2. This is what the Lord of Armies says: I will punish Amalek for what they did to Israel. They blocked Israel’s way after the Israelites came from Egypt.
3. Now go and attack Amalek. Claim everything they have for God by destroying it. Don’t spare them, but kill men and women, infants and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
4. Saul organized the troops, and he counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah.
5. Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.
6. Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Get away from the Amalekites so that I won’t destroy you with them. You were kind to all the Israelites when they came from Egypt.” So the Kenites left the Amalekites.
7. Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt.
8. He captured King Agag of Amalek alive. But he claimed all the people for God by destroying them.
9. Saul and the army spared Agag and the best sheep and cows, the fattened animals, the lambs, and all the best ⌊property⌋. The army refused to claim them for God by destroying them. But everything that was worthless and weak the army did claim for God and destroy.
10. Then the Lord spoke to Samuel:
11. “I regret that I made Saul king. He turned away from me and did not carry out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he prayed to the Lord all night.
12. Early in the morning he got up to meet Saul. Samuel was told, “Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument in his honor. Then he left there and went to Gilgal.”
13. Samuel came to Saul, who said, “The Lord bless you. I carried out the Lord’s instructions.”
14. However, Samuel asked,“But what is this sound of sheep in my earsand this sound of cows that I hear?”
15. Saul answered, “The army brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best sheep and cows to sacrifice to the Lord your God. But the rest they claimed for God and destroyed.”
16. “Be quiet,” Samuel told Saul, “and let me tell you what the Lord told me last night.”“Speak,” Saul replied.