Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1Samuel told Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the LORD.

1וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־ שָׁא֔וּל אֹתִ֨י שָׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ לִמְשָׁחֳךָ֣ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ עַל־ עַמּ֖וֹ עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֣ה שְׁמַ֔ע לְק֖וֹל דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס

2This is what the LORD of Armies says: 'I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.

2כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת פָּקַ֕דְתִּי אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֥ה עֲמָלֵ֖ק לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר־ שָׂ֥ם לוֹ֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ בַּעֲלֹת֖וֹ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

3Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"

3עַתָּה֩ לֵ֨ךְ וְהִכִּֽיתָ֜ה אֶת־ עֲמָלֵ֗ק וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ל עָלָ֑יו וְהֵמַתָּ֞ה מֵאִ֣ישׁ עַד־ אִשָּׁ֗ה מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ וְעַד־ יוֹנֵ֔ק מִשּׁ֣וֹר וְעַד־ שֶׂ֔ה מִגָּמָ֖ל וְעַד־ חֲמֽוֹר׃ ס

4Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.

4וַיְשַׁמַּ֤ע שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם וַֽיִּפְקְדֵם֙ בַּטְּלָאִ֔ים מָאתַ֥יִם אֶ֖לֶף רַגְלִ֑י וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אֲלָפִ֖ים אֶת־ אִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָֽה׃

5Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.

5וַיָּבֹ֥א שָׁא֖וּל עַד־ עִ֣יר עֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיָּ֖רֶב בַּנָּֽחַל׃

6He warned the Kenites, "Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I'll sweep you away with them." So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

6וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֣וּל אֶֽל־ הַקֵּינִ֡י לְכוּ֩ סֻּ֨רוּ רְד֜וּ מִתּ֣וֹךְ עֲמָלֵקִ֗י פֶּן־ אֹֽסִפְךָ֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וְאַתָּ֞ה עָשִׂ֤יתָה חֶ֙סֶד֙ עִם־ כָּל־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּעֲלוֹתָ֖ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֥סַר קֵינִ֖י מִתּ֥וֹךְ עֲמָלֵֽק׃

7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

7וַיַּ֥ךְ שָׁא֖וּל אֶת־ עֲמָלֵ֑ק מֵֽחֲוִילָה֙ בּוֹאֲךָ֣ שׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י מִצְרָֽיִם׃

8He captured King Agag of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.

8וַיִּתְפֹּ֛שׂ אֶת־ אֲגַ֥ג מֶֽלֶךְ־ עֲמָלֵ֖ק חָ֑י וְאֶת־ כָּל־ הָעָ֖ם הֶחֱרִ֥ים לְפִי־ חָֽרֶב׃

9Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

9וַיַּחְמֹל֩ שָׁא֨וּל וְהָעָ֜ם עַל־ אֲגָ֗ג וְעַל־ מֵיטַ֣ב הַצֹּאן֩ וְהַבָּקָ֨ר וְהַמִּשְׁנִ֤ים וְעַל־ הַכָּרִים֙ וְעַל־ כָּל־ הַטּ֔וֹב וְלֹ֥א אָב֖וּ הַחֲרִימָ֑ם וְכָל־ הַמְּלָאכָ֛ה נְמִבְזָ֥ה וְנָמֵ֖ס אֹתָ֥הּ הֶחֱרִֽימוּ׃ פ

10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel,

10וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹֽר׃

11"I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions." So Samuel became angry and cried out to the LORD all night.

11נִחַ֗מְתִּי כִּֽי־ הִמְלַ֤כְתִּי אֶת־ שָׁאוּל֙ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־ שָׁב֙ מֵאַֽחֲרַ֔י וְאֶת־ דְּבָרַ֖י לֹ֣א הֵקִ֑ים וַיִּ֙חַר֙ לִשְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיִּזְעַ֥ק אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה כָּל־ הַלָּֽיְלָה׃

12Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, "Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal."

12וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֧ם שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל לִקְרַ֥את שָׁא֖וּל בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַיֻּגַּ֨ד לִשְׁמוּאֵ֜ל לֵאמֹ֗ר בָּֽא־ שָׁא֤וּל הַכַּרְמֶ֙לָה֙ וְהִנֵּ֨ה מַצִּ֥יב לוֹ֙ יָ֔ד וַיִּסֹּב֙ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר וַיֵּ֖רֶד הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃

13When Samuel came to him, Saul said, "May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD's instructions."

13וַיָּבֹ֥א שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אֶל־ שָׁא֑וּל וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ שָׁא֗וּל בָּר֤וּךְ אַתָּה֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה הֲקִימֹ֖תִי אֶת־ דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

14Samuel replied, "Then what is this sound of sheep, goats, and cattle I hear?"

14וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וּמֶ֛ה קֽוֹל־ הַצֹּ֥אן הַזֶּ֖ה בְּאָזְנָ֑י וְק֣וֹל הַבָּקָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃

15Saul answered, "The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep, goats, and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we destroyed."

15וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל מֵעֲמָלֵקִ֣י הֱבִיא֗וּם אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָמַ֤ל הָעָם֙ עַל־ מֵיטַ֤ב הַצֹּאן֙ וְהַבָּקָ֔ר לְמַ֥עַן זְבֹ֖חַ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְאֶת־ הַיּוֹתֵ֖ר הֶחֱרַֽמְנוּ׃ ס

16"Stop!" exclaimed Samuel. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," he replied.

16וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־ שָׁא֔וּל הֶ֚רֶף וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לְּךָ֔ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י הַלָּ֑יְלָה [ויאמרו] (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר) ל֖וֹ דַּבֵּֽר׃ ס

17Samuel continued, "Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel

17וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל הֲל֗וֹא אִם־ קָטֹ֤ן אַתָּה֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ רֹ֛אשׁ שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אָ֑תָּה וַיִּמְשָׁחֲךָ֧ יְהוָ֛ה לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

18and then sent you on a mission and said: 'Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.'

18וַיִּשְׁלָחֲךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה בְּדָ֑רֶךְ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֵ֣ךְ וְהַחֲרַמְתָּ֞ה אֶת־ הַֽחַטָּאִים֙ אֶת־ עֲמָלֵ֔ק וְנִלְחַמְתָּ֣ ב֔וֹ עַ֥ד כַּלּוֹתָ֖ם אֹתָֽם׃

19So why didn't you obey the LORD? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?"

19וְלָ֥מָּה לֹא־ שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה וַתַּ֙עַט֙ אֶל־ הַשָּׁלָ֔ל וַתַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס

20"But I did obey the LORD!" Saul answered. "I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

20וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֔ה וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי יְהוָ֑ה וָאָבִ֗יא אֶת־ אֲגַג֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמָלֵ֔ק וְאֶת־ עֲמָלֵ֖ק הֶחֱרַֽמְתִּי׃

21The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder--the best of what was set apart for destruction--to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

21וַיִּקַּ֨ח הָעָ֧ם מֵהַשָּׁלָ֛ל צֹ֥אן וּבָקָ֖ר רֵאשִׁ֣ית הַחֵ֑רֶם לִזְבֹּ֛חַ לַֽיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃

22Then Samuel said: Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

22וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל הַחֵ֤פֶץ לַֽיהוָה֙ בְּעֹל֣וֹת וּזְבָחִ֔ים כִּשְׁמֹ֖עַ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה הִנֵּ֤ה שְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ מִזֶּ֣בַח ט֔וֹב לְהַקְשִׁ֖יב מֵחֵ֥לֶב אֵילִֽים׃

23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.

23כִּ֤י חַטַּאת־ קֶ֙סֶם֙ מֶ֔רִי וְאָ֥וֶן וּתְרָפִ֖ים הַפְצַ֑ר יַ֗עַן מָאַ֙סְתָּ֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖ מִמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

24Saul answered Samuel, "I have sinned. I have transgressed the LORD's command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.

24וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֤וּל אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵל֙ חָטָ֔אתִי כִּֽי־ עָבַ֥רְתִּי אֶת־ פִּֽי־ יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־ דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ כִּ֤י יָרֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע בְּקוֹלָֽם׃

25Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD."

25וְעַתָּ֕ה שָׂ֥א נָ֖א אֶת־ חַטָּאתִ֑י וְשׁ֣וּב עִמִּ֔י וְאֶֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

26Samuel replied to Saul, "I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

26וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־ שָׁא֔וּל לֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י מָאַ֙סְתָּה֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֣ יְהוָ֔ה מִהְי֥וֹת מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

27When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore.

27וַיִּסֹּ֥ב שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל לָלֶ֑כֶת וַיַּחֲזֵ֥ק בִּכְנַף־ מְעִיל֖וֹ וַיִּקָּרַֽע׃

28Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

28וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל קָרַ֨ע יְהוָ֜ה אֶֽת־ מַמְלְכ֧וּת יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵעָלֶ֖יךָ הַיּ֑וֹם וּנְתָנָ֕הּ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ הַטּ֥וֹב מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

29Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind."

29וְגַם֙ נֵ֣צַח יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יְשַׁקֵּ֖ר וְלֹ֣א יִנָּחֵ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹ֥א אָדָ֛ם ה֖וּא לְהִנָּחֵֽם׃

30Saul said, "I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the LORD your God."

30וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חָטָ֔אתִי עַתָּ֗ה כַּבְּדֵ֥נִי נָ֛א נֶ֥גֶד זִקְנֵֽי־ עַמִּ֖י וְנֶ֣גֶד יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשׁ֣וּב עִמִּ֔י וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֖יתִי לַֽיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

31Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the LORD.

31וַיָּ֥שָׁב שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ שָׁא֖וּל לַֽיהוָֽה׃ ס

32Samuel said, "Bring me King Agag of Amalek." Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, "Certainly the bitterness of death has come."

32וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל הַגִּ֤ישׁוּ אֵלַי֙ אֶת־ אֲגַג֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמָלֵ֔ק וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֵלָ֔יו אֲגַ֖ג מַעֲדַנֹּ֑ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲגָ֔ג אָכֵ֖ן סָ֥ר מַר־ הַמָּֽוֶת׃ ס

33Samuel declared: As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

33וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר שִׁכְּלָ֤ה נָשִׁים֙ חַרְבֶּ֔ךָ כֵּן־ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ל מִנָּשִׁ֖ים אִמֶּ֑ךָ וַיְשַׁסֵּ֨ף שְׁמוּאֵ֧ל אֶת־ אֲגָ֛ג לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ ס

34Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

34וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הָרָמָ֑תָה וְשָׁא֛וּל עָלָ֥ה אֶל־ בֵּית֖וֹ גִּבְעַ֥ת שָׁאֽוּל׃

35Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.

35וְלֹא־ יָסַ֨ף שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל לִרְא֤וֹת אֶת־ שָׁאוּל֙ עַד־ י֣וֹם מוֹת֔וֹ כִּֽי־ הִתְאַבֵּ֥ל שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אֶל־ שָׁא֑וּל וַיהוָ֣ה נִחָ֔ם כִּֽי־ הִמְלִ֥יךְ אֶת־ שָׁא֖וּל עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.