1 Samuel 7:17

7:17 Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged ¹  Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there.

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? ² 

Certainly, ³  obedience ⁴  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than ⁵  the fat of rams.

[7:17]  ¹ tn Or perhaps “settled disputes for” (cf. NLT “would hear cases there”; NRSV “administered justice there”).

[15:22]  ² tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

[15:22]  ³ tn Heb “look.”

[15:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “listening.”

[15:22]  ⁵ tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).