Saul’s Disobedience

15 Then 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. 2 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction [fn] 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.’ ”

4 So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. 5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.”

So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

9 Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves [fn] and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.