1 Samuel 15:20

20 et ait Saul ad Samuhelem immo audivi vocem Domini et ambulavi in via per quam misit me Dominus et adduxi Agag regem Amalech et Amalech interfeci

1 Samuel 15:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 15:20

And Saul said to Samuel, yea, I have obeyed the voice of the
Lord
Here Saul breaks in upon Samuel before he had declared all that the Lord had said unto him; for having expostulated with him for not obeying the voice of the Lord, he could not forbear interrupting him, but with the utmost assurance affirms he had obeyed the voice of the Lord; but then it was very imperfectly, and poor proof does he give of it:

and have gone the way which the Lord sent me;
it is very true he went into the country of Amalek, but he did not do there all the Lord commanded him:

and have brought Agag the king of Amalek;
took him alive, and brought him captive; whereas he ought to have destroyed him at once, and not have reserved him for triumph; a sad proof this of his obeying the voice of the Lord:

and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites;
all that came in his way, in which he did right; but then he had not destroyed the principal of them, their king.

1 Samuel 15:20 In-Context

18 et misit te Dominus in via et ait vade et interfice peccatores Amalech et pugnabis contra eos usque ad internicionem eorum
19 quare ergo non audisti vocem Domini sed versus ad praedam es et fecisti malum in oculis Domini
20 et ait Saul ad Samuhelem immo audivi vocem Domini et ambulavi in via per quam misit me Dominus et adduxi Agag regem Amalech et Amalech interfeci
21 tulit autem populus de praeda oves et boves primitias eorum quae caesa sunt ut immolet Domino Deo suo in Galgalis
22 et ait Samuhel numquid vult Dominus holocausta aut victimas et non potius ut oboediatur voci Domini melior est enim oboedientia quam victimae et auscultare magis quam offerre adipem arietum
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.