1 Samuel 15

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
'Obedecer é melhor que sacrificar' tornou-se um princípio profético central. Comparar com Oséias 6:6 e Mateus 9:13, onde Jesus cita esta ideia.