1 Samuel 15:3

15:3 So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don’t spare 1  them. Put them to death – man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.’”

1 Samuel 15:22-23

15:22 Then Samuel said,

“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as he does in obedience? 2 

Certainly, 3  obedience 4  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than 5  the fat of rams.

15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

he has rejected you as 6  king.”

1 tn Or perhaps “don’t take pity on” (cf. CEV).

2 tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

3 tn Heb “look.”

4 tn Heb “listening.”

5 tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).

6 tn Or “from [being].”