1 Samuel 15:7
New International Version
Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt.

New Living Translation
Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt.

English Standard Version
And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

King James Bible
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

New King James Version
And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah going toward Shur, which is east of Egypt.

NASB 1995
So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

NASB 1977
So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Amplified Bible
Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

American Standard Version
And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.

Contemporary English Version
and Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is just east of Egypt.

English Revised Version
And Saul Smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt.

Good News Translation
Saul defeated the Amalekites, fighting all the way from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt;

International Standard Version
Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.

NET Bible
Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

New Heart English Bible
Saul struck Amalek, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah, until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

World English Bible
Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is before Egypt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul strikes Amalek from Havilah [to] your going to Shur, which [is] on the front of Egypt,

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul smiteth Amalek from Havilah -- thy going in to Shur, which is on the front of Egypt,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will strike Amalek from Havilah thy coming to Shur, which is upon the face of Egypt.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul smote Amalec from Hevila, until thou comest to Sur, which is over against Egypt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul struck down Amalek, from Havilah even until you arrive at Shur, which is opposite the region of Egypt.

New American Bible
Saul routed Amalek from Havilah to the approaches of Shur, on the frontier of Egypt.

New Revised Standard Version
Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is over near Egypt.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul struck Amaleeq from Khaweela that is in the entrance of Shood, which is before Egypt
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is in front of Egypt.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul smote Amalec from Evilat to Sur fronting Egypt.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul's Disobedience
6And he warned the Kenites, “Since 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.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. 7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.…

Cross References
Exodus 17:8-16
After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. / So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ...

Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, / how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. / When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

Judges 6:3-5
Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them, / encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys. / For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.

1 Samuel 14:48
He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.

1 Samuel 28:18
Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

2 Samuel 8:12
from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2 Samuel 1:1
After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

2 Kings 23:20
On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Esther 3:1
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.

Psalm 83:4-7
saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.” / For with one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You— / the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, ...

Isaiah 63:1-6
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ...

Ezekiel 25:12-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Obadiah 1:10-14
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever. / On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. / But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. ...

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until you come to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

smote

1 Samuel 14:48
And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

Job 21:30
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Ecclesiastes 8:13
But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

Genesis 25:18
And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

Shur

1 Samuel 27:8
And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

Genesis 16:7
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

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Amalek Amalekites Amal'ekites Attack Attacked Defeated East Egypt Opposite Road Saul Shur Smiteth Smote Struck Way
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Amalek Amalekites Amal'ekites Attack Attacked Defeated East Egypt Opposite Road Saul Shur Smiteth Smote Struck Way
1 Samuel 15
1. Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek
6. Saul favors the Kenites
7. He spares Agag and the best of the spoil
10. Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience
24. Saul's humiliation
32. Samuel kills Agag
34. Samuel and Saul part














Then Saul
The phrase "Then Saul" marks a continuation of the narrative, indicating Saul's role as the central figure in this military campaign. Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel. His kingship represents a pivotal moment in Israel's history, transitioning from a theocracy led by judges to a monarchy. Saul's actions in this chapter are critical, as they reflect his obedience—or lack thereof—to God's commands. The Hebrew root for Saul, "Sha'ul," means "asked for" or "prayed for," signifying the people's desire for a king.

attacked
The Hebrew word used here is "nakah," which means to strike, smite, or attack. This term is often used in the context of warfare and divine judgment. Saul's attack on the Amalekites was not merely a military action but a fulfillment of God's command to execute judgment on a people who had long opposed Israel. This reflects the biblical theme of divine justice and the seriousness with which God views sin and rebellion.

the Amalekites
The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe, descendants of Esau, and long-standing enemies of Israel. Their hostility towards Israel is first recorded in Exodus 17, where they attacked the Israelites shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. God's command to Saul to destroy the Amalekites was a continuation of His promise to blot out their memory due to their persistent opposition to His people. This highlights the biblical principle of God's sovereignty and His right to judge nations.

all the way from Havilah to Shur
This phrase describes the geographical extent of Saul's campaign. Havilah and Shur are regions that define the boundaries of the Amalekite territory. Havilah is often associated with a region rich in resources, mentioned in Genesis 2:11 as part of the land surrounding the Garden of Eden. Shur is a desert region east of Egypt, indicating the vast area over which the Amalekites roamed. This geographical detail underscores the comprehensive nature of Saul's campaign and God's command to completely eradicate the Amalekite threat.

which is east of Egypt
This locational reference situates the narrative within the broader ancient Near Eastern context. The mention of Egypt, a powerful and influential civilization, serves as a geographical marker for the audience. It also reminds readers of Israel's past bondage and God's deliverance, contrasting the current mission against the Amalekites with the earlier liberation from Egypt. This phrase reinforces the theme of God's ongoing protection and provision for His people as they navigate the challenges of nationhood.

(7) From Havilah until thou comest to Shur.--The Havilah here alluded to cannot be now identified. Shur, which signifies "wall," probably refers to the wall which crossed the north-east frontier of Egypt, extending from Pelusium, past Migdol, to Hevo. Ebers suggests that this wall gave to Egypt the name of "Mizraini," the enclosed, or fortified.

Verse 7. - From Havilah until thou comest to Shur. Hebrew, "from Havilah as thou goest towards Shur." It seems impossible that this Havilah can be the northwestern portion of Yemen, called Chawlan, and identified with the Havilah of Genesis 10:7, 29, as this would make Saul smite them from southeast to northwest. Shur, which means wall, is, as Wellhausen (Text 1 samuel 9:7) observes, originally the name of the wall which ran from Pelusium past Migdol to Hero, and which gave to Egypt, as Ebers thinks, its name Mizraim, the enclosed or fortified. Shur is again mentioned in 1 Samuel 27:8 as indicating the direction towards Egypt of the region occupied by the Amalekites. Havilah, which means circle, must have been some spot on the route to the isthmus of Suez, lying on the edge of the wilderness to the south of Judah, where Saul commenced his foray. Beginning thus upon the borders of Judaea, Saul continued his devastations up to the limits of Egypt.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Saul
שָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

struck down
וַיַּ֥ךְ (way·yaḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

the Amalekites
עֲמָלֵ֑ק (‘ă·mā·lêq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6002: Amalek -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity

all the way
בּוֹאֲךָ֣ (bō·w·’ă·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from Havilah
מֵֽחֲוִילָה֙ (mê·ḥă·wî·lāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2341: Havilah -- a son of Cush, also a son of Joktan, also territories of uncertain location

to Shur,
שׁ֔וּר (šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7793: Shur -- a desert region Southwest of Palestine on eastern border of Egypt

which is
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

east
פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of Egypt.
מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa


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OT History: 1 Samuel 15:7 Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah as (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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