Overview
1 Samuel 15 presents a pivotal moment in the life of King Saul and his kingdom. In this chapter, Saul is commanded by the Lord, through the prophet Samuel, to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that belongs to them, as a judgment for their opposition to Israel during the Exodus. However, Saul disobeys God's command by sparing Agag, the king of Amalek, and the best of the livestock under the guise of offering them as sacrifices to the Lord. Samuel confronts Saul for his disobedience, declaring that the Lord has rejected him as king over Israel for not executing His command fully. This historical account emphasizes the importance of complete obedience to God's commands and illustrates the spiritual principle that to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.