17. And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The lord has anointed you king of Israel.
18. And the lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’
19. Why haven’t you obeyed the lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the lord’s sight?”
20. “But I did obey the lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.
21. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the lord your God in Gilgal.”
22. But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the lord:your burnt offerings and sacrificesor your obedience to his voice?Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
23. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.So because you have rejected the command of the lord,he has rejected you as king.”