1 Samuel 2:16

2:16 If the individual said to him, “First let the fat be burned away, and then take for yourself whatever you wish,” he would say, “No! 1  Hand it over right now! If you don’t, I will take it forcibly!”

1 Samuel 15:22

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.

1 tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss (“no”) rather than the Kethib and MT, which read “to him.”

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).