Much later the LORD gave Israel security from their enemies around them. By that time Joshua was very old,

Don't try to stop me. I intend to destroy them so that no one will remember them any longer. Then I will make you the father of a nation larger and more powerful than they are.'

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write an account of this victory, so that it will be remembered. Tell Joshua that I will completely destroy the Amalekites."

He said, "Hold high the banner of the LORD! The LORD will continue to fight against the Amalekites forever!"

You and your soldiers are to march around the city once a day for six days.

This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They retreat from them because they themselves have now been condemned to destruction! I will not stay with you any longer unless you destroy the things you were ordered not to take!

So Joshua sent some men, who ran to the tent and found that the condemned things really were buried there, with the silver at the bottom.

Joshua, along with all the people of Israel, seized Achan, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, together with Achan's sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned; and they took them to Trouble Valley.

He fought heroically and defeated even the people of Amalek. He saved the Israelites from all attacks.

Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one whom the LORD sent to anoint you king of his people Israel. Now listen to what the LORD Almighty says.

Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys."

Then he and his men went to the city of Amalek and waited in ambush in a dry riverbed.

Saul defeated the Amalekites, fighting all the way from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt;

But Saul and his men spared Agag's life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good; they destroyed only what was useless or worthless.

"I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands." Samuel was angry, and all night long he pleaded with the LORD.

Samuel went up to Saul, who greeted him, saying, "The LORD bless you, Samuel! I have obeyed the LORD's command."

Saul answered, "My men took them from the Amalekites. They kept the best sheep and cattle to offer as a sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have destroyed completely."

Samuel answered, "Even though you consider yourself of no importance, you are the leader of the tribes of Israel. The LORD anointed you king of Israel,

Why, then, did you not obey him? Why did you rush to grab the loot, and so do what displeases the LORD?"

But my men did not kill the best sheep and cattle that they captured; instead, they brought them here to Gilgal to offer as a sacrifice to the LORD your God."

Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you as king."

But now I beg you, forgive my sin and go back with me, so that I can worship the LORD."

Then Samuel turned to leave, but Saul caught hold of his cloak, and it tore.

Israel's majestic God does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being---he does not change his mind."

So Samuel went back with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Samuel said, "As your sword has made many mothers childless, so now your mother will become childless." And he cut Agag to pieces in front of the altar in Gilgal.

As long as Samuel lived, he never again saw the king; but he grieved over him. The LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king of Israel.

During that time David and his men would attack the people of Geshur, Girzi, and Amalek, who had been living in the region a very long time. He would raid their land as far as Shur, all the way down to Egypt,

Two days later David and his men arrived back at Ziklag. The Amalekites had raided southern Judah and attacked Ziklag. They had burned down the town

When David and his men arrived, they found that the town had been burned down and that their wives, sons, and daughters had been carried away.

Even David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken away.

David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod," and Abiathar brought it to him.

There they killed the surviving Amalekites, and they have lived there ever since.

Some time later King Xerxes promoted a man named Haman to the position of prime minister. Haman was the son of Hammedatha, a descendant of Agag.

So Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai. Then the king's anger cooled down.

Among them were the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews: Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha. However, there was no looting.

(SEE 9:7)

the people of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, and of Philistia and Tyre.

Do to them what you did to the Midianites, and to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.

Do to their leaders what you did to Oreb and Zeeb; defeat all their rulers as you did Zebah and Zalmunna,

Scatter them like dust, O God, like straw blown away by the wind.

chase them away with your storm and terrify them with your fierce winds.

May they be defeated and terrified forever; may they die in complete disgrace.