1 Samuel 15:8

8 et adprehendit Agag regem Amalech vivum omne autem vulgus interfecit in ore gladii

1 Samuel 15:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 15:8

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive
This name seems to be a common name of the kings of these people, as Pharaoh was of the Egyptians, see ( Numbers 24:2 ) . When this king fell into the hands of Saul, he did not put him to death, as he should have done, but preserved him; for what reasons, see in the following verse:

and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword;
that is, all that came in his way, or fell into his hands; all between Havilah and Shur; all excepting those that made their escape, for we after read of Amalekites, and that in large bodies, ( 1 Samuel 27:8 ) ( 30:1 ) .

1 Samuel 15:8 In-Context

6 dixitque Saul Cineo abite recedite atque descendite ab Amalech ne forte involvam te cum eo tu enim fecisti misericordiam cum omnibus filiis Israhel cum ascenderent de Aegypto et recessit Cineus de medio Amalech

7 percussitque Saul Amalech ab Evila donec venias Sur quae est e regione Aegypti

8 et adprehendit Agag regem Amalech vivum omne autem vulgus interfecit in ore gladii

9 et pepercit Saul et populus Agag et optimis gregibus ovium et armentorum et vestibus et arietibus et universis quae pulchra erant nec voluerunt disperdere ea quicquid vero vile fuit et reprobum hoc demoliti sunt

10 factum est autem verbum Domini ad Samuhel dicens