What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 15:5? Saul came • This movement springs from the explicit command the LORD had issued through Samuel: “Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them” (1 Samuel 15:3). • Saul’s arrival underlines immediate obedience—he does not debate, he proceeds. This echoes earlier victories granted when Israel acted promptly (1 Samuel 11:6–11; Judges 7:19–22). • His coming also highlights the unfolding judgment God promised centuries earlier after Amalek’s unprovoked assault on Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 17:14–16; Deuteronomy 25:17–19). God’s word is sure, even when generations pass. to the city of Amalek • Amalek had cities and settlements by this period (Numbers 24:20). Targeting their “city” underlines that the judgment is national, not merely against roving raiders. • The phrase reminds us this is not random aggression; it fulfills divine justice for Amalek’s entrenched hostility toward the covenant people (1 Samuel 15:2). • God’s dealings with entire communities based on covenant response appear elsewhere—Jericho (Joshua 6:17) and Nineveh (Jonah 3:4–10) illustrate His consistent moral government. and lay in wait • Saul employs strategy: positioning before striking. Similar tactics appear when Joshua ambushed Ai (Joshua 8:4–7). • The pause shows dependence on timing rather than reckless attack, reflecting earlier admonitions to wait for God’s leading (1 Samuel 10:8; 14:18–19). • Practically, lying in wait limited Amalek’s escape, ensuring complete obedience to the command of total destruction (cf. Deuteronomy 20:16–18 regarding devoted cities). in the valley • Valleys in Scripture often serve as staging grounds—David later faces Goliath “in the Valley of Elah” (1 Samuel 17:2). • Positioning in a valley provided concealment and tactical advantage against hilltop defenses. • Spiritually, valleys picture humility before decisive victory; God exalts those who submit to His plan (Psalm 23:4; James 4:10). summary 1 Samuel 15:5 records tangible, step-by-step obedience: Saul arrives, targets the God-designated enemy, employs thoughtful strategy, and positions his forces wisely. Each phrase underscores God’s faithfulness to judge persistent evil, the seriousness of covenant commands, and the necessity of aligning methods with divine instruction. |
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