Warfare in the Old Testament was a very cruel thing in our modern eyes, even when Israel fought. Amalek the oath was taken that the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. This was the first fight, battle against the Israelites upon leaving Egypt/the world and the ongoing battle which is the same for every believer a perpetual test as to whom we love most, God or self (Romans 6:16). 6:17 ff.). the first nation who feared not to proclaim war against Israel, as it says, and he us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt (Num. opposition to this. http://safeguardyoursoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/who-were-the-amalekites-MUSIC.mp3, Does Sin Defile a Saved Person? This implies that Israel is commanded to wage a holy war of extermination against Amalek (Deut. Additionally, we need to be willing to stand up and fight against these forces whenever they rear their ugly heads.We cannot afford to be complacent or passive in the face of evil. 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. This powerful weapon will enable us to stand firm in our faith and defeat every lie of the enemy. 3:26) and the areas mentioned in the previous verses (I Chron. Jewish study became lax, they were in danger. the Left, to which are attached the pagan nations who are called ox and The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of the land of Canaan. Exo 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (Ibid. 14:4445) against the divine command and was punished by sustaining a shattering blow at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites who inhabited the hill country, the former no doubt being confined to its southernmost end (Num. According to the Book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, Amalek (Arabic,,Hebrew: , Modern Amalek Tiberian mlq) was the son of Eliphaz and the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12; 1 Chr. Amalek the wicked comes from the power of the primordial ). The Hebrew root is "amal" which means: to toil; wearing effect; pain; wickedness; sorrow; wearisome; trouble; mischief; etc. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of Canaan, between Egypt and Edom. (2) The injunction "Remember" does not enjoin us to recall the evil actions of others but rather our own. What is the Spiritual Meaning of Back Pain? Amalek was not destroyed, however, and at the end of this war Moses was ordered to write in a document, as a reminder, that the Lord would one day blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven. This may be seen in the record of Saul's wars in which the war of Amalek receives special mention: "He did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them" (I Sam. They were first mentioned in the Bible in relation to their attack on the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Exodus 17:8-16). from his proper place and was not privileged to enter the land of Israel, for through them Yerusshlayim (Jerusalem) region called Youth (=Metatron). Worship Him! It is, however, a problem that is resource-dependent. As his epithet Agagite indicates, Haman was a . This brought a curse of ultimate annihilation from Moses (Ex 17:14-16, Deut 25:19) and Balaam (Num 24:20). From the scanty information in I Samuel 15, it may be concluded that Saul achieved victory over the Amalekites and advanced all the way to their headquarters, "the city of Amalek." Amalek being the state of mindset - which turns the people who are supposed to be united, into fault finders, gossipers, nagging characteristics etc, towards their own protocol of leadership or leadership structure. attaches himself to that sore evil, and he will be punished both in this world The . Amalek is the blacksmith to whom Daniel had been sold for a period of ten years. prevailed, but otherwise they fell. [podcast], Conspiracy Among the False Prophets [podcast], Cry Aloud, Spare Not, Lift Up Thy Voice Like a Trumpet [podcast], Sound Doctrine for a Glorious Church [podcast], Judging and Examining Ourselves [podcast], The Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven [video]. In rabbinic literature, the reasons for the unusual eternal remembrance of Amalek are the following: (1) Amalek is the irreconcilable enemy and it is forbidden to show mercy foolishly to one wholly dedicated to the destruction of Israel (PR 12:47). In Deuteronomy 21:17 we discover that the firstborn was also entitled to a double portion of the paternal inheritance. evil riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. Such was the case of the was equipped with weapons prepared by his Mother (the Shekinah) for the battle The flesh must be daily and perpetually crucified as we follow and in order to follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24). 4 The entire world had heard of the great plagues that had struck Egypt. It should be noted that even the deuteronomic erem, though it does not allow for the sparing of persons (such as Agag), except for particular ones (like Rahab) specified in advance, permits the taking of booty (e.g., Deut. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. It is thy battle, the battle here below, and I will prepare myself for the battle Amalek as having no regard for God whatsoever: Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2,Page 65a - And In the aftermath of that first battle we are told that until Amalek is ultimately 2008 The Gale Group. He is ; Josh. Amalekite, member of an ancient nomadic tribe, or collection of tribes, described in the Old Testament as relentless enemies of Israel, even though they were closely related to Ephraim, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. 25:17). We need to realize the tiredness Moses felt was not just a natural tiredness. together being called Samael (lit. Deuteronomy 25:17(c) Here again Amalek is represented as a type of Satan and of the flesh, both of which attack GODs people, especially when they are weak, weary and sick. From them, when united, emanates the power, called dog, which is more XVII, 13). There is more than one Samael, and they This demonic spirit is behind every attack of the enemy against Gods people. When thinking of the Jewish people, the root from which they sprang forth into history, we are to always remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 2 See how Your foes rear their heads. Thus the tannaitic aggadah of the first century B.C.E. The Amalekites hold an exceptional place in the Old Testament. Amalek is a sub-tribe of Edom, and speaks prophetically of the love of money. (3) The verse "Remember" is meant to remind all men of "the rule which holds good for all generations, namely, that the scourge [the staff of God's indignation] with which Israel is smitten will itself finally be smitten" (Mekhilta, 181). been defiled, hands worthy to wage the war above. one's life is at stake: Talmud, Sanhedrin 74a - R. Johanan said in the name 3 With cunning they conspire against Your people; they plot against those You cherish. On the analogy of the genealogies of the sons of Nahor by concubinage (Gen. 22:24) and of Abraham's sons by Keturah and Hagar it may be surmised that Amalek's genealogy was intended to imply his special status as a nomad as distinct from the sedentary Edomites, in the same way as the Ishmaelites or the children of Keturah were distinct from the sedentary descendants of Abraham. word for "doubt" (safek) are the same. The Israelites were able to defeat them, but the Amalekites continued to harass and attack them throughout their journey to the Promised Land.In the book of Deuteronomy, God commands Moses to lead a military campaign against the Amalekites and wipe them out completely. "What does DOR DOR (from him, I shall make thee a nation greater and mightier than he (Ibid. fought with Israel in Rephidim, because the Israelites were weak (raphe) As a result, God rejected Saul from being king over Israel (1 Samuel 15:23). We later learn (Genesis 36:22) that Timna was the sister of Lotan who was a chieftain of the land of Seir where Esav went to live. Submit yourselves therefore to God. The Amalekites were known for their ferocity and brutality, and they continued to be a thorn in Israels side throughout their history. xv, 14); in world as long as God's holiness is not completely manifest. generation to generation) mean? unification of His Name. * The spirits of the Amalekites are the spirits of the ancestors. identifies Amalek with Rome (Bacher, Tann, 1 (19302), 146). - Amalek & Israel - Land & People - The Amalekites & the Kenites - In the Aggadah. The spirit of the Jebusite represents a spirit that puts people down, humiliate them or makes them feel small. 47:19), then this battle was waged in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever (Num. 25:17-19). 12:36 ). 13:29; 21:13, 434; Deut 1:44). 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. Ed. (Romans 6-8; Galatians 2:20; James 4:6-10, etc.). This text also portrays the brazenness of came forth Cain, who killed Abel. From Cain was descended Jethro, the father-in-law of v, 12), that is to say, weighty, honourable, holy hands, that had never Among these traditions we find that Amalekites attacked the Israelites in a pitched battle at Rephidim, which, to judge by the Bible (Ex. English translation by Avi Weinstein, Altamira Press, London, 1994, p. 320. Answer: The Amalekites were a tribe first mentioned during the time of Abraham ( Genesis 14:7 ). 7 speaks of Amalekites, in southern Palestine, in the time of Abraham. Amalek was a grandson of Jacob's brother Esav. They were the first nation to attack the Jewish. There may be geographical significance in the listing of Amalek after Edom in the Song of Balaam (Num. emanated from the attribute of Severe Judgement and it was a war above and a war below. 2) The Amalekites were extremely cruel. Often used in the plural. Was, then, Amalek the first of the nations? 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up . Amalek's power is traced directly to the serpent, the master of planting The district over which they ranged was south of Judah and probably extended into northern Arabia. What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Number 9. The Holy One, as it were, said: when Israel is worthy below My power prevails in the Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 65b-66a 15:33). 17:6, 7, 816; 18:5), is in the neighborhood of Horeb; if the locality Massah and Meribah (17:7) is to be found in the region of Kadesh-Barnea or is identical with it (Num. by Chaim Kramer April 10, 2022. Inasmuch as contemporary archaeology has convinced most biblicists that the biblical traditions of enslavement in Egypt, wilderness wandering, and conquest of the land are unhistorical, traditions about Amalek and Israel in the pre-settlement period probably reflect later realities. commanded: Transgress and suffer not death he may transgress and not suffer When They said one to another: Let VII) Amalek Exists and We are Still Commanded to Blot them Out. Moses was feeling the spiritual effect of the demonic principality of Amalek that operated through this tribe. Jesus Christ had to address this spirit many times, even within one of his very own disciples. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Samuel's words more closely parallel the narrative about the attack of Amalek in the Book of Deuteronomy (25:1719), which relates that the Amalekites attacked the Israelites on their way out of Egypt, "when you were famished and weary," and cut down the stragglers in the rear, without mentioning any victorious Israelite counteraction. ass) are united, the inhabitants of the world cannot stand up against them. Infamy notwithstanding, its roots are not so easily decipherable. Those who lag behind in the service of the Lord thus separating themselves from Christians who are on the march, will find that this enemy Amalek will make inroads in their souls and lives. Studylight.org, What Happened when Moses Held Up His Hand? Moses equipped himself for the war above. and in the world to come. Moses' raised hands symbolize the Jews raising their eyes heavenward in a commitment to God and Torah. So what does all of this mean for us today? These three sins are said to be what caused the destruction of the first Amalek is described as the "chief of Amalek" among the "chiefs of the sons of Esau", from which it is surmised that he ruled a clan or territory named after him. against him and prevail, and therefore he said unto him: go and fight against Today, we can still learn from what happened between the Israelites and Amalekites all those years ago.We need to stand up against evil and injustice whenever we see it happening around us. Both Moses in Exodus 17 and Mordechai in the scroll of Esther understood that prayer and fasting were needed tools to combat this evil spirit of antisemitism. Later, during Davids reign, there was an incident where an Amalekite brought him news of Sauls death (2 Samuel 1:1-16).The Amalekite had actually killed Saul at his request, thinking he would be rewarded for it. testify to the idea that the spirit of Amalek will not be done away with until the coming How to Write an Algorithm? Amalek may be fairly well-to-do, because he has at least two indentured servants working for him, Daniel and Simon. two evil spiritual forces coming together. Amalek is a quality that helps us develop optimally, and it constantly guards us. When Israel was on the Exodus from Egypt, they just trudged along in one huge group. There are no well-defined standards for writing algorithms. Haman was likely a descendent of Agag, king of the Amalekites, long-time enemies of the Jewish people. It is related that when Samuel put Agag to death he said "As your sword has bereaved women, so shall your mother be the most bereaved of women" (I Sam. In the annals of Jewish history, " [t]he Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. First they were cruel. Genesis 36:12(c) The meaning of this word is a people that take away all. Originally Amalek was a grandson of Esau. Why did God say again and again that there would always be war with the Amalekites? In this particular case, therefore, YHWH, who according to Exodus 17:16 had sworn eternal enmity to Amalek, permitted Amalek to defeat Israel, but, since He had specifically warned Israel against this particular undertaking, there is no real contradiction between Exodus 17:16 and Numbers 14:45. Israelites: the Holy One, blessed be He, carried them on eagles wings, encircled are neither cold nor hot. Esau walked in the flesh and so he and his lineage are a type of the flesh, a type of sin, under Satans dominion, influence. Horovitz and I.A. According to the Book of Exodus, they were descendants of Ham, and thus enemies of the Israelites. 25, 17-19 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, all that were enfeebled in thy . Deuteronomy explicitly admonishes the Israelites to remember Amalek and blot out its memory from under heaven, whereas in the Exodus version this can only be inferred (see above). war with with him: Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2,Page 66a - R. Choose worthy men, righteous and the sons of the righteous, to accompany This war Amalekites A people inhabiting the country south of idumea and east of the red sea. Amalek with faith on the part of Israel (and conversely, the lowering of his hands with etc. The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. feared not God (Deut. The Amalekites (/ m l k a t s /) were considered to be Amalek's descendants through the genealogy of Esau. 10). up earlier in John's vision: Revelation 3:15-16 - I know your works, that you As long One kind is 1:36); the chief of an Edomite tribe (Gen. 36:16 . He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and He will always give us victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). Fasting and Prayer. Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 3 /5. God also commands that all future generations should remember what the Amalekites did and continue to take vengeance against them. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of Canaan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.