I Samuel 15:20
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“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
"Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah (אשׁר serving, like כּי ekil , to introduce the reply: here it is used in the sense of asseveration, utique, yea), and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and banned Amalek." Bringing Agag he mentioned probably as a practical proof that he had carried out the war of extermination against the Amalekites.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have the final rejection of Saul from being king, for his disobedience to God's command in not utterly destroying the Amalekites. By his wars and victories he hoped to magnify and perpetuate his own name and honour, but, by his mismanagement of them, he ruined himself, and laid his honour in the dust. Here is, I. The commission God gave him to destroy the Amalekites, with a command to do it utterly (Sa1 15:1-3). II. Saul's preparation for this expedition (Sa1 15:4-6). III. His success, and partial execution of this commission (Sa1 15:7-9). IV. His examination before Samuel, and sentence passed upon him, notwithstanding the many frivolous pleas he made to excuse himself (v. 10-31). V. The slaying of Agag (Sa1 15:32, Sa1 15:33). VI. Samuel's final farewell to Saul (Sa1 15:34, Sa1 15:35).
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”
“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’
‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.