Now I dedicate him to the <sc>Lordsc>. From this time on he is dedicated to the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221; Then they<n id="1" /> worshiped the <sc>Lordsc> there.p>

Then Saul built an altar for the <sc>Lordsc>; it was the first time he had built an altar for the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="bodytext">

So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">Saul replied, &#8220;May you be blessed by the <sc>Lordsc>, for you have had compassion on me.

<t /><p class="bodytext">This man Elkanah went up with all his family to make the yearly sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc> and to keep his vow,

All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the <sc>Lordsc>.

But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle &#8211; the best of what was to be slaughtered &#8211; to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc> your God in Gilgal.&#8221;p>

Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Year after year<n id="1" /> this man would go up from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc> of hosts at Shiloh. It was there that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, served as the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s priests.

<p class="bodytext">These are the gold sores that the Philistines brought as a guilt offering to the <sc>Lordsc> &#8211; one for each of the following cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

So Samuel took a nursing lamb<n id="1" /> and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the <sc>Lordsc>. Samuel cried out to the <sc>Lordsc> on Israel&#8217;s behalf, and the <sc>Lordsc> answered him.p>

Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged<n id="1" /> Israel there and built an altar to the <sc>Lordsc> there.p>

As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the <sc>Lordsc> by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.

<p class="bodytext">Now it was reported to Saul, &#8220;Look, the army is sinning against the <sc>Lordsc> by eating even the blood.&#8221; He said, &#8220;All of you have broken the covenant!<n id="1" /> Roll a large stone over here to me.&#8221;

When Samuel came to him,<n id="1" /> Saul said to him, &#8220;May the <sc>Lordsc> bless you! I have done what the <sc>Lordsc> said.&#8221;p>

Saul said, &#8220;They were brought<n id="1" /> from the Amalekites; the army spared the best of the flocks and cattle to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc> our God. But everything else we slaughtered.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel said,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Does the <sc>Lordsc> take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrificesp> <p class="poetry">as much as he does in obedience?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Certainly,<n id="2" /> obedience<n id="3" /> is better than sacrifice;p> <p class="poetry">paying attention is better than<n id="4" /> the fat of rams.p>

Saul<n id="1" /> again replied, &#8220;I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the <sc>Lordsc> your God.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Samuel replied, &#8220;How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!&#8221; But the <sc>Lordsc> said, &#8220;Take a heifer with you<n id="1" /> and say, &#8216;I have come to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8217;

He replied, &#8220;Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc>. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.&#8221; So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.p>