1 Samuel 15:20-23

Context

15:20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed¹ the Lord! I went on the campaign² the Lord sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. 15:21 But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle – the best of what was to be slaughtered – to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

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 obedience⁵ is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than⁶ the fat of rams.

15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

he has rejected you as⁷ king.”

[15:20] ¹tn Heb “listened to the voice of the Lord.”

[15:20] ²tn Heb “journey.”

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

[15:22] ⁴tn Heb “look.”

[15:22] ⁵tn Heb “listening.”

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

[15:23] ⁵tn Or “from [being].”