The Lord Rejects Saul as King

15 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint^(A) you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord.

¹⁶ “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint^(A) him ruler^(B) over my people Israel; he will deliver^(C) them from the hand of the Philistines.^(D) I have looked on my people, for their cry^(E) has reached me.”

¹⁴ If you fear^(A) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel^(B) against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good!

10 Then Samuel took a flask^(A) of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed^(B) you ruler over his inheritance?^[a](C)

¹² May the Lord give you discretion and understanding^(A) when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ¹³ Then you will have success^(B) if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws^(C) that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.^(D) Do not be afraid or discouraged.

¹⁶ “Enough!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” Saul replied.

¹⁷ Samuel said, “Although you were once small^(A) in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. ¹⁸ And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’

¹³ “You have done a foolish thing,^(A)” Samuel said. “You have not kept^(B) the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.^(C)