[15:1] Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one whom the Lord sent to anoint you king of his people Israel. Now listen to what the Lord Almighty says.
[15:2] He is going to punish the people of Amalek because their ancestors opposed the Israelites when they were coming from Egypt.
[15:3] Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.”
[15:4] Saul called his forces together and inspected them at Telem: there were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 from Judah.
[15:5] Then he and his men went to the city of Amalek and waited in ambush in a dry riverbed.
[15:6] He sent a warning to the Kenites, a people whose ancestors had been kind to the Israelites when they came from Egypt: “Go away and leave the Amalekites, so that I won't kill you along with them.” So the Kenites left.
[15:7] Saul defeated the Amalekites, fighting all the way from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt;
[15:8] he captured King Agag of Amalek alive and killed all the people.
[15:9] But Saul and his men spared Agag's life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good; they destroyed only what was useless or worthless.