1 Samuel 15:9

7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,

11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
KJV
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
WEB
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
ASV
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
DARBY
And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen, and beasts of the second bearing, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction; but everything that was mean and weak, that they destroyed utterly.
BLB
And Saul and the people had pity on Agag, and on the best of the flock and of the herd and of the seconds, and on the lambs, and on all [that was] good, and they were not willing to utterly destroy them, and all the work [that was] despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
ÅB
Men Saul og folket sparte Agag og det beste og det næstbeste av småfeet og storfeet og lammene - alt som så godt ut - og ville ikke slå dem med bann; men alt det fe som var ringe og usselt, det slo de med bann.
OTB
Men Saul og folket sparte Agag, og det beste av sauene, oksene, de fete dyrene, lammene, og alt som var godt, og ville ikke ødelegge dem fullstendig. Men alt foraktet og verdiløst, det ødela de fullstendig.
B1930
Men Saul og folket sparte Agag og det beste og det næstbeste av småfeet og storfeet og lammene - alt som så godt ut - og vilde ikke slå dem med bann; men alt det fe som var ringe og usselt, det slo de med bann.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 15:15

    Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 15:19

    So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 15:3

    Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

    Read in context
  • Joshua 7:21

    When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 6:13

    When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

    Read in context