Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 15:18

"and Jehovah sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed." — 1 Samuel 15:18 (ASV)

The sinners the Amalekites. —This briefly recounts the charge of the Most High, which Saul had deliberately disobeyed. It is noticeable that the Amalekites are expressly called “sinners,” thus indicating the reason for the Divine wrath against them. The men of Sodom (Genesis 13:13) were styled sinners before the Lord.