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.”

[15:3]  ¹ tn Or perhaps “don’t take pity on” (cf. CEV).

[15:22]  ² tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

[15:22]  ³ tn Heb “look.”

[15:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “listening.”

[15:22]  ⁵ tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).

[15:23]  ⁶ tn Or “from [being].”