Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Now go and attack the Amalekites, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare anyone or anything, kill every man and woman, every baby and nursing child, every ox and sheep, every camel and donkey.
God is commanding King Saul through Samuel to completely destroy the Amalekite nation and all their possessions as divine judgment.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of 1 Samuel, God commands King Saul through the prophet Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites as a divine judgment for their earlier attacks on the Israelites. This stems from the Amalekites' unprovoked assault on the weary and vulnerable Israelites during their exodus from Egypt, as recorded in Exodus 17, where God vowed to blot out their memory. The command reflects the ancient practice of herem, a form of total destruction in warfare, which was understood as carrying out God's justice in the context of Israel's covenant relationship with Him.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.