1 Samuel 15:1-9
The Command against Amalek
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1Then 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.
2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt.
3Now 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.’”
4So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.
5Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.
6And 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.
7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
8He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.
9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Samuel tells Saul to listen to the LORD who appointed him king. The judgment against Amalek is tied to its opposition to Israel on the journey from Egypt. The command is severe: Saul is to destroy the people, including women, children, and infants, as well as their livestock.
We should not soften those words or invent individual wrongdoing to explain the deaths of children. The passage presents this as a particular divine judgment. It does not grant readers permission to wage violence against a people they regard as enemies.
Saul gathers his troops and warns the Kenites to leave because they showed kindness to Israel during the journey from Egypt. They move away. The distinction is explicitly based on their different treatment of Israel.
Saul attacks Amalek, but he and his troops spare King Agag and the best livestock. They destroy what they consider worthless while keeping what they value. Their choices do not follow the command they received.
The account exposes a king treating God's word as something he may revise for his own purposes. For Christians, obedience includes the instruction to leave vengeance to God and overcome evil with good. This ancient judgment must not become an excuse to disregard that command.
Questions
1 What does the command against Amalek require?
AnswerIt calls for the destruction of the people, including children and infants, and their animals. The passage connects this severe judgment to Amalek’s earlier opposition to Israel.
2 Why does Saul warn the Kenites to leave?
AnswerThey showed kindness to Israel when the people came from Egypt. Saul tells them to separate from Amalek so they will not be swept away with them.
3 What do Saul and the troops keep?
AnswerThey spare Agag and the best livestock, destroying what they regard as worthless. They choose what to keep despite the command they received.
4 How does Romans 12:19–21 direct Christians toward enemies?
AnswerIt tells us to leave vengeance to God, feed a hungry enemy, and overcome evil with good. This passage does not authorize us to harm people in God’s name.
What This Means for Us
A difficult command to Israel's king must be read in its own setting. Our response is not to identify an Amalek for ourselves. Hear the commands God gives us: refuse personal vengeance, care for an enemy's needs, and resist evil by doing good. Self-interest can distort obedience even when we use religious language to defend it.
Prayer
Holy God, keep us humble before Your judgments and faithful to the commands You give us. Restrain hatred and self-interest, and teach us to overcome evil with good. Amen.
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