Mark Kolchin
It would have appeared after Saul?s return from his battle with
the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15) that his victory over them was complete and decisive. Charged
by God to utterly destroy these perennial enemies (v. 2), he launched a successful
military campaign against them and defeated these foes with the edge of the sword.
Although he had decimated their ranks, Saul had not completely destroyed them but had
spared Agag their king and the best of the flocks.