Shaul's Sin in the Battle with Amalek/1/en
Shaul Loses the Kingship
Introduction
On Sheep and Kings
Chapter 15 revolves around Shaul's battle against Amalek and his subsequent loss of the kingship. After the battle, Hashem tells Shemuel:
נִחַמְתִּי כִּי הִמְלַכְתִּי אֶת שָׁאוּל לְמֶלֶךְ כִּי שָׁב מֵאַחֲרַי וְאֶת דְּבָרַי לֹא הֵקִים...
'It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.'
However, Hashem does not elaborate as to what specific action caused him to regret appointing Shaul as king. His words follow a description of Shaul's having mercy on Agag and the choice cattle, suggesting that this was the problem. However, neither of these actions seems so terrible that they should merit such a severe punishment. Saving sheep for sacrifices or taking Agag captive appear to be somewhat minor transgressions. In addition, if necessary, it would seem fairly easy to rectify the mistake of having left them alive! Finally, Shaul himself seems unaware that these actions were problematic, and even cites them when declaring that he has kept Hashem's words:
(כ) וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּקוֹל י"י וָאֵלֵךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר שְׁלָחַנִי י"י וָאָבִיא אֶת אֲגַג מֶלֶךְ עֲמָלֵק וְאֶת עֲמָלֵק הֶחֱרַמְתִּי. (כא) וַיִּקַּח הָעָם מֵהַשָּׁלָל צֹאן וּבָקָר רֵאשִׁית הַחֵרֶם לִזְבֹּחַ לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּגִּלְגָּל.
(20) And Saul said unto Samuel: 'Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. (21) But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.'
Where, then, did Shaul fail so badly that he lost the kingship?
