1 Samuel 15:2-4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will punish what Amalek did to the Israelites when he barred their way as they came up from Egypt.(A) 3 Go, now, attack Amalek, and put under the ban[a] everything he has. Do not spare him; kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.”(B)
4 Saul alerted the army, and at Telaim reviewed two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.[b]
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- 15:3 Put under the ban: this terminology mandates that all traces of the Amalekites (people, cities, animals, etc.) be exterminated. No plunder could be seized for personal use. In the light of Dt 20:16–18, this injunction would eliminate any tendency toward syncretism. The focus of this chapter is that Saul fails to execute this order.
- 15:4 The numbers here are not realistic; compare 14:2.
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