1 Samuel 15:3-5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 Go, now, attack Amalek, and put under the ban[a] everything he has. Do not spare him; kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.”(A)
4 Saul alerted the army, and at Telaim reviewed two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.[b] 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 15:3 Put under the ban: this terminology mandates that all traces of the Amalekites (people, cities, animals, etc.) be exterminated. No plunder could be seized for personal use. In the light of Dt 20:16–18, this injunction would eliminate any tendency toward syncretism. The focus of this chapter is that Saul fails to execute this order.
- 15:4 The numbers here are not realistic; compare 14:2.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.