1 Samuel 15:6

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.

And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

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
And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
KJV
And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
WEB
Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
ASV
And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
DARBY
And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, and go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. And the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
BLB
And Saul said to the Kenite, “Go, depart, get down from the midst of the Amalekite, lest I consume you with him. For you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel in their going up out of Egypt.” And the Kenite departed from the midst of the Amalekite,
ÅB
Og Saul sa til kenittene: Gå bort, skill dere fra amalekittene og dra ned, så jeg ikke skal ødelegge dere sammen med dem! For dere gjorde vel imot alle Israels barn da de dro opp fra Egypt. Så skilte kenittene lag med amalekittene.
OTB
Saul sa til kenittene: «Gå, dra bort, gå ned fra blant amalekittene, så jeg ikke ødelegger dere sammen med dem; for dere viste godhet mot alle Israels barn da de kom opp fra Egypt.» Så trakk kenittene seg bort fra blant amalekittene.
B1930
Og Saul sa til kenittene: Gå bort, skill eder fra amalekittene og dra ned, så jeg ikke skal ødelegge eder sammen med dem! For I gjorde vel imot alle Israels barn da de drog op fra Egypten. Så skilte kenittene lag med amalekittene.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Judges 1:16

    Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 10:29–32

    Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

    Read in context
  • Numbers 24:21–22

    Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

    Read in context
  • Judges 4:11

    Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent by the great tree of Zaanannim, which was near Kedesh.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 18:19

    Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 18:9–10

    And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 27:10

    who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

    Read in context
  • Judges 5:24

    Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

    Read in context