1 Samuel 15:3

1 Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.

2 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt.

Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

4 So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
KJV
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
WEB
Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
ASV
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
DARBY
Now go and smite Amalek, and destroy utterly all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
BLB
Now go and strike the Amalekite, and utterly destroy all that [is] unto him, and do not spare him, and kill from man to woman, and from infant to nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
ÅB
Gå nå avsted og slå Amalek, og slå med bann alt hva hans er; spar ham ikke, men drep både mann og kvinne, både barn og diebarn, både okse og sau, både kamel og esel.
OTB
Gå nå og slå Amalek og ødelegg alt de har fullstendig. Skån dem ikke, men drep både mann og kvinne, barn og spedbarn, okse og sau, kamel og esel.’»
B1930
Gå nu avsted og slå Amalek, og slå med bann alt hvad hans er; spar ham ikke, men drep både mann og kvinne, både barn og diebarn, både okse og får, både kamel og asen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 20:16–18

    However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 24:20

    Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 14:21–22

    Prepare a place to slaughter his sons for the iniquities of their forefathers. They will never rise up to possess a land or cover the earth with their cities.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 22:19

    He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 31:17

    So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man,

    Read in context
  • Joshua 6:17–21

    Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 27:28–29

    Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 3:17–18

    And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

    Read in context