And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Saul answered, 'The people brought these animals from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the LORD your God, and we completely destroyed everything else.'
Saul is making excuses for disobeying God's command, blaming his soldiers and claiming they kept the animals for religious purposes.
📚 Historical Context
God had commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions as judgment for their attacks on Israel during the exodus from Egypt. Instead of obeying fully, Saul kept King Agag alive and allowed his army to keep the best livestock. When the prophet Samuel confronted him, Saul tried to justify his partial obedience by claiming the animals were saved for sacrificial purposes.
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