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.

²¹ Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe^(A) of Israel, and is not my clan the least^(B) of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?^(C) Why do you say such a thing to me?”

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. ² This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites^(B) for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. ³ Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally^(C) destroy^[a] all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

²² So they inquired^(A) further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”

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)

⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^(A)

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel

¹⁵ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan^(A) is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.^(B)”