18
and the LORD sent you on a journey, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the `Amaleki, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
19
Why then didn't you obey the voice of the LORD, but flew on the spoil, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD?"
20
Sha'ul said to Shemu'el, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of `Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the `Amaleki.
21
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.
22
Shemu'el said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and terafim. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.
24
Sha'ul said to Shemu'el, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the mitzvah of the LORD, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25
Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
26
Shemu'el said to Sha'ul, I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Yisra'el.
27
As Shemu'el turned about to go away, [Sha'ul] laid hold on the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
28
Shemu'el said to him, the LORD has torn the kingdom of Yisra'el from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.