Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
The failure of Israel’s king to follow his Commander-in-Chief’s orders was much more serious than the son’s disobedience in the illustration above. Departure from God’s will (rebellion) presumes to control the future course of events, as divination does (1 Samuel 14:23). Failure to carry out God’s will (insubordination) is wicked (iniquity) and puts the insubordinate person in God’s place. This is a form of idolatry. God would now begin to terminate Saul’s rule as Israel’s king (1 Samuel 14:23; cf. Exodus 34:7). Previously God had told him that his kingdom (dynasty) would not endure (1 Samuel 13:14).