1 Samuel 15:20

20 Y Saúl respondió a Samuel: Antes he oído la voz del SEÑOR, y fui a la jornada que el SEÑOR me envió, y he traído a Agag rey de Amalec, y he destruido a los amalecitas

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 Y te envió el SEÑOR en jornada, y dijo: Ve, y destruye a los pecadores de Amalec, y hazles guerra hasta que los acabes

19 ¿Por qué, pues, no has oído la voz del SEÑOR? Antes vuelto al despojo, has hecho lo malo en los ojos del SEÑOR

20 Y Saúl respondió a Samuel: Antes he oído la voz del SEÑOR, y fui a la jornada que el SEÑOR me envió, y he traído a Agag rey de Amalec, y he destruido a los amalecitas

21 Mas el pueblo tomó del despojo ovejas y vacas, las primicias del anatema, para sacrificarlas al SEÑOR tu Dios en Gilgal

22 Y Samuel dijo: ¿Tiene el SEÑOR tanto contentamiento con los holocaustos y víctimas, como en oír la palabra del SEÑOR? Ciertamente el oír es mejor que los sacrificios; y el escuchar que el sebo de los carneros