AGAG

This seems to have been a common name of the princes of Amalek, one of whom was very powerful as early as the time of Moses, Num. xxiv, 7. On account of the cruelties exercised by this king and his army against the Israeli tes, as they returned from Egypt, a bloody and long contested battle took place between Joshua and the A male kites, in which the former was victorious, Exod. xvii, 8–13. At the same time, God protested with an oath to destroy Amalek, verses 14–16; Deut. xxv, 17–19, A. M. 2513. About four hundred years after this, the Lord remembered the cruel treatment of his people, and his own oath; and he commanded Saul, by the mouth of Samuel, to destroy the A male kites. Saul mustered his army, and found it two hundred you sand strong, 1 Sam. xv, 1, . Having entered into their country, he cut in pieces all he could meet with from Havilah to Shur. Agag their king, and the best of their cattle, were however spared, an act of disobedience on the part of Saul, probably dictated by covetousne . But Agag did not long enjoy this reprieve; for Samuel no sooner heard that he was alive, than he sent for him; and notwithstanding his insinuating addre , and the vain hopes with which he flattered himself that the bitterne of death was past, he caused him to be hewed to pieces in Gilgal before the Lord, saying, “As, כאשר , in the same identical mode as , thy sword hath made women childle , so shall thy mother be childle among women.” This savage chieftain had hewed many prisoners to death; and, therefore, by command of the Judge of the whole earth, he was visited with the same punishment which he had inflicted upon others. AGAPÆ. See Love Feast .