This victory over the Amalekites was the most brilliant victory that Saul had ever gained, and it served to rekindle the pride of heart that was his greatest peril. The divine edict devoting the enemies of God to utter destruction was but partially fulfilled. Ambitious to heighten the honor of his triumphal return by the presence of a royal captive, Saul ventured to imitate the customs of the nations around him and spared Agag, the fierce and warlike king of the Amalekites. The people reserved for themselves the finest of the flocks, herds, and beasts of burden, excusing their sin on the ground that the cattle were reserved to be offered as sacrifices to the Lord. It was their purpose, however, to use these merely as a substitute, to save their own cattle.

Saul vandt den største af alle sine sejre i krigen mod amalekitterne, og nu blev hans stolthed, som var hans største fare, vakt til live igen. Han efterkom kun delvis den guddommelige befaling om at udrydde Guds fjender fuldstændig. Saul besluttede at gøre sit sjrstog så strålende som muligt ved at tage en konge med sig tilbage som fange. Han dristede sig til at efterligne de omkringboende folks skikke og skånede den barske og krigeriske amalekitterkonge Agags liv. Folket skånede det bedste af hornkvæget og småkvæget og de bedste arbejdsdyr og undskyldte deres synd med, at de ville ofre kvæget til Herren. Men det var kun et påskud for at få lov til at beholde det kvæg, som de selv ønskede at få.