Better Than Sacrifice

Saul's commission was clear: carry out the Lord's judgment on Amalek, the nation that had attacked Israel on the way from Egypt. Saul won a sweeping victory, but he and the people spared Agag and the best of the flocks and herds. What was vile they destroyed; what was valuable they kept. Saul then set up a monument for himself at Carmel.

Yahweh told Samuel, It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, and Samuel cried out all night. At Gilgal, Saul greeted him with a claim of full obedience. Samuel's question about the bleating of the sheep exposed the truth. Saul blamed the people, and claimed the spoil was meant for sacrifice, revealing a religion that used worship to cover disobedience.

Samuel's reply stands at the heart of the book: Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as idolatry. Saul's confession, I have sinned, was followed by a plea to be honored before the elders, showing his chief concern was his image. The torn robe became a sign of the torn kingdom. Samuel put Agag to death, then mourned for Saul, and Yahweh grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.