Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 15

The absence of any chronology or mention of time is remarkable.

It appears from the cross-references (see 1 Samuel 14:48) that this expedition against Amalek was not made without fresh provocation. They likely made an incursion into the southern region, similar to the one described in 1 Samuel 30:1, at a time when they thought the Israelites were weakened by their conflicts with the Philistines.

Utterly destroy - Rather, “devote to destruction” (see the note on Leviticus 27:28). When a city or people were thus made cherem, everything living was to be destroyed, and no part of the spoil was to fall to the conquerors (Compare 1 Samuel 15:21). The valuables were put into the sacred treasury.

Telaim - Probably the same as “Telem” (Joshua 15:24), one of the most remote cities of Judah, toward the coast of Edom. The name means “lambs” and was likely so called because of the numerous flocks.

Two hundred thousand ... - A striking contrast with the six hundred men who composed his whole army before (1 Samuel 13:15), and a proof of how completely the Philistines had been driven back for a time. The separate mention of the men of Judah shows how little union there was between Judah and Ephraim even at this time, a circumstance that sheds light on the entire subsequent history.

The district described here would stretch from Havilah on the far east to Shur, which is either near Suez or further north on the coastal road from Gaza to Egypt.