Saul Spares Agag and the Mercy That Turns to Cruelty

"And Saul and the people spared Agag, etc." (1 Samuel 15:9). Bar Kappara said: This is Doeg, who was weighed as equal against all of Israel. Rabbi Shimon ben Levi said: Anyone who is cruel toward the merciful, in the end he becomes merciful toward the cruel; anyone who is merciful toward the cruel, his end is to fall by the sword. What is the reason? "And Saul died, and his three sons, etc." (1 Samuel 31:6). "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, etc." (ibid. 15:23). Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Nachman said: Anyone who goes to a diviner rebels against the word of the Holy One, blessed be He. What is the reason? "For rebellion is as the sin of divination; and stubbornness, and iniquity and teraphim" (ibid.) — he brings about anger and trouble for himself.