New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Samuel 15
1
Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. So listen now to a message from him.
Reference
2
The Lord who rules over all says, 'I will punish the Amalekites because of what they did to Israel. As the people of Israel came up from Egypt, the Amalekites attacked them.
Reference
3
" 'Now go. Attack the Amalekites. Set everything apart that belongs to them. Set it apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Do not spare the Amalekites. Put the men and women to death. Put the children and babies to death. Also kill the cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys.' "
Reference
4
So Saul brought his men together at Telaim. The total number was 200,000 soldiers on foot from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.
Reference
📍 Telaim
Parallel theme
Joshua 15:24
5
He went to the city of Amalek. He had some of his men hide and wait in the valley.
6
Then Saul said to the Kenites, "You were kind to all of the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. Get away from the Amalekites. Then I won't have to destroy you along with them." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
Reference
7
Saul attacked the Amalekites. He struck them down all the way from Havilah to Shur. Shur was near the eastern border of Egypt.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 16:7
1 Samuel 14:48
Exodus 15:22
Genesis 2:11
References Egypt
Genesis 25:18
1 Samuel 27:8
8
He took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive. He and his men totally destroyed all of Agag's people with swords.
Reference
People
9
But Saul and the army spared Agag. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They spared the fat calves and lambs. They spared everything that was valuable. They weren't willing to completely destroy any of those things. But they totally destroyed everything that was worthless and weak.
Reference
10
Then the Lord gave Samuel a message. He said,
11
"I am very sorry I have made Saul king. He has turned away from me. He has not done what I directed him to do." When Samuel heard that, he was troubled. He cried out to the Lord during that whole night.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Samuel 13:13
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 9:18
1 Samuel 15:3
1 Samuel 15:9
Hebrews 10:38
References Lord
Psalm 125:5
Repentance
Genesis 6:6
2 Samuel 24:16
Word
Psalm 119:136
Psalm 36:3
12
Early the next morning Samuel got up. He went to see Saul. But Samuel was told, "Saul went to Carmel. There he set up a monument in his own honor. Now he has gone on down to Gilgal."
Reference
13
When Samuel got there, Saul said, "May the Lord bless you. I've done what he directed me to do."
Reference
Blessing
Ruth 3:10
Judges 17:2
Genesis 14:19
Parallel theme
Proverbs 31:31
Proverbs 28:13
Proverbs 30:13
Genesis 3:12
Luke 17:10
Luke 18:11
1 Samuel 15:9
14
But Samuel said, "Then why do I hear the baaing of sheep? Why do I hear the mooing of cattle?"
15
Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They did it to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. But we totally destroyed everything else."
Reference
16
"Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul replied.
17
Samuel said, "There was a time when you didn't think you were important. But you became the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord anointed you to be king over Israel.
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 18:4
References Israel
1 Samuel 9:21
Hosea 13:1
References Lord
1 Samuel 10:22
1 Samuel 10:1
Judges 6:15
18
He sent you to do something for him. He said, 'Go and set the Amalekites apart. Set those sinful people apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.'
19
"Why didn't you obey the Lord? Why did you grab what you had taken from your enemies? Why did you do what is evil in the sight of the Lord?"
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 14:32
20
"But I did obey the Lord," Saul said. "I went to do what he sent me to do. I totally destroyed the Amalekites. I brought back Agag, their king.
Reference
21
"The soldiers took sheep and cattle from what had been taken from our enemies. They took the best of what had been set apart to God. They wanted to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal."
Reference
Sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:15
22
But Samuel replied, "What pleases the Lord more? Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying him? It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 23:23
Exodus 19:5
References Lord
Jeremiah 26:13
Sacrifice
Hosea 6:6
Proverbs 21:3
Mark 12:33
Matthew 9:13
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Matthew 12:7
Matthew 5:24
23
Refusing to obey him is as sinful as using evil magic. Being proud is as evil as worshiping statues of gods. You have refused to do what the Lord told you to do. So he has refused to have you as king."
Reference
Kingdom
1 Samuel 13:14
Parallel theme
Leviticus 20:6
Galatians 5:20
Exodus 22:18
2 Corinthians 6:16
Genesis 31:19
References Lord
Jeremiah 28:16
Jeremiah 29:32
1 Chronicles 28:9
Word
Psalm 107:11
24
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I've broken the Lord's command. I haven't done what you directed me to do. I was afraid of the people. So I did what they said I should do.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 21:8
Exodus 23:2
Galatians 1:10
References Lord
Proverbs 29:25
Sin
2 Samuel 12:13
Numbers 22:34
25
Now I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back into town with me so I can worship the Lord."
Reference
Prayer
Exodus 10:17
26
But Samuel said to him, "I won't go back with you. You have refused to do what the Lord told you to do. So he has refused to have you as king over Israel!"
Reference
Kingdom
1 Samuel 13:14
1 Samuel 16:1
1 Samuel 15:23
Parallel theme
2 John 1:11
Genesis 42:38
References Lord
1 Samuel 2:30
1 Samuel 15:31
Word
Hosea 4:6
Jeremiah 6:19
27
Samuel turned to leave. But Saul grabbed hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.
28
Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to someone who is better than you.
Reference
Kingdom
Acts 13:22
29
The One who is the Glory of Israel does not lie. He doesn't change his mind. That's because he isn't a mere man. If he were, he might change his mind."
Reference
Parallel theme
Titus 1:2
Hebrews 6:18
2 Timothy 2:13
Psalm 95:11
Isaiah 45:24
2 Corinthians 12:9
References Israel
Joel 3:16
Psalm 68:35
Repentance
Numbers 23:19
Ezekiel 24:14
30
Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the elders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me so I can worship the Lord your God."
Reference
31
So Samuel went back with Saul. And Saul worshiped the Lord.
32
Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." Agag wasn't afraid when he came to Samuel. He thought, "The time for me to be put to death must have passed by now."
33
But Samuel said, "Your sword has killed the children of other women. So the child of your mother will be killed." Samuel put Agag to death at Gilgal in the sight of the Lord.
Reference
Creation
Genesis 9:6
Parallel theme
Judges 1:7
Matthew 7:2
Revelation 18:6
Revelation 16:6
James 2:13
34
Then Samuel left to go to Ramah. But Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 11:4
35
Until the day Samuel died, he didn't go to see Saul again. Samuel was filled with sorrow because of Saul. And the Lord was very sorry he had made Saul king over Israel.
Reference
Creation
Genesis 6:6
Kingdom
1 Samuel 16:1
1 Samuel 15:11
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 19:24
Philippians 3:18
Chapter Summary
This chapte describes the final rejection of Saul as king because of his failure to fully obey God. Samuel gives Saul a clear command from the Lord to destroy the Amalekites completely because of their long history of attacking Israel and opposing God's purposes. Saul gathers his army, defeats the Amalekites, and achieves a great military victory.
However, Saul does not fully obey. He spares King Agag and keeps the best animals and possessions from the Amalekites. When Samuel confronts him, Saul claims that the animals were saved to offer sacrifices to God. Saul attempts to present his disobedience as worship, but Samuel explains that God values obedience above sacrifice.
Samuel delivers one of the most important lessons in Scripture: outward religious actions cannot replace a heart that follows God's commands. Saul eventually admits that he feared the people and listened to them instead of obeying God. His greatest weakness was his desire for human approval rather than complete submission to God.
Because Saul rejected God's word, God rejected Saul as the continuing royal line over Israel. Samuel explains that God will give the kingdom to another leader, preparing the way for David. Samuel later executes Agag, completing the judgment Saul failed to carry out.
The chapter ends with Samuel mourning over Saul. Although Saul remained king for a time, his spiritual decline had begun. The chapter teaches that leadership, success, and religious appearance cannot replace obedience to God.
1 Samuel 15 prepares the way for David's rise. Saul represents human leadership based on appearance, approval, and personal reasoning. David will later represent a leader whose heart seeks God.
This chapter introduces a central biblical truth: God is not looking merely for someone powerful, successful, or religious—He is looking for someone who truly listens and obeys.
God desires obedience more than religious actions.
Following God's commands completely is more important than offering impressive sacrifices while keeping our own way.
However, Saul does not fully obey. He spares King Agag and keeps the best animals and possessions from the Amalekites. When Samuel confronts him, Saul claims that the animals were saved to offer sacrifices to God. Saul attempts to present his disobedience as worship, but Samuel explains that God values obedience above sacrifice.
Samuel delivers one of the most important lessons in Scripture: outward religious actions cannot replace a heart that follows God's commands. Saul eventually admits that he feared the people and listened to them instead of obeying God. His greatest weakness was his desire for human approval rather than complete submission to God.
Because Saul rejected God's word, God rejected Saul as the continuing royal line over Israel. Samuel explains that God will give the kingdom to another leader, preparing the way for David. Samuel later executes Agag, completing the judgment Saul failed to carry out.
The chapter ends with Samuel mourning over Saul. Although Saul remained king for a time, his spiritual decline had begun. The chapter teaches that leadership, success, and religious appearance cannot replace obedience to God.
1 Samuel 15 prepares the way for David's rise. Saul represents human leadership based on appearance, approval, and personal reasoning. David will later represent a leader whose heart seeks God.
This chapter introduces a central biblical truth: God is not looking merely for someone powerful, successful, or religious—He is looking for someone who truly listens and obeys.
God desires obedience more than religious actions.
Following God's commands completely is more important than offering impressive sacrifices while keeping our own way.