Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
6. the Kenites ] This tribe, as may be inferred from the fact that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, the priest of Midian (Exo 3:1), is called a Kenite in Jdg 1:16, was an offshoot from the Midianites. The services done to Israel by Jethro and his son Hobab (Exodus 18; Num 10:29-32) led to a firm alliance. The Kenites accompanied the Israelites on their march as far as Jericho (Jdg 1:16), and then went and dwelt among the Amalekites in the desert to the south of Judah. They are mentioned again in 1Sa 27:10, 1Sa 30:29, as the friends of Israel. Famous among the Kenites was Jael, whose husband Heber had migrated into northern Palestine (Jdg 4:11); and the Rechabites who belonged to this tribe (1Ch 2:55) long preserved the nomad habits of their ancestors (Jer 35:7-10).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 6. Said unto the Kenites] The Kenites were an ancient people. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, was a Kenite. Hobab his son (if the same person be not meant) was guide to the Hebrews through the wilderness. They had a portion of the promised land, near to the city Arad. See Jdg 1:16; and for more particulars concerning them and the Amalekites, see the notes on Nu 26:20-21.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Kenites; a people descending from or nearly related unto Jethro, who anciently dwelt in rocks near the Amalekites, Num 24:21, and afterwards some of them dwelt in Judah, Jdg 1:16, whence it is probable they removed, (which, dwelling in tents, they could easily do,) and retired to their old habitation, because of the wars and troubles wherewith Judah was annoyed.
Ye showed kindness; some of your progenitors did so, Exo 18:12; Num 10:31, and for their sakes all of you shall fare the better. You were not guilty of that sin for which Amalek is now to be destroyed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. Kenites(See on Jud1:16). In consequence, probably, of the unsettled state of Judah,they seem to have returned to their old desert tracts. Though nowintermingled with the Amalekites, they were not implicated in theoffenses of that wicked race; but for the sake of their ancestors,between whom and those of Israel there had been a league of amity, atimely warning was afforded them to remove from the scene of danger.
1Sa15:7-9. HE SPARESAGAG AND THE BESTOF THE SPOIL.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Saul said unto the Kenites,…. Who were of the posterity of Jethro the father-in-law of Moses, or related to him; why Josephus x calls them the nation of the Sicimites, who dwelt in the midst of the land of Midian, I know not:
go, depart, get ye down from among the Amalekites; for though some of these people came with Israel into the land of Canaan, and were first at Jericho, and then came into the wilderness of Judah, Jud 1:16 and were in other tribes also; yet as they removed from place to place, and from country to country, for the convenience of their flocks and herds, they dwelling in tents, might come into the country of Amalek and pitch there, and as they chose to dwell in rocks, and the caverns of them, to be near their flocks and herds in the valleys, they are called upon to get down from thence, see Nu 24:21
lest I destroy you with them; they dwelling among the Amalekites, might perish with them; and especially as the Amalekites, upon their being routed, would naturally flee to the rocks, hills, and mountains, where these people had their tents, they would be in the greater danger of being destroyed with them, unless they removed:
for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt; as Jethro, by the advice he gave to Moses to appoint proper officers in Israel, and Hobab, by being eyes to the people, in conducting them through the wilderness, and accompanying them to the land of Canaan:
so the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites; took the advice of Saul, and removed and pitched their tents, elsewhere.
x Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 7.) sect. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) And Saul said unto the Kenites.The Kenites, like the Amalekites, were a nomad race of Arabs, but seem to have been ever friendly to the Israelites. This kindly feeling sprang up soon after the departure from Egypt, and was, no doubt, in the first instance owing to the fact of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses, belonging to this people.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. The Kenites The descendants of Jethro, Moses’ father in law, who is called a Kenite in Jdg 1:16. For the kindness shown to the Israelites by this ancestor of the Kenites, see Exodus 18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 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.
Ver. 6. And Saul said unto the Kenites. ] Who were the posterity of Jethro, Jdg 1:16 who, though he went not with Israel, yet some of his children did, and were helpful. They dwelt at this time in the borders of Amalek, but in tents, as did their issue, the Rechabites, – they are therefore warned to move their habitations, lest they should perish with ill neighbours, Zec 9:2 Hamath lying nigh to Damascus, partook of its punishment. See 2Co 6:17 Rev 18:4 ).
Go, depart, get you dawn,
So the Kenites departed.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Kenites: 1Sa 27:10, Num 24:21, Num 24:22, Jdg 1:16, Jdg 4:11, Jdg 5:24, 1Ch 2:55
depart: Gen 18:25, Gen 19:12-16, Num 16:26, Num 16:27, Num 16:34, Pro 9:6, Act 2:40, 2Co 6:17, Rev 18:14
ye showed: Exo 18:9, Exo 18:10, Exo 18:19, Num 10:29-32, 2Ti 1:16
Reciprocal: Jos 6:17 – because
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 15:6. Saul said unto the Kenites A people descended from, or nearly related to, Jethro, who anciently dwelt in rocks near the Amalekites, (Num 24:21,) and afterward some of them dwelt in Judah, (Jdg 1:16,) whence it is probable they removed (which, dwelling in tents, they could easily do) and retired to their old habitation, because of the wars and troubles wherewith Judah was annoyed. Ye showed kindness Some of your progenitors did so, and, for their sakes, all of you shall be spared and kindly treated. You were not guilty of that sin for which Amalek is now to be destroyed. When destroying judgments are abroad, God takes care to separate the precious from the vile. It is then especially dangerous to be found in the company of Gods enemies. The Jews have a saying, Wo to a wicked man and to his neighbour.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:6 And Saul said unto the {c} Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed {d} kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
(c) Which were the posterity of Jethro, Moses father in law.
(d) For Jethro came to visit them, and gave them good counsel, Exo 18:19.