And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
Parallel translations
- WEB Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt.
- BSB Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
- NKJV And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
- NASB Then Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah going toward Shur, which is east of Egypt.
- NLT Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul defeats the Amalekites across a wide region from Havilah toward Shur. It records the apparent success of the campaign.
Overview
The sweeping geographic description marks a decisive military victory over the Amalekites. On the surface the mission looks accomplished, which makes the partial obedience revealed in the next verses all the more pointed. The narrative tension is that outward success can mask inward disobedience.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Sam 14:48And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
- Gen 16:7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
- Gen 25:18And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
- 1 Sam 27:8And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
- Gen 2:11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
- Exod 15:22So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
- Job 21:30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
- Eccl 8:13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 15:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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