1 Samuel 7:9-10

7:9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb 1  and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.

7:10 As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. 2  But on that day the Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by 3  Israel.

1 Samuel 10:8

10:8 You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days, until I arrive and tell you what to do.”

1 Samuel 13:12

13:12 I thought, 4  ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated 5  to offer the burnt offering.”

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? 6 

Certainly, 7  obedience 8  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than 9  the fat of rams.

1 tn Heb “a lamb of milk”; NAB “an unweaned lamb”; NIV “a suckling lamb”; NCV “a baby lamb.”

2 tn Heb “approached for battle against Israel.”

3 tn Heb “before.”

4 tn Heb “said.”

5 tn Or “I forced myself” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV, CEV); NAB “So in my anxiety I offered”; NIV “I felt compelled.”

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

7 tn Heb “look.”

8 tn Heb “listening.”

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