1 samuel 15:6 - 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.
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What does "1 samuel 15:6" mean?
This verse (1 Samuel 15:6) describes a specific instance of Saul, the first king of Israel, showing mercy to the Kenites before he engages in a divinely commanded battle against the Amalekites. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: Saul was commanded by God (through the prophet Samuel) to completely destroy the Amalekites as retribution for their historical hostility towards Israel after the Exodus from Egypt (as described in Exodus 17:8-16 and Deuteronomy 25:17-19). This command was to include destroying all people and livestock.
"Saul said to the Kenites...": The Kenites were a nomadic tribe who lived in the region. They were not Israelites, but they had a connection to Israel.
"Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them...": This is the key part. Saul is warning the Kenites to separate themselves from the Amalekites. He recognizes that if they stay with the Amalekites, they will be caught in the general destruction that he is about to inflict. The phrase emphasizes urgency.
"...for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.": This is the reason Saul is sparing the Kenites. The Kenites, at some point in the past (likely referring to the time of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, who was a Kenite), had shown kindness and hospitality to the Israelites during their Exodus journey. This historical act of kindness is the basis for Saul's mercy. The Bible mentions that Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was a Kenite priest who offered Moses wise counsel and helped him establish a system of governance for the Israelites in the desert.
"So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.": The Kenites obeyed Saul's warning and separated themselves from the Amalekites, thus avoiding the impending destruction.
In essence, this verse illustrates:
Divine Justice and Mercy: While God commanded complete destruction of the Amalekites for their historical wrongdoings, there was still room for mercy and acknowledgment of past kindness.
Recognition of Good Deeds: Even in the context of war and divine judgment, past acts of kindness were remembered and rewarded.
Partial Obedience (and Later Disobedience): While Saul shows mercy to the Kenites, which on the surface seems commendable, it also foreshadows his incomplete obedience to God's command later in the chapter when he spares the Amalekite king Agag and some of the livestock. This disobedience leads to God's rejection of Saul as king.
This passage highlights the complexity of justice, mercy, and obedience in the Old Testament narrative and sets the stage for the consequences of Saul's later actions. It also shows how God remembers and rewards kindness, even in unexpected contexts.
1 samuel 15:6 - 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.
What does "1 samuel 15:6" mean?
This verse (1 Samuel 15:6) describes a specific instance of Saul, the first king of Israel, showing mercy to the Kenites before he engages in a divinely commanded battle against the Amalekites. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: Saul was commanded by God (through the prophet Samuel) to completely destroy the Amalekites as retribution for their historical hostility towards Israel after the Exodus from Egypt (as described in Exodus 17:8-16 and Deuteronomy 25:17-19). This command was to include destroying all people and livestock.
"Saul said to the Kenites...": The Kenites were a nomadic tribe who lived in the region. They were not Israelites, but they had a connection to Israel.
"Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them...": This is the key part. Saul is warning the Kenites to separate themselves from the Amalekites. He recognizes that if they stay with the Amalekites, they will be caught in the general destruction that he is about to inflict. The phrase emphasizes urgency.
"...for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.": This is the reason Saul is sparing the Kenites. The Kenites, at some point in the past (likely referring to the time of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, who was a Kenite), had shown kindness and hospitality to the Israelites during their Exodus journey. This historical act of kindness is the basis for Saul's mercy. The Bible mentions that Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was a Kenite priest who offered Moses wise counsel and helped him establish a system of governance for the Israelites in the desert.
"So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.": The Kenites obeyed Saul's warning and separated themselves from the Amalekites, thus avoiding the impending destruction.
In essence, this verse illustrates:
Divine Justice and Mercy: While God commanded complete destruction of the Amalekites for their historical wrongdoings, there was still room for mercy and acknowledgment of past kindness.
Recognition of Good Deeds: Even in the context of war and divine judgment, past acts of kindness were remembered and rewarded.
Partial Obedience (and Later Disobedience): While Saul shows mercy to the Kenites, which on the surface seems commendable, it also foreshadows his incomplete obedience to God's command later in the chapter when he spares the Amalekite king Agag and some of the livestock. This disobedience leads to God's rejection of Saul as king.
This passage highlights the complexity of justice, mercy, and obedience in the Old Testament narrative and sets the stage for the consequences of Saul's later actions. It also shows how God remembers and rewards kindness, even in unexpected contexts.