Shaul's Sin in the Battle with Amalek/2

Shaul Loses the Kingship

Exegetical Approaches

Kept Agag Alive

Sources:Bavli YomaYoma 22bAbout the Bavli, Bavli MegillahMegillah 12b-13aAbout the Bavli, Yalkut ShimoniShemuel I 121About Yalkut Shimoni

Severity of the sin:

• Shaul thought he was more just than Hashem – Bavli Yoma and Yalkut Shimoni suggest that Shahul thought he could decide who needs to be punished or saved on his own, leading to his extra mercy here but extreme cruelty in Nov.

• Consequences of deed – Bavli Megillah says that had Agag been killed immediately Haman would have never been born, suggesting that that was the problem.
• Shaul simply did not listen to Hashem's commandment.  Hashem said to destroy all of Amalek so leaving over even just one person violated the directive.

What was included in the command?

"כִּי חַטַּאת קֶסֶם מֶרִי וְאָוֶן וּתְרָפִים הַפְצַר"

"וַתַּעַט אֶל הַשָּׁלָל"

"וּמֶה קוֹל הַצֹּאן הַזֶּה בְּאׇזְנָי"

David's battle with Amalek

Did Not Consecrate the Spoils

Sources:RadakShemuel I 15:3Shemuel I 15:12Shemuel I 15:15Shemuel I 15:17Shemuel I 15:23About R. David Kimchi, RalbagShemuel I 15:6-23About R. Levi b. Gershom, AbarbanelShemuel I 14, Questions 2-4Shemuel I 15:1Shemuel I 15:14-15Shemuel I 15:23Shemuel I 15:26About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, BiurShemuel I 15:23About the Biur (Netivot HaShalom), MalbimShemuel I 15:4-5About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

Why were they commanded not to leave spoils?

Did Not Fight All of Amalek

Sources:Hoil MosheShemuel I 15:3Shemuel I 15:5About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi