And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Samuel hewed Agag. This cruel tyrant met the retribution of a righteous Providence. Never has it been unusual for great or official personages in the East to perform executions with their own hands (cf. Judges 8:21). Samuel did it "before the Lord in Gilgal," appointing that same mode of punishment (hitherto unknown in Israel) to be used toward him, which he had formerly used toward others.