5. Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.
6. He warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.
7. Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.
8. He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.
9. Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.
10. Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel,
11. “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.
12. Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”
13. When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”
14. Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear? ”
15. Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed.”
16. “Stop! ” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”“Tell me,” he replied.
17. Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel