1 Samuel 15:18

Verse

and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’

American Standard Version (1901)

and Jehovah sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

Bible in Basic English

And the Lord sent you on a journey and said, Go and put to the curse those sinners, the Amalekites, fighting against them till every one is dead.

Free Bible Version

Then he sent you out to do something, telling you, ‘Go and exterminate those sinners, the Amalekites. Attack them until they're all destroyed.’

King James (Authorized) Version

And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

Translation for Translators

And Yahweh sent you to do something for him. He said to you, ‘Go and get rid of all those sinful people, the Amalek people-group. Attack them and kill all of them.’

Unlocked Literal Bible

and Yahweh sent you on your way and said, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are destroyed.'

Noah Webster Bible

And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.

World English Bible

and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’

Young's Literal Translation

and Jehovah sendeth thee in the way, and saith, Go, and thou hast devoted the sinners, the Amalekite, and fought against them till they are consumed;

Context

Samuel Denounces Saul

¹⁷And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel¹⁸and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’¹⁹So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

Summary

In this verse, King Saul is recounting his actions to the prophet Samuel, claiming that he carried out the Lord's command to destroy the Amalekites. However, Samuel confronts Saul for sparing the best of the livestock, going against God's explicit instructions. This passage highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands, emphasizing that partial obedience is still disobedience in the eyes of the Lord. It serves as a sobering reminder that God desires wholehearted devotion and submission from His people, rather than selective adherence to His will.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the Lord sent thee on a journey,.... And therefore he ought to have attended to the errand sent upon, and executed the orders given; in vain, therefore, was it to lay the blame on the people: and said, go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; those notorious sinners, who deserve no mercy at the hands of God or men; who had so highly offended the Lord, and had been so injurious to his people at their first coming out of Egypt. The orders were plain, not to be mistaken, and full and strong for the utter destruction of them without any exception, and therefore nothing could be pleaded in excuse for the violation of them: and fight against them until they be consumed; entirely; they were not to be left until an end was made of them; or "until they had consumed them" (d), the people of Israel, or the soldiers with Saul. (d) "donec consumant ipsi eos", Pagninus; so Vatablus.