1 Samuel 15:4 kjv
And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1 Samuel 15:4 nkjv
So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.
1 Samuel 15:4 niv
So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim?two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand from Judah.
1 Samuel 15:4 esv
So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1 Samuel 15:4 nlt
So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.
1 Samuel 15 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 15:1-3 | Samuel told Saul: "...attack the Amalekites and devote them to destruction." | God's specific command leading to this action. |
| Deut 25:17-19 | "Remember what Amalek did to you... you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek." | The original divine command regarding Amalek. |
| Num 24:20 | "Amalek was the first of the nations, but its end will be utter destruction." | Prophecy of Amalek's eventual destruction. |
| Exod 17:8-16 | "The LORD will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation." | Earlier conflict and oath against Amalek. |
| Judg 7:3 | "The LORD said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many...'" | Contrast with God sometimes reducing troop numbers for His glory. |
| Judg 20:2-3 | "The leaders of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly..." | Another instance of Israel mustering for war. |
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans... all those in Israel who are able to go to war." | Instructions for other censuses of fighting men. |
| Num 26:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel..." | Similar censuses commanded by God. |
| 1 Kgs 20:27 | "...the people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the country." | Numbers alone are not a guarantee of victory; God's power is supreme. |
| Isa 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... and trust in chariots because they are many..." | Warning against trusting in human strength/numbers. |
| Pss 33:16 | "The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength." | God, not military might, brings salvation. |
| Pss 44:6 | "For I will not trust in my bow; my sword will not save me." | Emphasizes reliance on God for victory. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Ultimate source of power and success is divine. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | Saul, as king, acted under God's appointed authority. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | Mentions Gideon and others who "became mighty in war." | Faith can empower even against great odds. |
| Deut 17:14-17 | Describes God's law for kings, including not multiplying horses/armies. | Indirectly touches on reliance on military strength vs. God. |
| Josh 10:28 | "Joshua utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded." | Example of a king/leader following the command of herem. |
| Josh 11:15 | "Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did." | Example of complete obedience to a divine command. |
| Luke 14:28-32 | Jesus speaks of calculating cost, including a king going to war. | Implies consideration of numbers and strategy, but in spiritual context. |
| 2 Chron 25:7-9 | King Amaziah relying on hired troops, God's prophet warns him. | Warning against reliance on numbers or human alliances not sanctioned by God. |
| Judg 8:10 | "About fifteen thousand men were left of all the army of the people of the East." | Comparison with other military forces and numbers in the OT. |
| 1 Sam 13:2-5 | Saul's earlier muster against the Philistines; also a mention of numbers. | Saul's past military organization and challenges. |
1 Samuel 15 verses
1 Samuel 15 4 Meaning
This verse describes King Saul's immediate action following God's command through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites. He gathers all the fighting men of Israel, counting them at Telaim, a location in southern Judah, and notes the separate muster of men from the tribe of Judah.
1 Samuel 15 4 Context
1 Samuel chapter 15 records God's decisive command to King Saul through the prophet Samuel to execute a total judgment (known as herem, or "devotion to destruction") against the Amalekites for their ancient aggression against Israel. This command served as a crucial test of Saul's obedience as king. The verse (15:4) details Saul's immediate and seemingly compliant response: gathering a massive army. This preparation sets the stage for Saul's partial obedience in the subsequent verses, where he spares the Amalekite king Agag and the best of the livestock, leading to God's rejection of his kingship. The verse, therefore, highlights Saul's capacity for organization and muster, but also anticipates his later failure to fully obey. Historically, the Amalekites were nomadic tribes, hostile to Israel since their exodus from Egypt, and had consistently opposed God's people. This divine judgment was a fulfillment of earlier pronouncements against them.
1 Samuel 15 4 Word analysis
- And Saul (Wayehi Sha’ul - וַיִּקְהֵל שָׁאוּל): Identifies the subject, King Saul. His role as the commander-in-chief and divinely appointed king is highlighted. The waw connective ("and") links this action directly to the command received in the preceding verses.
- called the people together (yiqhel et-haʿam - וַיִּקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם): The Hebrew verb qahal (קהל) means "to assemble, gather, collect." This is the king's prerogative and duty—to summon the nation for military action. It signifies the logistical and authoritative act of mobilization. This initial action demonstrates responsiveness to God's command.
- and numbered them (wayyiqpədēm - וַיִּפְקְדֵם): The Hebrew verb paqad (פקד) is a crucial term, meaning "to visit, muster, inspect, count, appoint." In military contexts, it denotes the act of reviewing, enrolling, or mustering troops. This highlights Saul's administrative diligence in preparing for battle, emphasizing his reliance on precise human resources for the task. It's a pragmatic and necessary step in warfare.
- in Telaim (baTe’la’im - בַּטְּלָאִים): A specific geographical location, likely a muster point. Its identification here shows a precise historical detail. Telaim is located in the Negeb, the southern desert region of Judah, suggesting it was chosen for its proximity to Amalekite territory. Its name means "young lambs," which might offer a subtle irony in the context of Saul's later sparing of the best of the flock, including Amalekite livestock.
- two hundred thousand foot soldiers (ma’atayim ’eleph ragli - מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף רַגְלִי): A significant, formidable number of infantrymen, highlighting the sheer scale of the Israelite army mustered by Saul. This indicates a very substantial military force, demonstrating Saul's power and ability to mobilize a large part of the nation. It reflects a considerable numerical strength, especially compared to earlier musterings.
- and ten thousand men of Judah (wa‘asereh ’alaphiysh Ish Yehudah - וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ יְהוּדָה): The specific mention and separate counting of men from the tribe of Judah are notable. Judah was numerically prominent, and its leadership was growing. This separation could reflect tribal distinctions in muster, or Judah’s specific military contribution and rising importance. It's often interpreted as an acknowledgment of Judah's particular strength or status among the tribes.
1 Samuel 15 4 Bonus section
The numerical precision in 1 Samuel 15:4 is noteworthy within biblical narrative, often signifying not just a literal count but divine assessment or human reliance. The scale of 200,000 infantrymen suggests a significant national mobilization, indicating that Saul indeed took God's command to fight Amalek seriously at this initial stage. The special mention of "men of Judah" points to Judah's growing prominence and unique identity within the twelve tribes, a theme that gains greater significance later in the Old Testament with David's kingship. The location Telaim, meaning "young lambs," might hold a subtle layer of meaning as it's from here that Saul leads his army, eventually sparing choice animals—a decision directly contradictory to the herem command given by God. This muster itself is a type of census (paqad), and such actions, though common, often had theological implications regarding reliance on God versus human strength.
1 Samuel 15 4 Commentary
1 Samuel 15:4 marks a pivotal moment where King Saul executes the logistical steps of a holy war commanded by God. He efficiently assembles and quantifies a vast fighting force, demonstrating his capacity as a military leader. The precision in counting 200,000 "foot soldiers" and an additional 10,000 "men of Judah" underscores the perceived importance of military might and detailed preparation. This act, at face value, appears as an obedient response to God's directive to utterly destroy the Amalekites. However, this muster, impressive as it is, inadvertently foreshadows Saul's critical flaw: an underlying reliance on human strategy and a potential lack of absolute surrender to divine command. The stage is meticulously set for a test of perfect obedience, a test Saul will fail, not in the mustering of his army, but in his subsequent incomplete execution of God's severe instructions concerning the spoil. This massive force, while appearing ready for absolute devastation, becomes the very instrument through which Saul's disobedience will manifest.