[I Samuel, 15:1–34]
“Samuel said to Saul” [15:1]. Samuel said to King Saul: the Holy One has sent me to make you a king over Israel. Therefore, it is just that you must listen to God’s commands that you should take revenge against Amalek.1Radak, I Samuel, 15:1.
“Thus says the Lord of Hosts, I will punish, etc.” [15:2]. Thus said God: now I will remember and repay the deeds that Amalek did to Israel, when they left Egypt. He enticed Israel out of the cloud and killed them.2Pesikta de Rav Kahana, 3.12.
“Now go” [15:3]. Now, you, Saul, should go and kill and destroy Amalek and have no pity, not even on the oxen, donkeys, sheep, or nursing children. Our sages say that there were many among Amalek who made themselves to appear as sheep, by magical means, in the expectation that they would not be recognized and they would be left alive. Therefore, the Holy One commanded that you should even kill the sheep.3Rashi, I Samuel, 15:3.
“Saul summoned” [15:4]. Saul gathered the people and commanded everyone from Israel that they should take a lamb from the king’s house and afterwards they would count the sheep. They would know how many Israelites there were to go to war. They did not count the Israelites by name. The plague happens, heaven forbid, when one counts Israel. Thus, they counted Israel with sheep. There were two hundred thousand Israelite men and ten thousand from Judah.4Rashi, I Samuel, 15:2
“He lay in wait in the valley” [15:5]. He fought with Amalek in the valley. Our sages say: Saul saw that it is written in the Torah that when an Israelite is found slain and they do not know who did it, they measured which city is closest to where he was killed. That city had to bring a calf to atone for the person who was killed the person.5Deuteronomy, 21:1–9. Now, Saul said: when the Torah so strongly commanded when one person is killed, how much more so can I kill so many people from Amalek? A heavenly voice went forth and said, “do not act too righteous” [Ecclesiastes, 7:16]. Do not be more righteous than what God commanded you. He allowed the city of Nob to be destroyed. They were all priests and Saul let them all be killed and did not have pity on them.6I Samuel, 22:9–19. A heavenly voice went forth that you should not be too much and too big of an evildoer.7B. Yoma, 22b.
“Saul said to the Kenites” [15:6]. Saul said to the Kenites. They were the descendants of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Jethro had given good advice to Moses about how he should dispense justice to Israel.8Rashi, I Samuel, 15:6. Because of that advice Saul said: we will repay his descendants with good. We will tell them to leave Amalek in the expectation that they should not be killed among the Amalekites. From here we learn how the Holy One gives a good reward when someone gives good advice to his friend; his descendants are benefitted.
“Saul destroyed” [15:7]. Saul killed the Amalekites from the city of Havilah to the city of Shur, near Egypt. He captured Agag, the king of Amalek, alive. Saul and all the people had mercy on Agag and also on all the good sheep and did not want to kill them.
“The word of the Lord came to Samuel” [15:10]. God said to Samuel: I regret that I made Saul a king. He did not keep My words. Samuel shouted and pleaded with God the whole night and went to Saul early in the morning. Samuel was told that Saul was in the city of Carmel and he was dividing the goods and money that he had taken from Amalek. When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said to him: may God bless you. I have carried out what God has commanded me, to kill Amalek. Samuel responded: what are the loud shouts of the oxen and sheep? Saul said: I brought them from Amalek. The people had mercy on them and they want to bring the animals as sacrifices to God. Samuel said to Saul: I will tell you what the Holy One said last night. Saul said: tell me. Samuel said: though you are little and humble in your eyes, nonetheless you are a king over Israel and the Holy One commanded you to kill all of Amalek. Why did you not obey and took much plunder, sheep and cows? With this, you have done much evil. Saul responded: the people had mercy on the animals and wanted to offer sacrifices. I have brought Agag here. Samuel responded: Does the Holy One want sacrifices? The Holy One would rather have that His commands and commandments are listened to, rather than that sacrifices should be brought. It is a great sin, like one who engages in magic or sorcery. The person, who does not want to obey the commands of the Holy One, might as well serve foreign gods. He does not want to obey the commandments of the Holy One. Therefore, you, Saul, have also shamed the words of the Holy One. That is why your kingdom has become disgusting before God, and your kingship over Israel.
“Saul said to Samuel” [15:24]. Saul said: I have sinned that I have transgressed the words of God and also your words. I was afraid of the people and I listened to them. Therefore, I ask you to forgive my sins and go with me that I will ask God that He should pardon me. Samuel responded: I will not go with you. You have shamed the words of God. Therefore, God will not have you as a king. Samuel wanted to turn away to go and Saul held him and tore his garment. Saul held on strongly to Samuel’s garment and that is why the garment of Samuel tore.
“Samuel said to him” [15:28]. Samuel said to Saul: God has torn away the kingship from you and will give the kingship to your associate who will be better than you are. Some sages say that he tore the garment of Samuel. This is an allusion to David who would tear off the garment of Saul and would have the kingship. Some say that Saul tore his own garment, since it is the custom of the righteous to tear their garments when they have troubles.9Yalkut Shimoni, I Samuel, Remez, 123.
“Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not deceive” [15:29]. Samuel said: Though your kingship will be ended, but Israel will remain eternal and the Holy One will preserve the good that Israel has been promised.10Rashi, I Samuel, 15:29.
“And he said, I have sinned” [15:30]. Saul said: I have committed sins. Honor me before Israel and come with me and I will bow down to the Holy One. Samuel went with Saul and Saul bowed down to God.
“Samuel said” [15:32]. Samuel said: bring Agag, the king of the Amalekites, here to me. Agag went very proudly and not sadly, like a king should go when he goes to his death. He desired that they should kill him quickly. Some sages say that he went to Samuel, bound with iron chains. Agag said: why has the bitter death come so close.11Yalkut Shimoni, I Samuel, Remez, 123.
“Samuel said” [15:33]. Samuel said to Agag: you have made many women widows and have castrated many men. You threw their circumcision to heaven and said to the Holy One: take the circumcision that you commanded Israel. Samuel said to Agag: now, your mother will mourn more than other women and Samuel hacked Agag to death in Gilgal.12Yalkut Shimoni, I Samuel, Remez, 123.
“And Samuel went to Ramah” [15:34]. Samuel went to the city of Ramah and Saul went to his house in Gibeah of Saul.