Agag אֲגָג
Amalekite king captured and killed by Samuel
Who is Agag in the Bible?
Agag was the king of the Amalekites during the reign of Israel's King Saul. When God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions, Saul disobeyed by sparing Agag and the best livestock (1 Samuel 15:8-9). The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for this disobedience and announced that God had rejected him as king, then he executed Agag himself, "hewing him in pieces before the Lord" (1 Samuel 15:32-33). Agag's story illustrates the consequences of partial obedience and serves as a turning point in Saul's relationship with God and his kingdom. Additionally, the book of Esther suggests that Haman, the notorious enemy of the Jews, was an Agagite and possibly a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1, 9:24).
Biography
Agag was the king of the Amalekites during the reign of King Saul of Israel. God commanded Saul to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything, including Agag. Saul defeated the Amalekites but spared Agag and the best of the livestock. The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for his disobedience and told him that God had rejected him as king. Samuel then summoned Agag and "hewed him in pieces before the Lord." (1Sa.15.8,9,20,32,33)
The book of Esther mentions that Haman, the enemy of the Jews, was an Agagite, which suggests he may have been a descendant of Agag the Amalekite. (Est.3.1,10; 8.3,5; 9.24).
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 15:8
"He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword."
- 1 Samuel 15:9
"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 devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless."
- 1 Samuel 15:20
"“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction."
- 1 Samuel 15:32
"Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”"
- 1 Samuel 15:33
"But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal."
Esther 5 verses
- Esther 3:1
"After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him."
Study Esther → - Esther 3:10
"So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews."
Study Esther → - Esther 8:3
"And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews."
Study Esther → - Esther 8:5
"“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews..."
Study Esther → - Esther 9:24
"For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them."
Study Esther →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲגָג | — | — |
| Group | Hebrew | אֲגָגִי | ʾăgāgiy | an Agagite or descendent (subject) of Agag |
| LXX addition | Greek | Βουγαίου | — | — |
Agag
1) A king of Amalek, mentioned by Balaam (Nu 24:7) in his blessing of Israel;
(2) A later king, in the days of King Saul (1Sa 15). Saul was sent with his army to destroy the Amalekites, who had so violently opposed Israel in the Wilderness. He disregarded the Divine command, sparing the best of the spoil, and saving Agag the king alive (1Sa 15:8,9). After rebuking Saul, Samuel had Agag put to death for all the atrocities committed by himself and his nation (1Sa 15:32,33).
Edward Mack
a'-gag-it, ('aghaghi, from, 'aghagh, "a member of the house of Agag"): A title of opprobrium given to Haman (Es 3:1,10; <ref osisRef="Bible:Esth