1 Samuel 15:6

And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

And Saul {H7586} said {H559} unto the Kenites {H7017}, Go {H3212}, depart {H5493}, get you down {H3381} from among {H8432} the Amalekites {H6002}, lest I destroy {H622} you with them: for ye shewed {H6213} kindness {H2617} to all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, when they came up {H5927} out of Egypt {H4714}. So the Kenites {H7017} departed {H5493} from among {H8432} the Amalekites {H6003}.

Sha'ul said to the Keni, "Go away, withdraw, leave your homes there with the 'Amaleki. Otherwise, I might destroy you along with them, even though you were kind to all the people of Isra'el when they came out of Egypt. So the Keni went away from among the 'Amaleki.

And he warned the Kenites, โ€œSince you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.โ€ So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.

And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

Commentary

1 Samuel 15:6 records a specific instruction from King Saul to the Kenites, a nomadic tribe, highlighting a moment of discernment and justice amidst God's judgment on the Amalekites. This verse is part of the larger narrative where the prophet Samuel conveys God's command to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites for their historical animosity towards Israel.

Historical and Cultural Context

The command to destroy the Amalekites (referenced in 1 Samuel 15:3) was a divine judgment for their unprovoked attack on the Israelites during their Exodus from Egypt, specifically targeting the weak and stragglers (Exodus 17:8; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). The Kenites, however, were a distinct group, often associated with Israel. Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was a Kenite (Exodus 3:1), and their ancestors had shown kindness and provided assistance to the children of Israel during their wilderness journey after leaving Egypt. Saul's instruction here demonstrates a recognition of this past loyalty and a separation of the innocent from the condemned.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Justice and Discrimination: God's judgment, while severe against the Amalekites, is precise. He does not indiscriminately punish all who are geographically near the wicked but remembers past deeds and distinguishes between the deserving and undeserving.
  • Remembering Kindness: The verse emphasizes the importance of remembering and honoring acts of benevolence. The Kenites were spared because of their historical kindness (chesed) to Israel. This principle suggests that good deeds are not forgotten, either by God or, in this instance, by His appointed leader.
  • Separation from Condemnation: The Kenites were commanded to "Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites," illustrating the necessity for the righteous to separate themselves from those under divine judgment to avoid being caught in their fate. This act of separation was crucial for their survival.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "kindness" here is chesed (ื—ึถืกึถื“), which often denotes loyal love, mercy, or steadfast kindness. In this context, it refers to the benevolent and helpful actions of the Kenites towards the Israelites during their vulnerable journey out of Egypt, demonstrating a relationship of mutual respect and aid.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Samuel 15:6 offers several insights:

  • Discernment in Relationships: Just as Saul distinguished between the Kenites and Amalekites, we are called to exercise discernment in our associations, perhaps needing to separate from influences or situations that are contrary to God's will or under His judgment (2 Corinthians 6:17).
  • The Value of Past Good Deeds: The verse reminds us that acts of kindness and faithfulness, especially towards God's people, are remembered and can lead to favor and protection.
  • God's Precise Justice: While God is love, He is also just. His judgments are not arbitrary but are based on a full understanding of actions and intentions, ensuring that the innocent are distinguished from the guilty.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 1:16

    And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which [lieth] in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

  • Numbers 10:29

    ยถ And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.

  • Numbers 10:32

    And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.

  • Exodus 18:19

    Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

  • Numbers 24:21

    And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

  • Numbers 24:22

    Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

  • Judges 4:11

    Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh.
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