So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim—two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand from Judah. Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Then he said to the Kenites,(A) “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

Then Saul attacked the Amalekites(B) all the way from Havilah to Shur,(C) near the eastern border of Egypt. He took Agag(D) king of the Amalekites alive,(E) and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared(F) Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves[a] and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 15:9 Or the grown bulls; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi. He warned the Kenites,(A) “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt,(B) go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

Then Saul struck down the Amalekites(C) from Havilah(D) all the way to Shur,(E) which is next to Egypt. He captured Agag(F) king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.(G) Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals,[a] as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 15:9 Lit and the second