1Sa 15:17-20 | NETfull | STEP | Samuel said, “Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord chose you as king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:17-20

17 Samuel said, “Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord chose ^{▼▼ Heb “anointed.”} you as king over Israel. 18 The Lord sent you on a campaign ^{▼▼ Heb “journey.”} saying, ‘Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you ^{▼▼ The translation follows the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Targum in reading the second person singular suffix (“you”) rather than the third person plural suffix of the MT (“they”).} have destroyed them.’ 19 Why haven’t you obeyed ^{▼▼ Heb “listened to the voice of the Lord.”} the Lord? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the Lord’s estimation.” ^{▼▼ Heb “you have done what is evil in the eyes of the Lord.”}

20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed ^{▼▼ Heb “listened to the voice of the Lord.”} the Lord! I went on the campaign ^{▼▼ Heb “journey.”} the Lord sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites.