A reading from the book of 1 Samuel.

And Samuel said to Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel.

Now therefore listen to the words of the Lord.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the

way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.

Now go and strike Amalek, and devote to destruction all that they have.

Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman child and infant, ox and sheep, camel

and donkey.

So Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Tillayam, 200,000 men on foot,

and 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.

Then Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them,

for you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites

departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havela as far as

Shure, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites from Havela as far as Shure, which is east of Egypt, and he took Agag the king of

the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen, and of the fattened

calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them.

All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

The word of the Lord came to Samuel.

I regret that I have made Saul king,

for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my

commandments. And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early to

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