עַתָּה֩ לֵ֨ךְ וְהִכִּֽיתָ֜ה אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֗ק וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ל עָלָ֑יו וְהֵמַתָּ֞ה מֵאִ֣ישׁ עַד־אִשָּׁ֗ה מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ וְעַד־יוֹנֵ֔ק מִשּׁ֣וֹר וְעַד־שֶׂ֔ה מִגָּמָ֖ל וְעַד־חֲמֽוֹר׃ (ס)
Sekarang pergilah, seranglah Amalek, dan tumpaslah segala sesuatu yang dimilikinya. Janganlah engkau mengasihaninya, tetapi bunuhlah laki-laki maupun perempuan, anak-anak maupun bayi yang masih menyusu, lembu maupun domba, unta maupun keledai.”
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(I Sam. 15, 5) And he (Saul) quarreled in the valley, etc. R. Mani explained this to mean that he (Saul) had a quarrel concerning the valley; i.e., when the Holy One, praised be He! said unto Saul (Ib. ib., 3) Go and smite Amaiek, Saul [began to argue and] said: "If for the sake of one soul [that is murdered] the Torah ordered a heifer to be brought in to a wild valley where its neck should be broken [as atonement for the murder], how much more shall I have to suffer for so many souls [should I murder them]? And again, if man sinned, why are the beasts to blame [that I should destroy them also]? And again, if adults sinned, why are the little ones to blame [that I should destroy them also]?" Immediately thereupon, a Bath-Kol went forth and said unto him (Ecc. 7, 16) Be not righteous over much. Later, when Saul gave Doeg the order (I Sam. 22, 18), Turn thou round, and fall upon the priest and kill both men and women; another BathKol went forth and said unto him (Ecc. 7, 17) "Be not wicked over much."
Midrash Tehillim
Regarding the words of Cush. But was he really a Cushite? Isn't it written (2 Samuel 10:9) that he had a son named Shaul, a young and handsome man? Rather, he was unique in his beauty like this Cushite who was unique in his skin color. Similarly, you say (Numbers 12:1) concerning the Cushite woman. Was she really a Cushite? Rather, she was called a Cushite because of her actions, just as a woman can be righteous but not beautiful, or beautiful but not righteous. However, Tzipporah was both beautiful and righteous. Some women may be beautiful to others but not to their husband, or beautiful to their husband but not to others, but Tzipporah was beautiful to her husband and to everyone. Similarly, it says (Amos 9:7) "Are you not like the children of Cush to Me?" And it is written (Song of Solomon 6:4) "You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah." Was Shaul really a Cushite when he was told (1 Samuel 10:8) "Then go down ahead of me to Gilgal; I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings"? And he did as he was told. Rather, (1 Samuel 10:9) "God gave him another heart." Saul was a righteous person, but he was killed for his sins. He killed the city of Nob's priests, he had mercy on Agag, and on the best of the sheep. Whoever has mercy on the cruel will ultimately be cruel to the merciful. And because he did not listen to Samuel, as it says (1 Samuel 13:11) "And Samuel said, 'What have you done?'" And he also said to him (1 Samuel 15:3) "Now go, attack the Amalekites and destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." But he did not do so, rather (1 Samuel 15:9) "Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep." Therefore, it is said (Psalm 7:1) "A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite." Saul was weighed against all his enemies, as it says (Psalm 18:36) "You gave me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustained me; you stooped down to make me great." This means that Saul was weighed against all his enemies. "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold." This is the matter. Rather, David said, "Save me from falling into his hands, and rescue me from his power." And if you do so (Psalm 35:10) "All my bones will say, 'Lord, who is like you?'"
Esther Rabbah
Rabbi Levi began: “But if you will not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, those who you leave will be like thorns in your eyes, and like stones in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land you inhabit” (Numbers 33:55). [This verse] refers to Saul. When Samuel said to him: “Now go and smite Amalek” (I Samuel 15:3), he said to him: You went innocent and you returned guilty and spared him, as it is stated: “Saul and the people spared Agag” (I Samuel 15:9). A scion will remain from him, who will perform harsh actions against you; “will be like thorns in your eyes, and like stones in your sides.” And who is that? It is Haman, who said: “To destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13). When everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1).