Quick Scoop

Agag was a king of the Amalekites in the Old Testament, best known from the story in 1 Samuel 15, where King Saul spared him and the prophet Samuel later executed him. He is also mentioned in Numbers 24:7, where Agag represents a powerful Amalekite ruler.

Who he was

Agag appears to be either a specific Amalekite king or, in some traditions, a title used for Amalekite kings. The Bible presents him as an enemy of Israel tied to the long conflict between the Amalekites and the Israelites.

Why he matters

  • In Numbers 24:7, Agag is used as a benchmark for royal power.
  • In 1 Samuel 15, Saul’s failure to fully carry out God’s command becomes a major turning point in the story.
  • Samuel’s killing of Agag underscores the seriousness the text gives to Saul’s disobedience.

In one line

Agag was an Amalekite king, remembered mainly because of Saul’s disobedience and Samuel’s dramatic judgment in 1 Samuel 15.

If you want, I can also explain why Samuel killed Agag or what the Amalekites were.