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1 Samuel 15:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 15:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
1 Samuel 15:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
3Now 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.
4And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
6And 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.
7And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.
8And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
← 1 Samuel 15:41 Samuel 15:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Saul came to a city of Amalek, etc.] With his army, perhaps the nearest city of it to the land of Israel; though some think that Amalek was the name of the city, and was the metropolis of the nation, and had its name from thence: and laid wait in the valley; which was near the city, to intercept the inhabitants when they should come out against him: or “he contended” f300 as some render it, he fought with them there; the Targum, “he ordered his army,” set them in battle array, or pitched his camp there.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Saul came to a city of Amalek--probably their capital. laid wait in the valley--following the strategic policy of Joshua at Ai (Jos 8:4).”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:5 The unnamed town in the valley was located somewhere near a Negev wadi, a streambed or riverbed that fills with water only when rain falls.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“laid wait: or, fought, Sa1 15:5 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 15:6”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 15 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification