326 THE KING'S MIRROR 



refuses to obey his superior^e js _immediatejy^horn of 

 his dignity and all his office; and after that he is re- 

 garded among learned men as any other layman un- 

 worthy of any distinction. And it ought to be even more 

 evident that it could not prosper Saul to be disobedient 

 to such a lord as God Himself, when he was ordered to 

 invade Amalek and the land of the Amorites and to slay 

 all that was living. God took His rod of punishment 

 and placed it in Saul's hands, bidding him execute His 

 wrath and spare nothing that was living; to burn forti- 

 fied cities, farmsteads, clothing, and whatever else there 

 was; to lay the entire land in ruins and thus cleanse it 

 with sword and ax and fire. Saul, however, carried out 

 the vengeance that he was charged with in another way, 

 by destroying everything that was lacking in beauty or 

 value; but whatever seemed to him to be beautiful, 

 valuable, and worth possessing he spared, brought 

 home to his country, and distributed among his men. 

 But when Samuel came to Saul and showed him the 

 wrath of God, Saul spoke as if excusing himself: " Praise 

 be to God, for I have fulfilled His command: I invaded 

 Amalek and visited the entire kingdom with fire and 

 sword; but King Agag I have brought with me, wishing 

 to honor God's command by slaying him here, if He 

 wills that he die. Fat oxen and fine sheep I have brought 

 hither to sacrifice such to God as are acceptable to Him; 

 and the children of the chief men I have brought hither 

 to be kept in bondage and distress, doing fitting service 

 for ourselves." 



Then Samuel replied: "How can God now accept 

 that as a. sacrifice which He has Himself cursed in His 



