But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Study Helps
Interpretation
The sentence of condemnation against the Amalekites had gone forth long before, Ex 17:14 ; De 25:19, but they had been spared till they filled up the measure of their sins. We are sure that the righteous Lord does no injustice to any.
Read with
This thought runs through 1 Samuel 15:6-9.
Glossary
- Saul Person
- Asked for. (1. ) A king of Edom ( Gen. 36:37 , 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48 .
- Agag Person
- Flame, the usual title of the Amalekite kings, as “Pharaoh” was of the Egyptian. (1. ) A king of the Amalekites referred to by Balaam ( Num. 24:7 ). He lived at the time of the Exodus.