Agag אֲגָג
Amalekite king captured and killed by Samuel
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 took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword."
- 1 Samuel 15:9
"But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, and of the fat calves, and 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."
- 1 Samuel 15:20
"Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Yahweh’s voice, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites."
- 1 Samuel 15:32
"Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!” Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”"
- 1 Samuel 15:33
"Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal."
Esther 5 verses
- Esther 3:1
"After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him."
Study Esther → - Esther 3:10
"The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy."
Study Esther → - Esther 8:3
"Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his plan that he had planned against the Jews."
Study Esther → - Esther 8:5
"She said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who..."
Study Esther → - Esther 9:24
"because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast “Pur”, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;"
Study Esther →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲגָג | H0090H |
| Group | Hebrew | אֲגָגִי | H0091 |
| LXX addition | Greek | Βουγαίου | G9826 |
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