10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, 11 “I regret that I made Saul king,(A) for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.”(B) So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.(C)

12 Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel(D) where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”(E) 13 When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you.(F) I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

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

15 Saul 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,(G) but the rest we destroyed.”(H)

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

“Tell me,” he replied.

17 Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant,(I) haven’t you become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel 18 and then sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’ 19 So why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder(J) and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

20 “But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered.[a] “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 The 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.”(K)

22 Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord(L) 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.(M)
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,(N)
and defiance is like wickedness(O) and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.(P)

24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned.(Q) I have transgressed the Lord’s command(R) and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. 25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin(S) and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”

26 Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord,(T) the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today(U) and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.(V) 29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel(W) does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”(X)

30 Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me(Y) 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.”(Z) 31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.

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Notas al pie

  1. 15:20 Lit answered Samuel

The Lord Rejects Saul

10 This message from the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all night.

12 Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, but Samuel was told, “Saul went up to Carmel to set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and traveled on to Gilgal.”

13 Samuel approached Saul. “May the Lord bless you,” Saul said. “I’ve carried out the Lord’s command.”

14 Samuel said, “Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of cattle that I hear?”

15 Saul replied, “They brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God, and the rest they completely destroyed.”

16 “Be quiet!” Samuel said. “I’ll tell you what the Lord told me last night.”

Saul told him, “Speak.”

17 So Samuel replied, “Is it not true that though you were small in your own eyes you became head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? 18 The Lord sent you on a mission: ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they’re destroyed.’ 19 Why didn’t you obey the Lord, but grabbed the spoil and did evil in the Lord’s sight?”

20 Saul told Samuel, “I did obey the Lord. I went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 The people took some of the spoil—sheep, cattle, and the best of what was to be completely destroyed—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

22 Samuel said,

“Does the Lord delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as in obeying the Lord?
Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice,
    to pay attention is better[a] than the fat of rams.
23 Indeed, rebellion is the sin of divination,
    and arrogance is iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected this message from the Lord,
    he has rejected you from being king.”

24 “I’ve sinned,” Saul replied to Samuel. “I’ve broken the Lord’s command and your word, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them. 25 Now, please forgive my sin and return with me so I may worship the Lord.”

26 Samuel told Saul, “I won’t return with you because you have rejected the message from the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

27 As Samuel turned to go Saul[b] seized him by the corner of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel told him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 29 Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he’s not a man that he should change his mind.”

30 “I’ve sinned,” Saul[c] said. “But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the Lord your God.” 31 Samuel returned, following Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord.

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Notas al pie

  1. 1 Samuel 15:22 The Heb. lacks is better
  2. 1 Samuel 15:27 Lit. he
  3. 1 Samuel 15:30 Lit. He