and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
When Saul seized Samuel’s robe, he was making an earnest appeal. The phrase "to grasp the hem" was a common idiomatic expression in Semitic languages that pictured a gesture of supplication. [Note: See Edward L. Greenstein, "’To Grasp the Hem’ in Ugaritic Literature," Vetus Testamentum 32:2 (April 1982):217, and Ronald A. Brauner, "’To Grasp the Hem’ and 1 Samuel 15:27," Journal of Near Eastern Studies 6 (1974):135-38.] Later, David would cut off the hem of Saul’s robe in a cave while the king slept (1 Samuel 24:4). Since the hem of a garment identified the social status of the person who wore it, [Note: See Jacob Milgrom, "Of Hems and Tassels," Biblical Archaeology Review 9:3 (May-June 1983):61-65.] David was symbolically picturing the transfer of royal authority from Saul to himself when he did this. When Saul tore Samuel’s hem, he symbolically, though perhaps unintentionally, seized the prophet’s authority inappropriately. Samuel interpreted his action as symbolizing the wrenching of the kingdom from Saul (cf. 1 Kings 11:29-33).