Yet another genocide of the resilient Amalekiates

1 Samuel 27:8-9,11 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish... He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, "They might inform on us and say, 'This is what David did.' " And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY

Earlier we read that Saul was instructed by God to totally destroy the Amalekites. However, Saul spared the life of the King and the best of the livestock. This caused God to regret making Saul King of Israel. Samuel had to personally kill the King of the Amalekites to complete the destruction of this people. However, in the above passage, the next King of Israel, David, kills off the Amalekites once again. You would think after being utterly destroyed twice, it would be the end of the Amalekites. However, in 1 Samuel 30 (while David was still King), the Amalekites invaded Israel once again. Resilient bunch, these Amalekites.

RELATED READINGS

- Genocide of the Amalekites