What does 1 Samuel 15:5 mean?
King Saul mustered a large army of Israelites to carry out the command of the Lord. This order involves the Hebrew word ḥāram, which means to "devote to destruction." This implies an absolute, unbending approach. Every living person and animal among the Amalekites is to be slain (1 Samuel 15:3). The army has traveled south toward the Amalekites' home region of the Negev. They set up camp near the "city" of the Amalekites, an apparent gathering place that is more than a temporary camp, but perhaps not a full-fledged town since the Amalekites were nomadic people.Using some degree of stealth, Saul's army takes up position in a nearby valley to lay in wait for the opportune moment to strike. Some commentators speculate that this valley may have been, or been near, the Brook of Egypt, often seen as Israel's southern border (Numbers 34:5; Ezekiel 47:19).
First Samuel 15:1–9 describes Saul's partial obedience to God regarding the Amalekites. Half-obedience is the same as disobedience; Saul spares the enemy king and many of the valuable animals. This is contrary to the Lord's command. As a result, God will inform the prophet Samuel that God intends to replace Saul as king over Israel.
Samuel gives Saul a mission from the Lord: fulfill God's judgment on the Amalekites by killing all the people and all the animals. Saul and his army defeat Amalek, but they spare the king and the best animals. Samuel confronts Saul and reveals that because of his disobedience, the Lord has rejected Saul as king over Israel. Samuel worships the Lord with Saul one last time and then executes the Amalekite king Saul failed to kill.
