¹⁷ So Samuel said, “^[a]Is it not true, ^(A)though you were ^[b]insignificant in your own eyes, that you became the head of the tribes of Israel? For the Lord anointed you as king over Israel. ¹⁸ And the Lord sent you on a ^[c]mission, and said, ‘^(B)Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’ ¹⁹ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? ^(C)Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord!”