1 Samuel 15:4-9

New International Reader's Version

⁴ So Saul brought his men together at Telaim. The total number was 200,000 soldiers on foot from Israel and 10,000 from Judah. ⁵ Saul went to the city of Amalek. Then Saul had some of his men hide and wait in the valley. ⁶ Then Saul said to the Kenites, “You were kind to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. Get away from the Amalekites. Then I won’t have to destroy you along with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

⁷ Saul attacked the Amalekites. He struck them down all the way from Havilah to Shur. Shur was near the eastern border of Egypt. ⁸ Saul captured Agag, the king of the Amalekites. But he and his men totally destroyed with their swords all Agag’s people. ⁹ So Saul and the army spared Agag. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They spared the fat calves and lambs. They spared everything that was valuable. They weren’t willing to completely destroy any of those things. But they totally destroyed everything that was worthless and weak.