Saul’s Disobedience

1  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), אֹתִ֨י (Me) שָׁלַ֤ח (sent) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לִמְשָׁחֳךָ֣ (to anoint you) לְמֶ֔לֶךְ (king) עַל־ (over) עַמּ֖וֹ (His people), עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel). וְעַתָּ֣ה (And now) שְׁמַ֔ע (listen) לְק֖וֹל (to the voice) דִּבְרֵ֥י (of the words) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH). 2  כֹּ֤ה (Thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts): פָּקַ֕דְתִּי (I have looked after) אֵ֛ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that which) עָשָׂ֥ה (did) עֲמָלֵ֖ק (Amalek) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (to Israel), אֲשֶׁר־ (how) שָׂ֥ם (he laid in wait) לוֹ֙ (for him) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (on the way) בַּעֲלֹת֖וֹ (in his going up) מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (out of Egypt). 3  עַתָּה֩ (Now) לֵ֨ךְ (go) וְהִכִּֽיתָ֜ה (and strike) אֶת־ (-) עֲמָלֵ֗ק (the Amalekite), וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ (and utterly destroy) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that is) ל֔וֹ (unto him), וְלֹ֥א (and not) תַחְמֹ֖ל (do spare) עָלָ֑יו (him) וְהֵמַתָּ֞ה (and kill) מֵאִ֣ישׁ (from man) עַד־ (to) אִשָּׁ֗ה (woman), מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ (from infant) וְעַד־ (and to) יוֹנֵ֔ק (nursing child), מִשּׁ֣וֹר (ox) וְעַד־ (and) שֶׂ֔ה (sheep), מִגָּמָ֖ל (camel) וְעַד־ (and) חֲמֽוֹר׃ס (donkey).

4  וַיְשַׁמַּ֤ע (And summoned) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people) וַֽיִּפְקְדֵם֙ (and numbered them) בַּטְּלָאִ֔ים (in Telaim)— מָאתַ֥יִם (two hundred) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) רַגְלִ֑י (foot soldiers), וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת (and ten) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) אֶת־ (-) אִ֥ישׁ (men) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah). 5  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And came) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) עַד־ (to) עִ֣יר (a city) עֲמָלֵ֑ק (of Amalek), וַיָּ֖רֶב (and he lay in wait) בַּנָּֽחַל׃ (in the valley). 6  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) אֶֽל־ (to) הַקֵּינִ֡י (the Kenite), לְכוּ֩ (Go), סֻּ֨רוּ (depart), רְד֜וּ (get down) מִתּ֣וֹךְ (from the midst) עֲמָלֵקִ֗י (of the Amalekite), פֶּן־ (lest) אֹֽסִפְךָ֙ (I consume you) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him). וְאַתָּ֞ה (And for you) עָשִׂ֤יתָה (showed) חֶ֙סֶד֙ (kindness) עִם־ (to) כָּל־ (all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) בַּעֲלוֹתָ֖ם (in their going up) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (out of Egypt).

וַיָּ֥סַר (And departed) קֵינִ֖י (the Kenite) מִתּ֥וֹךְ (from the midst) עֲמָלֵֽק׃ (of the Amalekite), 7  וַיַּ֥ךְ (and struck) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (-) עֲמָלֵ֑ק (the Amalekite) מֵֽחֲוִילָה֙ (from Havilah) בּוֹאֲךָ֣ (all the way to) שׁ֔וּר (Shur), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which) עַל־ (is on) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 8  וַיִּתְפֹּ֛שׂ (And He took) אֶת־ (-) אֲגַ֥ג (Agag) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) עֲמָלֵ֖ק (of the Amalekite) חָ֑י (alive), וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) הֶחֱרִ֥ים (he devoted to destruction) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חָֽרֶב׃ (of sword).

9  וַיַּחְמֹל֩ (And had pity) שָׁא֨וּל (Saul) וְהָעָ֜ם (and the people) עַל־ (on) אֲגָ֗ג (Agag), וְעַל־ (and on) מֵיטַ֣ב (the best) הַצֹּאן֩ (of the flock) וְהַבָּקָ֨ר (and of the herd), וְהַמִּשְׁנִ֤ים (and of the seconds), וְעַל־ (and on) הַכָּרִים֙ (the lambs), וְעַל־ (and on) כָּל־ (all) הַטּ֔וֹב (that was good), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אָב֖וּ (they were willing) הַחֲרִימָ֑ם (to utterly destroy them), וְכָל־ (and all) הַמְּלָאכָ֛ה (the work that was) נְמִבְזָ֥ה (despised) וְנָמֵ֖ס (and worthless) אֹתָ֥הּ (-) הֶחֱרִֽימוּ׃פ (they devoted to destruction).

Samuel Denounces Saul

10  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And came) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 11  נִחַ֗מְתִּי (I regret) כִּֽי־ (that) הִמְלַ֤כְתִּי (I have made reign) אֶת־ (-) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) לְמֶ֔לֶךְ (as king), כִּֽי־ (for) שָׁב֙ (he has turned back) מֵאַֽחֲרַ֔י (from following Me), וְאֶת־ (and) דְּבָרַ֖י (My commandments) לֹ֣א (not) הֵקִ֑ים (he has performed).

וַיִּ֙חַר֙ (And it grieved) לִשְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), וַיִּזְעַ֥ק (and he cried out) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) כָּל־ (all) הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (the night).

12  וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֧ם (And rose early) שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל (Samuel) לִקְרַ֥את (to meet) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בַּבֹּ֑קֶר (in the morning), וַיֻּגַּ֨ד (and it was declared) לִשְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (to Samuel), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), בָּֽא־ (Has come in) שָׁא֤וּל (Saul) הַכַּרְמֶ֙לָה֙ (to Carmel), וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and indeed), מַצִּ֥יב (he has set up) לוֹ֙ (for himself) יָ֔ד (a monument), וַיִּסֹּב֙ (and he has turned), וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר (and passed over), וַיֵּ֖רֶד (and gone down) הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ (to Gilgal).

13  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And went) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul), וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (and said) ל֣וֹ (to him) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), בָּר֤וּךְ (Blessed are) אַתָּה֙ (you) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (of YHWH)! הֲקִימֹ֖תִי (I have performed) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֥ר (the commandment) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

14  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), וּמֶ֛ה (And what) קֽוֹל־ (bleating) הַצֹּ֥אן (of the sheep) הַזֶּ֖ה (is this) בְּאָזְנָ֑י (in my ears), וְק֣וֹל (and the lowing) הַבָּקָ֔ר (of the herd) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אָנֹכִ֖י (I) שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃ (am hearing)?

15  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul), מֵעֲמָלֵקִ֣י (From the Amalekite) הֱבִיא֗וּם (they have brought them), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (for) חָמַ֤ל (spared) הָעָם֙ (the people) עַל־ (the) מֵיטַ֤ב (best) הַצֹּאן֙ (of the flock) וְהַבָּקָ֔ר (and of the herd) לְמַ֥עַן (to) זְבֹ֖חַ (sacrifice) לַיהוָ֣ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (your God), וְאֶת־ (and) הַיּוֹתֵ֖ר (the rest) הֶחֱרַֽמְנוּ׃ס (we devoted to destruction).

16  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), הֶ֚רֶף (Be quiet), וְאַגִּ֣ידָה (and I will tell) לְּךָ֔ (you) אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (what) דִּבֶּ֧ר (said) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֵלַ֖י (to me) הַלָּ֑יְלָה (in the night).

וַיֹּאמְרוּ (And he said) ל֖וֹ (to him), דַּבֵּֽר׃ס (Speak).

17  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), הֲל֗וֹא (Is it not that) אִם־ (when) קָטֹ֤ן (small) אַתָּה֙ (you were) בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (in your own eyes), רֹ֛אשׁ (head) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (of the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אָ֑תָּה (you) וַיִּמְשָׁחֲךָ֧ (and did anoint) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH), לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (as king) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel)? 18  וַיִּשְׁלָחֲךָ֥ (And sent you) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּדָ֑רֶךְ (in the way) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), לֵ֣ךְ (Go) וְהַחֲרַמְתָּ֞ה (and devote to destruction) אֶת־ (-) הַֽחַטָּאִים֙ (the sinful) אֶת־ (-) עֲמָלֵ֔ק (Amalekite), וְנִלְחַמְתָּ֣ (and fight) ב֔וֹ (against them) עַ֥ד (until) כַּלּוֹתָ֖ם (they are consumed) אֹתָֽם׃ (-). 19  וְלָ֥מָּה (And why) לֹא־ (not) שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ (did you listen) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַתַּ֙עַט֙ (and why did you swoop down) אֶל־ (on) הַשָּׁלָ֔ל (the spoil) וַתַּ֥עַשׂ (and do) הָרַ֖ע (the evil) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH)?

20  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (Because) שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ (I have listened) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ (and gone) בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (in the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שְׁלָחַ֣נִי (sent me) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) וָאָבִ֗יא (and brought back) אֶת־ (-) אֲגַג֙ (Agag) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) עֲמָלֵ֔ק (of Amalek), וְאֶת־ (and) עֲמָלֵ֖ק (the Amalekite) הֶחֱרַֽמְתִּי׃ (I have devoted to destruction). 21  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) הָעָ֧ם (the people) מֵהַשָּׁלָ֛ל (from the plunder), צֹ֥אן (sheep) וּבָקָ֖ר (and oxen), רֵאשִׁ֣ית (the first part) הַחֵ֑רֶם (of the devoted thing), לִזְבֹּ֛חַ (to sacrifice) לַֽיהוָ֥ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ (in Gilgal).

22  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel),

הַחֵ֤פֶץ (Has delight) לַֽיהוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּעֹל֣וֹת (in burnt offerings) וּזְבָחִ֔ים (and sacrifices),

כִּשְׁמֹ֖עַ (as in listening) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH)?

הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), שְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ (to listen) מִזֶּ֣בַח (than sacrifice) ט֔וֹב (is better),

לְהַקְשִׁ֖יב (and to heed) מֵחֵ֥לֶב (than the fat) אֵילִֽים׃ (of rams).

23  כִּ֤י (For) חַטַּאת־ (as the sin) קֶ֙סֶם֙ (of witchcraft) מֶ֔רִי (is rebellion),

וְאָ֥וֶן (and iniquity) וּתְרָפִ֖ים (and teraphim) הַפְצַ֑ר (is stubbornness),

יַ֗עַן (because) מָאַ֙סְתָּ֙ (you have rejected) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֣ר (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖ (so He has rejected you) מִמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ס (as king).

Saul’s Confession

24  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֤וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel), חָטָ֔אתִי (I have sinned); כִּֽי־ (for) עָבַ֥רְתִּי (I have transgressed) אֶת־ (-) פִּֽי־ (the commandment) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and) דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ (your words), כִּ֤י (because) יָרֵ֙אתִי֙ (I feared) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people) וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע (and I listened) בְּקוֹלָֽם׃ (to their voice). 25  וְעַתָּ֕ה (And now) שָׂ֥א (lift up) נָ֖א (please) אֶת־ (-) חַטָּאתִ֑י (my sin) וְשׁ֣וּב (and return) עִמִּ֔י (with me), וְאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה (that I may worship) לַֽיהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

26  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), לֹ֥א (Not) אָשׁ֖וּב (I will return) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with you), כִּ֤י (for) מָאַ֙סְתָּה֙ (you have rejected) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֣ר (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֣ (and has rejected you) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) מִהְי֥וֹת (from being) מֶ֖לֶךְ (king) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (Israel).

27  וַיִּסֹּ֥ב (And turned around) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) לָלֶ֑כֶת (to go away), וַיַּחֲזֵ֥ק (and he laid hold) בִּכְנַף־ (the edge) מְעִיל֖וֹ (of his robe), וַיִּקָּרַֽע׃ (and it tore). 28  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), קָרַ֨ע (Has torn) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶֽת־ (-) מַמְלְכ֧וּת (the kingdom) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מֵעָלֶ֖יךָ (from you) הַיּ֑וֹם (today), וּנְתָנָ֕הּ (and He has given it) לְרֵעֲךָ֖ (it to your neighbor) הַטּ֥וֹב (who is better) מִמֶּֽךָּ׃ (than you). 29  וְגַם֙ (And also) נֵ֣צַח (the Glory) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לֹ֥א (not) יְשַׁקֵּ֖ר (does lie) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִנָּחֵ֑ם (repent), כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֥א (not) אָדָ֛ם (a man) ה֖וּא (He is), לְהִנָּחֵֽם׃ (that He should repent).

30  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said), חָטָ֔אתִי (I have sinned); עַתָּ֗ה (now) כַּבְּדֵ֥נִי (honor me) נָ֛א (please) נֶ֥גֶד (before) זִקְנֵֽי־ (the elders) עַמִּ֖י (of my people) וְנֶ֣גֶד (and before) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וְשׁ֣וּב (and return) עִמִּ֔י (with me), וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֖יתִי (that I may worship) לַֽיהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (your God).

31  וַיָּ֥שָׁב (And turned back) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul), וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ (and worshiped) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) לַֽיהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).

32  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel), הַגִּ֤ישׁוּ (Bring here) אֵלַי֙ (to me) אֶת־ (-) אֲגַג֙ (Agag) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) עֲמָלֵ֔ק (of the Amalekite).

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And came) אֵלָ֔יו (to him) אֲגַ֖ג (Agag) מַעֲדַנֹּ֑ת (in chains). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֲגָ֔ג (Agag), אָכֵ֖ן (Surely) סָ֥ר (is past) מַר־ (the bitterness) הַמָּֽוֶת׃ס (of death).

33  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel),

כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (As) שִׁכְּלָ֤ה (has made childless) נָשִׁים֙ (women) חַרְבֶּ֔ךָ (your sword),

כֵּן־ (so) תִּשְׁכַּ֥ל (shall be childless) מִנָּשִׁ֖ים (among women) אִמֶּ֑ךָ (Your mother).

וַיְשַׁסֵּ֨ף (And hacked to pieces) שְׁמוּאֵ֧ל (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) אֲגָ֛ג (Agag) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ס (in Gilgal).

34  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And went) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) הָרָמָ֑תָה (to Ramah), וְשָׁא֛וּל (and Saul) עָלָ֥ה (went up) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֖וֹ (his house) גִּבְעַ֥ת (at Gibeah) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 35  וְלֹא־ (And not) יָסַ֨ף (added) שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (and Samuel) לִרְא֤וֹת (to see) אֶת־ (-) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) עַד־ (until) י֣וֹם (the day) מוֹת֔וֹ (of his death); כִּֽי־ (nevertheless) הִתְאַבֵּ֥ל (mourned) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (for) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul). וַיהוָ֣ה (And YHWH) נִחָ֔ם (regretted) כִּֽי־ (that) הִמְלִ֥יךְ (He had made king) אֶת־ (-) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (Israel).