I was commanded to send Saul against the Amalekites.  What Amalek did to us when we came out of Egypt had been written down, and the direction concerning him.  He met us by the way, and smote the hindmost of us, even all that were feeble, when we were faint and weary; and it had been said to our fathers that when we had rest from our enemies round about us, we were to blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven—­“Thou shalt not forget it” was the word delivered to us.  I had the record of the battle in Rephidim when Joshua discomfited Amalek, not in his own strength, but in the strength of the uplifted arms of the aged Moses, the man of God.  His arms, withered and feeble, defeated Amalek that day.  Does not the altar still stand, Jehovah-nissi, to testify that we should war with Amalek from generation to generation?  Furthermore, Amalek feared not God, but worshipped strange gods with abominable rites, after which the sons and daughters of Israel lusted.  It was the Lord’s desire that we should root up Amalek, as a man roots up a weed, and fears to leave a thread of it in the ground, lest it should again grow.

Saul was willing to arm himself against the Amalekites, and to do his best to defeat them after the manner of a king, and to bring them into subjection; but he saw not with my eyes, and knew not what a Law of the Lord was.  Therein have I stood apart from Saul and his friends and this nation.  They also were not ignorant of the Law, but they thought it could be observed like the laws of men, not understanding that it is binding to the last jot and tittle, and that if a man fails at the last jot or tittle, he fails altogether.

Saul smote the Amalekites, and everything that was vile and refuse he utterly destroyed with the edge of the sword, but he spared Agag and the best of the spoil; and when he came to meet me, he saluted me, and said he had performed the commandment of the Lord.  His commandments are not thus to be performed, and I asked him what meant then the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen.  He had reserved them, he said, as a sacrifice.  I asked him whether the Lord had as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord, I told him that to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams; and I denounced him there, and foretold that his kingdom should be given to a neighbour better than he.  He was then greatly afraid, for although he feared not the Lord, and was brave before his enemies, he was at times much given to secret terror, and he besought me to stay with him and pardon him.  But I would not, and when I had worshipped, I ordered Agag to be brought before me.  He came trembling and asking for mercy, but I hewed him in pieces.  Mercy?  Mercy to whom?  Would it have been mercy to Israel to let him live and become a leader of the Amalekites against us?  Moreover, a clear command had been given me, and was set plainly before me, as a candle