Meaning, perhaps, “flaming” or “violent.” It is possible, though by no means certain, that this was a title assumed by Amalekite kings similar to that of Pharaoh among the Egyptians. According to Josephus (Antiquities xi. 6. 5), Haman the Agagite was a descendant of Agag the Amalekite in the 16th generation (see on Esther 3:1).

 That is, the Amalekites living in the vicinity of Saul’s attack. The Amalekites were scattered over a wide area of the Sinai Peninsula, the Negeb, and northern Arabia (see on Gen. 36:12). It would not have been possible for Saul to defeat all the Amalekites on this short expedition. That he did not do so is evident from the fact that after this time David carried out further campaigns against them (1 Sam. 27:8; 30:1-20; 2 Sam. 8:12). It was not until the time of Hezekiah that they were finally exterminated (1 Chron. 4:42, 43).