14. But Samuel said, “Then what is that sound I hear? Why do I hear sheep and cattle?”
15. Saul said, “The soldiers took them from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to burn as sacrifices to the Lord your God. But we destroyed everything else.”
16. Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord told me last night.” Saul answered, “Tell me what he said.”
17. Samuel said, “In the past you didn’t think that you were important, but the Lord chose you to be the king. So you became the leader of the tribes of Israel.
18. The Lord sent you on a special mission. He said, ‘Go and destroy all the Amalekites. They are evil people. Destroy them all! Fight them until they are completely finished.’
19. So why didn’t you listen to the Lord? You did what the Lord said is wrong because you wanted to keep what you took in battle.”