ tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

[15:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “look.”

[15:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “listening.”

[15:22]  ⁶ tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).

[28:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “in a great voice.”