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1 Samuel 15:7

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 15:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.
1 Samuel 15:7 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
9But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying,
← 1 Samuel 15:61 Samuel 15:8 →
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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 smote the Amalekites, etc.] Engaging in battle with them, he overcame them, and beat them, and slew great numbers of them: from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt; having routed them in the valley, or in whatsoever place the battle was fought, he pursued them from one end of their country to the other; from Havilah, which lay to the northeast, to Shur, which lay to the southwest, and destroyed all that came in his way between those two points, (see <012518> Genesis 25:18).”
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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
“HE SPARES AGAG AND THE BEST OF THE SPOIL. (Sa1 15:7-9) Saul smote the Amalekites--His own view of the proper and expedient course to follow was his rule, not the command of God.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The district here described would stretch from Havilah on the extreme east to Shur, either near Suez, or further north on the coast road from Gaza to Egypt. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To Shur - That is, from one end of their country to the other; he smote all that he met with: but a great number of them fled away upon the noise of his coming, and secured themselves in other places, 'till the storm was over. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 15:8”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:7 The area where the Amalekites lived stretched from Havilah in northern Sinai to Shur near the eastern border of Egypt.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“smote: Sa1 14:48; Job 21:30; Ecc 8:13 Havilah: This Havilah was probably situated in Arabia, and the district of Chaulon may mark the spot. It seems different from that encompassed by the river Pison, one of the rivers of Eden. Gen 2:11, Gen 25:18 Shur: Sa1 27:8; Gen 16:7 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 15:8”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification