John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And Saul came to a city of Amalek , etc.] With his army, perhaps the nearest city of it to the land of Israel; though some think that Amalek was the name of the city, and was the metropolis of the nation, and had its name from thence: and laid wait in the valley; which was near the city, to intercept the inhabitants when they should come out against him: or “he contended” as some render it, he fought with them there; the Targum, “he ordered his army,” set them in battle array, or pitched his camp there.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The sentence of condemnation against the Amalekites had gone forth lon before, Ex 17:14; De 25:19, but they had been spared till they fille up the measure of their sins. We are sure that the righteous Lord doe no injustice to any. The remembering the kindness of the ancestors of the Kenites, in favour to them, at the time God was punishing the injuries done by the ancestors of the Amalekites, tended to clear the righteousness of God in this dispensation. It is dangerous to be foun in the company of God's enemies, and it is our duty and interest to come out from among them, lest we share in their sins and plagues, R 18:4. As the commandment had been express, and a test of Saul' obedience, his conduct evidently was the effect of a proud, rebelliou spirit. He destroyed only the refuse, that was good for little. Tha which was now destroyed was sacrificed to the justice of God.
Original Hebrew ויבא935 שׁאול7586 עד5704 עיר5892 עמלק6002 וירב7378 בנחל׃5158
