Saul's Many Victories
47When Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.[] 48He fought valiantly.[] He struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who had plundered them. Saul's Family
49The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malkishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the younger. 50The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahima'az. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle.[] 51Kish was Saul's father, and Ner, Abner's father, was the son of Abiel. 52There was fierce warfare against the Philistines all the days of Saul. Whenever Saul noticed any heroic man or strong warrior, he would take him into his service.
Saul Is Rejected
151Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people Israel. Therefore, listen to the voice of the Lord. 2This is what the Lord of Armies says. I will repay Amalek for what they did to Israel when they blocked Israel's way as it was coming up out of Egypt. 3Go and strike Amalek. Devote everything they have to destruction. Do not spare them. Kill both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
4So Saul summoned the troops and organized them for battle at Telaim. There were two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. 5Then Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the ravine. 6Saul said to the Kenites, “Go! Leave! Get away from the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them, because you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which borders Egypt. 8He took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive, and he devoted all the people to destruction with the edge of the sword. 9But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the cattle, the fattened calves, and the lambs, along with everything else that was good, because they were not willing to devote them to destruction. But everything that was undesirable and worthless, that they devoted to destruction.