Rashi on the Former Prophets

Now obey Adonoy's words. Once you acted foolishly, but now be careful [in your actions].

Oxen and sheep. They were sorcerers, and they would change themselves to appear as animals.

Shaul summoned. An expression of announcing [meaning the same] as in .וַיִזָּעֵק שָׁאוּל
And he counted them with lambs. He told each one to take a lamb from the king's flocks, and afterwards he counted the lambs, because it is forbidden to count Jewish people. for it is stated concerning them, '[which] are too numerous to count.'

And he fought in the valley. [Meaning the same as] וַיִלָּחֵם בַּנַּחַל [=and he fought in the valley]. Our Rabbis said, concerning the valley, he argued and concluded, that if for the sake of one life, the Torah said to decapitate a calf in the valley, how much more for the sake of all these lives. If man has sinned, what have the animals sinned?

To the Kenites. Who were Yisro's descendants, who were residing in the wilderness of Yehudah, in the south of Arod, who went to Ya'aveitz to learn Torah, Arod being Amoleik. The Canaanite king of Arod was Amoleik, for it is stated [about him]; "who lived in the South," and, "Amoleik dwells in the southern part of the land."
To all the Bnei Yisroel. Who partook from his [Yisro's] meal, Moshe, Aharon and all the elders of Yisroel. It is considered as though he acted kindly with all the Bnei Yisroel.

The fattened cattle. This word has no likeness [in Scripture]. These are the fattened cattle; and I say that the expression of מִשְׁנִים is like וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה [meaning double money], because they are doubled over with flesh and fat. Similarly, 'And the ox which was fattened [הַשֵּׁנִי] seven years.'
Undesirable and inferior. Meaning the same as נִבְזֶה; and the 'מ' is superfluous.

I have reconsidered. A thought has risen in my heart concerning Shaul's kingship, whom I have appointed king.

And is setting up a place for himself. He is building an altar for himself. That is the altar referred to concerning Eliyohu, 'he repaired the ruined altar of Adonoy.' Targum Yonoson renders, 'and he is making room there for himself to divide the spoils.'

Stay. Like the Targum, אוֹרִיךְ meaning 'wait.'

You are the head of the tribes of Yisroel. Targum Yonoson renders, 'the tribe of Binyomin crossed the [Reed] Sea ahead of all the people, as it is said, 'Binyomin, the youngest, rules them.'

Until they destroy them. The people who are with you will destroy them.

You rushed. Meaning 'וַתַּעַף' [you flew], an expression related to 'עַיִט' [birds of prey].

The best of that which was to be destroyed. [רֵאשִׁית] meaning the best of the ,חֵרֶם and similarly, "the best of your corn," as it is stated, "when you set aside the finest part of it." Targum Yonoson renders [רֵאשִׁית] 'before they banned it.'

Behold, obeying His command is better than a choice offering.
To hearken [is better] than the fat of rams. This refers to, "Behold, obeying [is better] than a choice offering, and to hearken [is better] than the fat of rams."

For defiance is like the sin of sorcery, and stubborness is like the sin of idolatry. And like the penalty for idolatry, so is the penalty for stubborness. Targum Yonoson renders, 'For, as the sin of a people [who divine, so is the sin of any man who disobeys the word of Adonoy] and as the sins of a nation who has strayed after idols, so is the sin of any person who adds [to the words of a prophet].
Stubborness. An expression adding, and similarly, "He urged [וַיִפְצַר] him," i.e., he spoke many words to convince him.

I feared the people. [Referring to] Do'eg, the Edomite, who was as important as all of them.

And he grabbed the corner of his robe. According to the simple meaning, it seems that when Shmuel turned to leave Shaul, Shaul grabbed the corner of Shmuel's [robe], since Shaul was asking him to return until he would prostrate himself in Gilgol, where the Tent of Meeting was. In Midrash Aggadah, however, Amora'im differ; some say that Shaul tore Shmuel's robe, and some say that Shmuel tore Shaul's robe, giving over to him this sign, that whoever will tear a corner of his robe, would reign in his place. And that is what Shaul said to Dovid on the day he tore [Shaul's] robe, 'I know that you will surely reign.'

But, the Eternal One of Yisroel neither lies. And if you will say, 'I will repent of my sin before Him,' it will no longer avail to take the kingship from the one to whom it was given, for the Holy One, Blessed is He, Who is the Eternal One of Yisroel, will not lie by not giving the good to whom He said to give it.

Agag went to him bound. Targum Yonoson renders, mincingly.
Indeed, the bitterness of death approaches. Indeed, I know that it has turned and is approaching toward me—the bitterness of death.

As your sword bereaved women. To render them widows from their husbands, for you would cut off the membrum virile of the youths of Yisroel.
[Shmuel] cut. He cut him into four pieces. This word has no likeness [in Scripture]. The Targum renders וַיְשַׁסֵּף as וּפָשַׁח. And in our Gemara we find, 'he broke off [מפשח] a branch, and gave us several twigs,' meaning that he split.