Samuelalso saiduntoSaul, The LORDsentme to anointthee to be kingoverhis people, overIsrael: nowtherefore hearkenthou unto the voiceof the wordsof the LORD. Thussaiththe LORDof hosts, I remember that whichAmalekdidto Israel, howhe laid wait for him in the way, when he came upfrom Egypt. Nowgoand smiteAmalek, and utterly destroyallthatthey have, and sparethem not; but slayboth manandwoman, infantand suckling, oxand sheep, cameland ass. And Saulgathered the people together, and numberedthem in Telaim, two hundredthousandfootmen, and tenthousandmenof Judah. And Saulcametoa cityof Amalek, and laid waitin the valley. And Saulsaiduntothe Kenites, Go, depart, get you downfrom amongthe Amalekites, lestI destroyyou withthem: for yeshowedkindnesstoallthe childrenof Israel, when they came upout of Egypt. So the Kenitesdepartedfrom amongthe Amalekites. And Saulsmotethe Amalekitesfrom Havilah until thou comestto Shur, that is overagainstEgypt. And he tookAgagthe kingof the Amalekitesalive, and utterly destroyedallthe peoplewith the edgeof the sword. But Sauland the peoplesparedAgag, and the bestof the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and wouldnotutterly destroythem: but everything that was vileand refuse, that they destroyed utterly. Then camethe wordof the LORDuntoSamuel, saying, It repenteth methatI have set upSaul to be king: forhe is turned backfrom followingme, and hath notperformedmy commandments. And it grievedSamuel; and he crieduntothe LORDallnight. And when Samuelrose earlyto meetSaulin the morning, it was toldSamuel, saying, Saulcameto Carmel, and, behold, he set him upa place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone downto Gilgal. And SamuelcametoSaul: and Saulsaidunto him, Blessed be thouof the LORD: I have performedthe commandmentof the LORD. And Samuelsaid, What meaneth then thisbleatingof the sheepin mine ears, and the lowingof the oxenwhichIhear? And Saulsaid, They have broughtthem from the Amalekites: forthe peoplesparedthe bestof the sheepand of the oxen, to sacrificeunto the LORDthy God; and the restwe have utterly destroyed. Then SamuelsaiduntoSaul, Stay, and I will tellthee whatthe LORDhath saidtome this night. And he saidunto him, Say on. And Samuelsaid, Whenthou wast littlein thine own sight, wast thounot made the headof the tribesof Israel, and the LORDanointedthee kingoverIsrael? And the LORDsentthee on a journey, and said, Goand utterly destroythe sinnersthe Amalekites, and fightagainst them untilthey be consumed. Whereforethen didst thou notobeythe voiceof the LORD, but didst flyuponthe spoil, and didstevilin the sightof the LORD? And SaulsaiduntoSamuel, Yea, I have obeyedthe voiceof the LORD, and have gonethe waywhichthe LORDsentme, and have broughtAgagthe kingof Amalek, and have utterly destroyedthe Amalekites. But the peopletookof the spoil, sheepand oxen, the chiefof the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrificeunto the LORDthy Godin Gilgal. And Samuelsaid, Hath the LORD as great delightin burnt offeringsand sacrifices, as in obeyingthe voiceof the LORD? Behold, to obey is betterthan sacrifice, and to hearkenthan the fatof rams. Forrebellion is as the sinof witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquityand idolatry. Becausethou hast rejectedthe wordof the LORD, he hath also rejectedthee from being king. And SaulsaiduntoSamuel, I have sinned: forI have transgressedthe commandmentof the LORD, and thy words: becauseI fearedthe people, and obeyedtheir voice. Nowtherefore, I pray thee, pardonmy sin, and turn againwithme, that I may worshipthe LORD. And SamuelsaiduntoSaul, I will notreturnwiththee: forthou hast rejectedthe wordof the LORD, and the LORDhath rejectedthee from beingkingoverIsrael. And as Samuelturned aboutto go away, he laid holdupon the skirtof his mantle, and it rent. And Samuelsaiduntohim, The LORDhath rentthe kingdomof Israelfromthee this day, and hath givenit to a neighborof thine, that is betterthanthou. And alsothe Strengthof Israelwill notlienorrepent: forhe is nota man, that heshould repent. Then he said, I have sinned: yet honorme now, I pray thee, beforethe eldersof my people, and beforeIsrael, and turn againwithme, that I may worshipthe LORDthy God. So Samuelturned againafterSaul; and Saulworshipedthe LORD. Then saidSamuel, Bring ye hithertome Agagthe kingof the Amalekites. And Agagcameuntohim delicately. And Agagsaid, Surelythe bitternessof deathis past. And Samuelsaid, Asthy swordhath made womenchildless, soshall thy motherbe childlessamong women. And Samuelhewed Agag in piecesbeforethe LORDin Gilgal. Then Samuelwentto Ramah; and Saulwent uptohis houseto Gibeahof Saul. And Samuelcame nomoreto seeSauluntilthe dayof his death: neverthelessSamuelmournedforSaul: and the LORDrepentedthathe had made Saul kingoverIsrael.