1 Samuel 15 2

1 Samuel 15:2 kjv

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:2 nkjv

Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:2 niv

This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:2 esv

Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.

1 Samuel 15:2 nlt

This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 2 Meaning

The verse reveals a divine declaration from the Almighty to King Saul, communicated through the prophet Samuel. It states God's intention to mete out judgment upon Amalek for their unprovoked attack against the Israelites immediately after their exodus from Egypt. This act was seen as a grave offense, an assault on God's chosen people when they were vulnerable and journeying towards the promised land, thereby obstructing God's redemptive plan.

1 Samuel 15 2 Context

This verse initiates God's direct command to King Saul, given through the prophet Samuel, to execute judgment upon Amalek. This command is a culmination of a long-standing conflict. Historically, Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel after their Exodus from Egypt, striking the weary and vulnerable rearguard (Exod 17:8-16; Deut 25:17-19). God vowed perpetual war against them and commanded Israel to one day blot out their memory. Centuries later, under King Saul, the time for this divine judgment arrived. The context immediately preceding this chapter involves Saul's previous acts of disobedience, particularly his unauthorized sacrifice (1 Sam 13), which cost him the dynastic kingdom. Therefore, this command concerning Amalek is also a test of Saul's obedience and a demonstration of God's sovereign justice and faithfulness to His ancient promises and warnings.

1 Samuel 15 2 Word analysis

• Thus says the LORD of hosts, (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת – Ko amar YHWH tseva'ot)
  • Thus says: A prophetic formula indicating a direct, authoritative revelation from God. It conveys certainty and the divine origin of the message.
  • the LORD: Refers to Yahweh (YHWH), the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel and His unchanging nature.
  • of hosts: (צְבָאוֹת – tseva'ot) Implies God's supreme power and authority over all creation, including angelic armies, human armies, and celestial bodies. He is the commander of vast cosmic forces, underlining His capability to enforce His decrees. This title reinforces the solemnity and certainty of the ensuing judgment.
• 'I will punish (פָּקַד – paqad)
  • Paqad means "to visit," "to inspect," "to muster," or "to call to account." While it can mean "to appoint" or "to care for" (positive sense), in this context, it carries the sense of "visiting with judgment," or "punishing." It signifies God's active engagement and direct intervention to settle an old score. It suggests a thorough accounting, leaving nothing unnoticed.
• what Amalek did (אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עֲמָלֵק – et asher asah Amalek)
  • what Amalek did: Refers to a specific historical act. God's judgment is not arbitrary but is a direct consequence of a past, unaddressed transgression. This emphasizes God's long memory and His divine record-keeping. The Hebrew name Amalek derives from a descendant of Esau, symbolizing persistent enmity towards God's chosen line.
• to Israel (לְיִשְׂרָאֵל – l'Yisra'el)
  • Indicates that Amalek's act was against God's covenant people. Attacking Israel was an affront to God Himself, making it a severe offense in the divine court.
• in opposing them on the way (בָּשׂוּם לָהּ בַּדֶּרֶךְ – bashum lah baderekh)
  • in opposing them: (specifically referring to Exod 17:8-16) The term denotes lying in wait, attacking from the rear, preying on the weak and stragglers. It speaks of a cowardly, malicious, and unprovoked ambush rather than a fair battle. This attack showed a lack of reverence for the vulnerable and God's own leading.
  • on the way: Refers to their journey in the wilderness after the Exodus. It highlights Israel's fragile, unprotected state, having just been delivered from Egyptian bondage and not yet a unified military power.
• when they came up out of Egypt. (בַּעֲלוֹתוֹ מִמִּצְרָיִם – ba'aloto mimitsrayim)
  • Pinpoints the precise time frame: the nascent stages of Israel's national identity, their foundational moment as God's redeemed people. The act against them then was an act against God's new creation, fresh from His miraculous salvation. This sets a deep theological precedent: interfering with God's redemptive work draws divine wrath.

1 Samuel 15 2 Bonus section

• Corporate Guilt and Judgment: In the Old Testament, nations or communities could bear a corporate guilt for the actions of their ancestors, especially when the attitudes and practices of the initial offense continued through generations. Amalek’s continued hostility towards Israel cemented their fate.
• The Significance of "First Fruit of Nations" (Num 24:20): Balaam's prophecy called Amalek the "first of the nations," which attacked Israel. Their priority in aggression seems to have ordained their priority in divine judgment.
• God's Patient but Unrelenting Justice: God's silence over centuries does not equate to forgetting or weakness. Rather, it signifies His divine patience, allowing time for repentance, but also an appointed time when His just judgment will be enacted fully.
• Archetype of Opposition: Amalek became an archetype of the spiritual forces and human hostility that continually oppose God’s people and His plan of salvation throughout history. The struggle against Amalek extends metaphorically to the ongoing battle against evil influences.

1 Samuel 15 2 Commentary

This verse is a profound statement about divine justice and the outworking of God's sovereign plan throughout history. It reveals that God does not forget, and His justice, though it may seem delayed, is meticulous and certain. The command to punish Amalek is not based on a new offense but on a centuries-old sin, demonstrating God's long memory and patience, yet ultimate certainty of reckoning. Amalek's sin against a vulnerable Israel was fundamentally a challenge to God's leadership and redemptive power, making it an act of spiritual warfare. This commission to Saul served not only as a divine judgment upon Amalek but also as a crucial test of Saul's obedience to the "LORD of hosts," whose authority is absolute. Disobedience here would signal a fatal flaw in his kingship, demonstrating a failure to act as God's appointed agent. This passage highlights that God governs nations and holds them accountable for their actions, particularly those that hinder His purposes or oppress His people.