1 Samuel 15:9
New International Version
But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

New Living Translation
Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

English Standard Version
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

Berean Standard Bible
Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

King James Bible
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

New King James Version
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

New American Standard Bible
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the more valuable animals, the lambs, and everything that was good, and were unwilling to destroy them completely; but everything despicable and weak, that they completely destroyed.

NASB 1995
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

NASB 1977
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Amplified Bible
Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and everything that was good, and they were not willing to destroy them entirely; but everything that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed completely.

Christian Standard Bible
Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

American Standard Version
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Contemporary English Version
Saul and his army let Agag live, and they also spared the best sheep and cattle. They didn't want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak.

English Revised Version
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
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.

International Standard Version
Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle—the fattened animals and lambs—along with all that was good. They were not willing to completely destroy them, but they did completely destroy everything that was worthless and inferior.

Majority Standard Bible
Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

NET Bible
However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised and worthless.

New Heart English Bible
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and the cattle, and the fat ones and the lambs, and all that was good, and wouldn't utterly destroy them; but everything that was despised and rejected, that they utterly destroyed.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

World English Bible
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Saul has pity—also the people—on Agag, and on the best of the flock, and of the herd, and of the seconds, and on the lambs, and on all that [is] good, and have not been willing to devote them; and all the work, despised and wasted—it they devoted.

Young's Literal Translation
and Saul hath pity -- also the people -- on Agag, and on the best of the flock, and of the herd, and of the seconds, and on the lambs, and on all that is good, and have not been willing to devote them; and all the work, despised and wasted -- it they devoted.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul and the people will have pity upon Agag, and upon the good of the sheep, and the oxen and the double, and upon the lambs and upon all the good, and they were not willing to exterminate them: and every work despised and wasting away, they exterminated it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the flocks of sheep and of the herds, and the garments and the rams, and all that was beautiful, and would not destroy them: but every thing that was vile and good for nothing, that they destroyed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the flocks of sheep, and of the herds, and the garments, and the rams, and all that was beautiful, and they were not willing to destroy them. Yet truly, whatever was vile or worthless, these they demolished.

New American Bible
He and his troops spared Agag and the best of the fat sheep and oxen, and the lambs. They refused to put under the ban anything that was worthwhile, destroying only what was worthless and of no account.

New Revised Standard Version
Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the cattle and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was valuable, and would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless they utterly destroyed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Saul and the people spared King Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings and the stall-fed beasts and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and despised in their sight, that they destroyed utterly.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul and the people had pity on Agag the King and upon the best of the sheep and of the bulls and that which is fat and of fatlings and upon all the good, and they did not choose to destroy them, and everything that was despised and rejected in their eyes, they destroyed it
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul and all the people saved Agag alive, and the best of the flocks, and of the herds, and of the fruits, of the vineyards, and of all the good things; and they would not destroy them: but every worthless and refuse thing they destroyed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul's Disobedience
8He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. 9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves 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.

Cross References
Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

Joshua 7:1
The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

1 Kings 20:32-34
So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” / Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot. / Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

2 Kings 10:29-31
but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. / Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.” / Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

Psalm 106:34-36
They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Isaiah 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.

Jeremiah 7:23-24
but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. / Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Amos 2:4
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

Malachi 1:8
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Mark 7:9
He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.

Luke 6:46
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?

John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Acts 5:1-11
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...


Treasury of Scripture

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatted calves, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

the best

1 Samuel 15:3,15,19
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass…

Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

the fatlings.

2 Samuel 6:13
And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

Jump to Previous
Account Agag Best Birth Calves Cattle Completely Curse Death Desiring Despised Destroy Destroyed Kept Lambs Oxen Refuse Saul Second Sheep Spared Unwilling Utterly Vile Weak Wouldn't Young
Jump to Next
Account Agag Best Birth Calves Cattle Completely Curse Death Desiring Despised Destroy Destroyed Kept Lambs Oxen Refuse Saul Second Sheep Spared Unwilling Utterly Vile Weak Wouldn't Young
1 Samuel 15
1. Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek
6. Saul favors the Kenites
7. He spares Agag and the best of the spoil
10. Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience
24. Saul's humiliation
32. Samuel kills Agag
34. Samuel and Saul part














Saul and his troops
This phrase highlights the leadership of Saul, Israel's first king, and his military forces. Saul's role as king was to lead the people in obedience to God's commands. The Hebrew root for "troops" (עַם, 'am) often refers to a collective group, emphasizing the unity and shared responsibility of the people under Saul's command. Historically, this reflects the period of the united monarchy in Israel, where the king was expected to act as God's representative on earth.

spared Agag
Agag was the king of the Amalekites, a people who were long-standing enemies of Israel. The Hebrew root for "spared" (חָמַל, chamal) implies having compassion or showing mercy, which in this context was contrary to God's explicit command to destroy the Amalekites completely. This act of sparing Agag symbolizes Saul's disobedience and failure to fully carry out God's judgment, which had significant theological implications for his kingship.

the best of the sheep and cattle
The phrase underscores the selective obedience of Saul and his troops. The Hebrew word for "best" (מֵיטָב, meytav) indicates that they chose what was most valuable in their eyes. This decision reflects a human tendency to prioritize material wealth and personal gain over spiritual obedience. In the ancient Near Eastern context, livestock was a sign of wealth and prosperity, making this choice particularly significant.

the fat calves and lambs
This phrase further emphasizes the choice to preserve what was considered valuable. The Hebrew word for "fat" (מִשְׁנֶה, mishneh) can also mean "second" or "choice," indicating that these animals were of superior quality. In biblical times, such animals were often used for sacrifices, which might suggest that Saul intended to use them for religious purposes, albeit in disobedience to God's specific instructions.

and all that was good
This phrase highlights the subjective judgment of Saul and his troops. The Hebrew word for "good" (טוֹב, tov) is often used in the Bible to describe what is pleasing or desirable. This choice reflects a human-centered perspective, valuing what appears beneficial rather than adhering to divine commands. It serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning human values with God's will.

They were unwilling to destroy them
This phrase indicates a deliberate choice to disobey God's command. The Hebrew root for "unwilling" (אָבָה, avah) suggests a refusal or resistance, highlighting the rebellious nature of Saul's actions. This decision marks a pivotal moment in Saul's reign, as it demonstrates a lack of submission to God's authority, which ultimately leads to his rejection as king.

but everything that was despised and worthless
This contrast between what was spared and what was destroyed underscores the flawed judgment of Saul and his troops. The Hebrew word for "despised" (נָמַס, namas) conveys a sense of contempt or disdain, while "worthless" (נָבֵל, navel) implies something of no value. This selective destruction reveals a failure to understand the comprehensive nature of God's command.

they devoted to destruction
The phrase "devoted to destruction" (חֵרֶם, cherem) is a technical term in Hebrew that refers to the complete consecration of something to God, often through destruction. This concept is rooted in the idea of holy war, where certain things were set apart for God by being utterly destroyed. Saul's partial obedience in this regard highlights the importance of complete devotion to God's will, as partial obedience is ultimately disobedience.

(9) And he took Agag . . . alive.--Agag seems to have been for the sovereigns of Amalek the official title, like Pharaoh in the case of the kings of Egypt, and Abimelech among certain of the Philistine peoples. The meaning of the term Agag is unknown.

Utterly destroyed all the people.--That is to say, Ir-Amalek was sacked, and the nation generally broken up; but many, no doubt, escaped into the desert, for we hear of the people again on several occasions in this book. In 1Chronicles 4:43 their complete, and probably final, annihilation is recorded.

(9) Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen.--It would seem that Saul carried out the awful curse to the letter (with the exception that he spared the king) in the case of the human beings and the less valuable of their beasts. But covetousness seems to have suggested the preservation of the choicest cattle, and pride probably induced the Hebrew king to save Agag alive, that he might show the people his royal captive.

Verse 9. - The fatlings. So the Syriac and Chaldee render the word, but the Hebrew literally means "the second best." Kimchi and Tanchum give perhaps a preferable rendering, "the second born," such animals being considered superior to the first born, as the dams had by that time arrived at their full strength. REJECTION OF SAUL AND HIS DYNASTY (vers. 10-23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Saul
שָׁא֨וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

and his troops
וְהָעָ֜ם (wə·hā·‘ām)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

spared
וַיַּחְמֹל֩ (way·yaḥ·mōl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2550: To commiserate, to spare

Agag,
אֲגָ֗ג (’ă·ḡāḡ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 90: Agag -- king of Amalek

along with
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the best
מֵיטַ֣ב (mê·ṭaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4315: The best part

of the sheep
הַצֹּאן֩ (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and cattle,
וְהַבָּקָ֨ר (wə·hab·bā·qār)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

the fat calves
וְהַמִּשְׁנִ֤ים (wə·ham·miš·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4932: A repetition, a duplicate, a double, a second

and
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

lambs,
הַכָּרִים֙ (hak·kā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3733: A ram, a, battering-ram, a meadow, a pad, camel's saddle

and
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the best
הַטּ֔וֹב (haṭ·ṭō·wḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

of everything else.
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

They were unwilling
אָב֖וּ (’ā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent

to destroy them,
הַחֲרִימָ֑ם (ha·ḥă·rî·mām)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose

but they utterly destroyed
הֶחֱרִֽימוּ׃ (he·ḥĕ·rî·mū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose

all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that was despised
נְמִבְזָ֥ה (nə·miḇ·zāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 959: To disesteem

and worthless.
וְנָמֵ֖ס (wə·nā·mês)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4549: To liquefy, to waste, to faint


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OT History: 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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