AGAG, a king of the Amalekites, a tribe that at tacked Israel in the wilderness, at their coming out of Egypt, while sinking under fatigue, and massacred all who were unable to keep up with the main body, Exod. xvii. 8 ; Deut. xxv. 17. This name, Agag, seems to have been common to the kings of that people ; at least there was one of the name as early as the time of Moses, Numb. xxiv. 7. — The Lord was not satisfied with the victory which Joshua obtained over them, but declared that he would destroy the memory of Amalek from under heaven, Exod. xvii. 14. 16. About 400 years after this, Saul was commanded to march against them, and to "spare neither them, nor to desire any thing that was theirs, but to slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." Saul, in obedience to his orders, invaded the country of the Amalekites, and cut to pieces all whom he met with from Havilah to Shur.   Agag, however, and the best of the sheep and oxen, he spared, and also preserved the most valuable of the spoil. This was highly dis pleasing to the Lord, and the prophet Samuel was sent forward to Gilgal, to meet bun, and reprove him for his disobedience. Having denounced punishment upon Saul, Samuel called for Agag, for the purpose of inflicting upon him that punishment which his cruelties had merited. When brought into the presence of the prophet, Agag expressed his hope that the bitterness of death was passed, to which Samuel replied, "As thy sword hath made mothers childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women." Agag was then hewed in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal, 1 Sam. xv.

Gilgal, 1 Sam. xv. That " hewing in pieces" is not unknown, as a punishment, in some parts of the world, is seen from a relation in Bruce's Travels in Abyssinia. "The bodies of those killed by the sword," he re marks, " were hewn to pieces, and scattered about the streets," where they were devoured by the hyenas ; (see 1 Kings xxi. 23.) and upon one occasion, when crossing the market-place, he saw the Ras's door keeper hacking to pieces three men, who were bound, with all the self-possession and coolness imaginable! Travels, vol. iv. p. 81. The character of Samuel has been vilified for cruelty, upon this occasion, with how much reason let the reader judge.