1 Samuel · Geneva Bible (1599)
1 Samuel 15 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 Afterward Samuel said vnto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee King ouer his people, ouer Israel: nowe therefore obey the voyce of the wordes of the Lord.
1 Samuel said to Saul, “Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of Yahweh’s words.
2 Thus saith the Lord of hostes, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, howe they laide waite for the in ye way, as they came vp from Egypt.
2 Yahweh of Armies says, ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up out of Egypt.
3 Nowe therefore goe, and sinite Amalek, and destroy ye all that perteyneth vnto them, and haue no compassion on them, but slay both man and woman, both infant and suckling, both oxe, and sheepe, both camell, and asse.
3 Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
4 And Saul assembled ye people, and nombred them in Telaim, two hundreth thousande footemen, and ten thousand men of Iudah.
4 Saul summoned the people, and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah.
5 And Saul came to a citie of Amalek, and set watch at the riuer.
5 Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley.
6 And Saul said vnto the Kenites, Goe, depart, and get you downe from among the Amalekites, least I destroy you with them: for ye shewed mercie to all the children of Israel, when they came vp from Egypt: and the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
6 Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
7 So Saul smote the Amalekites from Hauilah as thou commest to Shur, that is before Egypt,
7 Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is before Egypt.
8 And tooke Agag the King of the Amalekites aliue, and destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
8 He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the better sheepe, and the oxen, and the fat beasts, and the lambes, and all that was good, and they would not destroy them: but euery thing that was vile and nought worth, that they destroyed.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10 Then came the worde of the Lord vnto Samuel, saying,
10 Then Yahweh’s word came to Samuel, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I haue made Saul King: for he is turned from me, and hath not performed my commandements. And Samuel was mooued, and cryed vnto the Lord all night.
11 “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.
12 And when Samuel arose early to meete Saul in the morning, one tolde Samuel, saying, Saul is gone to Carmel: and beholde, he hath made him there a place, from whence he returned, and departed, and is gone downe to Gilgal.
12 Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and Samuel was told, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, turned, passed on, and went down to Gilgal.”
13 Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said vnto him. Blessed be thou of the Lord, I haue fulfilled the commandement of the Lord.
13 Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, “You are blessed by Yahweh! I have performed the commandment of Yahweh.”
14 But Samuel saide, What meaneth then the bleating of the sheepe in mine eares, and the lowing of the oxen which I heare?
14 Samuel said, “Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?”
15 And Saul answered, They haue brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheepe, and of the oxen to sacrifice them vnto the Lord thy God, and the remnant haue we destroyed.
15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. We have utterly destroyed the rest.”
16 Againe Samuel saide to Saul, Let me tell thee what the Lord hath saide to me this night. And he said vnto him, Say on.
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.” He said to him, “Say on.”
17 Then Samuel saide, When thou wast litle in thine owne sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? for the Lord anointed thee King ouer Israel.
17 Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel;
18 And the Lord sent thee on a iourney, and saide, Goe, and destroy those sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them, vntill thou destroy them.
18 and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
19 Nowe wherefore hast thou not obeyed the voyce of the Lord, but hast turned to the pray, and hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord?
19 Why then didn’t you obey Yahweh’s voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight?”
20 And Saul saide vnto Samuel, Yea, I haue obeyed the voyce of the Lord, and haue gone the way which the Lord sent me, and haue brought Agag the King of Amalek, and haue destroyed the Amalekites.
20 Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Yahweh’s voice, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people tooke of the spoyle, sheepe, and oxen, and the chiefest of the things which shoulde haue bene destroyed, to offer vnto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.”
22 And Samuel saide, Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed? beholde, to obey is better then sacrifice, and to hearken is better then the fatte of rammes.
22 Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sinne of withcraft, and transgression is wickednesse and idolatrie. Because thou hast cast away the worde of the Lord, therefore hee hath cast away thee from being King.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.”
24 Then Saul sayde vnto Samuel, I haue sinned: for I haue transgressed the commandement of the Lord, and thy wordes, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voyce.
24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
25 Nowe therefore I pray thee, take away my sinne, and turne againe with mee, that I may worship the Lord.
25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”
26 But Samuel saide vnto Saul, I will not returne with thee: for thou hast cast away the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath cast away thee, that thou shalt not be King ouer Israel.
26 Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
27 And as Samuel turned himselfe to goe away, he caught the lappe of his coate, and it rent.
27 As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
28 Then Samuel saide vnto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdome of Israel from thee this day, and hath giuen it to thy neighbour, that is better then thou.
28 Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
29 For in deede the strength of Israel will not lye nor repent: for hee is not a man that hee should repent.
29 Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
30 Then he saide, I haue sinned: but honour mee, I pray thee, before the Elders of my people, and before Israel, and turne againe with mee, that I may worship the Lord thy God.
30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”
31 So Samuel turned againe, and followed Saul: and Saul worshipped the Lord.
31 So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
32 Then saide Samuel, Bring yee hither to me Agag ye King of the Amalekites: and Agag came vnto him pleasantly, and Agag saide, Truely the bitternesse of death is passed.
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!” Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
33 And Samuel sayde, As thy sworde hath made women childlesse, so shall thy mother bee childelesse among other women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
33 Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.
34 So Samuel departed to Ramah, and Saul went vp to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul vntill the day of his death: but Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord repented that hee made Saul King ouer Israel.
35 Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul. Yahweh grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Agag
King of Amalek, whom Saul captured alive against the LORD's command to destroy everything, and whom Samuel hacked to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 15:8; 1 Samuel 15:9; 1 Samuel 15:32
Saul
Israel's first king, anointed by Samuel but later rejected for his disobedience to God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9-10; 1 Samuel 15
Cross references (32)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 12:14; 1 Chronicles 22:12–13; 1 Samuel 13:13; Psalm 2:10–11
- 2 Deuteronomy 25:17–19; Numbers 24:20; Exodus 17:8–16; Hosea 7:2; Amos 8:7
- 3 Deuteronomy 20:16–18; Numbers 24:20; Isaiah 14:21–22; 1 Samuel 22:19; Numbers 31:17
- 4 Joshua 15:24; 1 Samuel 11:8; 1 Samuel 13:15
- 6 Judges 1:16; Numbers 10:29–32; Numbers 24:21–22; Judges 4:11; Exodus 18:19
- 7 Genesis 25:18; Genesis 16:7; 1 Samuel 14:48; 1 Samuel 27:8; Genesis 2:11
- 8 1 Samuel 30:1; Numbers 24:7; Esther 3:1; 1 Kings 20:34–42; Joshua 11:12
- 9 1 Samuel 15:15; 1 Samuel 15:19; 1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 7:21; 2 Samuel 6:13
- 11 1 Samuel 13:13; Genesis 6:6; Psalm 119:136; 2 Samuel 24:16; Jeremiah 9:18
- 12 Joshua 15:55; 1 Samuel 25:2; 2 Samuel 18:18; 1 Kings 18:42; Joshua 4:8–9
- 13 Judges 17:2; Ruth 3:10; Proverbs 28:13; Proverbs 30:13; Luke 18:11
- 14 Psalm 36:2; Jeremiah 2:22–23; Romans 3:19; Malachi 3:13–15; Jeremiah 2:18–19
- 15 1 Samuel 15:9; 1 Samuel 15:21; Exodus 32:22–23; Genesis 3:12–13; Proverbs 28:13
- 16 1 Samuel 9:27; 1 Kings 22:16; 1 Samuel 12:7
- 17 1 Samuel 15:1–3; 1 Samuel 9:21; 1 Samuel 10:22; 1 Samuel 10:1; Matthew 18:4
- 18 Genesis 15:16; Job 31:3; Genesis 13:13; Numbers 16:38; Proverbs 10:29
- 19 1 Samuel 14:32; 2 Chronicles 33:6; 2 Chronicles 36:12; Jeremiah 7:11; Habakkuk 2:9–12
- 20 1 Samuel 15:13; Matthew 19:20; Romans 10:3; Job 34:5; Job 35:2
- 21 1 Samuel 15:15; Exodus 32:22–23; Genesis 3:13
- 22 Hosea 6:6; Psalm 51:16–17; Proverbs 21:3; Amos 5:21–24; Mark 12:33
- 23 Jeremiah 28:16; 1 Samuel 13:14; Leviticus 20:6; Galatians 5:20; 2 Corinthians 6:16
- 24 2 Samuel 12:13; Isaiah 51:12–13; Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 1:10; Numbers 22:34
- 25 Exodus 10:17
- 26 Hosea 4:6; 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 16:1; Jeremiah 6:19; 1 Samuel 15:23
- 27 1 Kings 11:30–31
- 28 1 Samuel 28:17–18; Acts 13:22; Romans 13:1; 1 Samuel 2:7–8; Daniel 4:17
- 29 Numbers 23:19; Ezekiel 24:14; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13
- 30 John 12:43; John 5:44; Isaiah 29:13; 2 Timothy 3:5; Luke 18:9–14
- 32 Jeremiah 48:44; Revelation 18:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
- 33 Judges 1:7; Genesis 9:6; Matthew 7:2; Revelation 18:6; James 2:13
- 34 1 Samuel 11:4; 1 Samuel 7:17
- 35 1 Samuel 19:24; 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 16:1; Jeremiah 9:1–2; Genesis 6:6
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Behold, a ready obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." David also says: "Sacrifice and oblation Thou didst not desire, but mine ears hast Thou perfected; burnt-offerings also for sin Thou hast not required." He thus teaches them that God desires obedience, which renders them secure, rather than sacrifices and holocausts, which avail them …
Again Saul sinned through disobedience, and again Samuel says to him in the word of the Lord, "Because thou hast despised the word of the Lord, the Lord hath despised thee, that thou mayest not be king over Israel." And again for the same sin, when Saul confessed it, and prayed for pardon, and besought Samuel to return with him …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
And He will not be changed, neither will He repent: for He is not as a man, that He should repent; who threatens and does not persist." He to whom it is said, "The Lord will despise thee that thou mayest not be king over Israel," and "The Lord hath rent the kingdom from Israel out of thine hand this …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)