¹⁹ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder^(A) and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”

²⁰ “But I did obey^(B) the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹ The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

²² But Samuel replied:

² From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(A) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(B) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.