1 Samuel 15

“Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore…” Naming Israel and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he…” Naming Amalek and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman…” Naming Amalek keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.” Naming Amalek and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for…” Naming Amalekites and Kenites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.” Naming Amalekites and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.” Naming Agag and Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs…” Naming Agag and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,” Naming Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my…” Naming Samuel and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold…” Naming Samuel and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD : I have performed the commandment of the…” Naming Saul and Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the…” Naming Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him…” Naming Samuel and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against…” Naming Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD , but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD , and have gone the way which the LORD sent me…” Naming Agag and Amalek keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to…” Naming Gilgal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD , and thy words: because…” Naming Samuel and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, pardon, pray. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , and the LORD…” Naming Israel and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.” Naming Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a…” Naming Israel and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Naming Israel and Strength keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD .” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag…” Naming Agag and Amalekites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.” Naming Saul and Gibeah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD…” Naming Saul and Samuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.