Agag, the king of the Amalekites, was captured by King Saul but not killed right away. According to the biblical account, Saul spared him briefly, and then the prophet Samuel executed Agag himself.

What the story says

Saul had been commanded to destroy the Amalekites, but he kept Agag alive and also preserved some spoil. Because Saul did not fully carry out that command, Samuel declared that Saul had been rejected as king. Then Samuel had Agag brought before him and put him to death at Gilgal.

Why it matters

In the biblical narrative, Agag’s death is tied to Saul’s failure and Samuel’s judgment. That is why Agag is remembered less as a standalone ruler and more as part of the larger Saul-Samuel-Amalek story.

In plain terms

  • Agag was captured alive.
  • Saul hesitated and spared him.
  • Samuel later killed him.
  • The event became a symbol of Saul’s disobedience.

If you want, I can also give you the exact verse sequence in 1 Samuel 15.