Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 15:6
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 Judg. i. 16; and for more particulars concerning them and the Amalekites, see the notes on Numbers xxvi. 20, 21.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. And Saul said unto the Kenites , etc.] Who were of the posterity of Jethro the father-in-law of Moses, or related to him; why Josephus 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, ( Judges 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 Numbers 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.
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
ויאמר 559 שׁאול 7586 אל 413 הקיני 7017 לכו 1980 סרו 5493 רדו 3381 מתוך 8432 עמלקי 6003 פן 6435 אספך 622 עמו 5973 ואתה 859 עשׂיתה 6213 חסד 2617 עם 5973 כל 3605 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 בעלותם 5927 ממצרים 4714 ויסר 5493 קיני 7017 מתוך 8432 עמלק׃ 6002
