Sent you on a mission: literally “sent you on the way.” There is no special word for mission in Hebrew. But the idea is that Yahweh had sent Saul with specific instructions that he had failed to fulfill. These instructions are partially repeated in this verse. The idea of mission may have to be translated “the LORD sent you to do something.”

And said: the Septuagint says “and said to you.” In many languages it will be natural to add “to you,” even if translators follow the Hebrew text here.

Utterly destroy: see the comments on this technical word in verse 3. Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation preserves the holy-war aspect that this verb carries in Hebrew. Compare, however, New American Bible (“put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“put those sinners, the Amalekites, under the curse of destruction”).

The Amalekites, and fight against them: literally “Amalek and fight against him.” But Revised Standard Version rightly translates the plural idea that is implied. See the comments on verse 3 above.

Consumed translates a Hebrew verb whose basic meaning is “to finish” or “to complete.” Here, as often, it has the negative meaning “to destroy.” Good News Translation says “killed”; other translations include “until you had wiped them out” (Revised English Bible) and “until they are exterminated” (New Jerusalem Bible and similarly New American Bible).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .