Who were the Amalekites and who were they and what do they mean?
- Jewish History Who Were Amalek and the Amalekites? The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. They were the first nation to attack the Jewish people after the Exodus from Egypt, and they are seen as the archetypal enemy of the Jews.
What did Moses do to fight the Amalekites?
The Amalekites launched full out attacks. The fighting morale was crucial here. Moses made sure he kept his arms raise all throughout, needing the help of Aaron and Hur. The enemy was close to winning a few times but were ultimately defeated by Joshua. After the battle, Moses built an altar called “The Lord is my Banner”.
Who were the Amalekites who fought Joshua?
Some Muslim historians claimed that the Amalekites who fought Joshua were descendants of the inhabitants of North Africa. Ebn Arabshah purported that Amalek was a descendant of Ham, son of Noah. It is, however, possible that the name Amalek may have been given to two different nations.
Who are the enemies of Amalek?
The nation of Amalek is long gone, but they live on as the internal enemies that we each battle on a daily basis. Eliphaz, son of Esau (the patriarch Jacob ’s brother and sworn enemy), and his concubine Timna had a child named Amalek. 1 Amalek grew up in Esau’s household, imbibing Esau’s pathological hatred of Jacob’s descendants along the way.
Where did the Amalekites live?
The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. They were the first nation to attack the Jewish people after the Exodus from Egypt, and they are seen as the archetypal enemy of the Jews. The nation of Amalek is long gone, but they live on as the internal enemies that we each battle on ...
What does Amalek represent?
Amalek represents the worst form of evil. The prophet Balaam refers to Amalek in the following passage: “Amalek was the first of the nations, and his fate shall be everlasting destruction.” 15
What does the mitzvah to destroy Amalek mean?
The mitzvah to destroy Amalek implies that no trace of Amalek’s existence could be left. 10 “Nothing,” explain the sages, “could serve as a reminder of Amalek’s name—not even an animal about which it could be said, ‘This animal belonged to Amalek.’” 11
What happened to the Jews at Rephidim?
While the Jews were still at Rephidim, recuperating from their escape from Egypt, 3 the nation of Amalek launched a vicious surprise attack on them—though the Jews had no designs on Amalekite territory and were not even headed in that direction.
What does the Torah say about Amalek?
The Torah commands us to always remember what Amalek did. The sages understand from this that once a year we must read the verses of the Torah where Moses reminds the Jews of Amalek’s actions.
What happened when Samuel found out about Saul's disobedience?
When Samuel found out about Saul’s disobedience, Saul lost his right to kingship. Samuel then killed Agag himself. 12
Who was Eliphaz's son?
Eliphaz, son of Esau (the patriarch Jacob ’s brother and sworn enemy), and his concubine Timna had a child named Amalek. 1 Amalek grew up in Esau ’s household, imbibing Esau’s pathological hatred of Jacob ’s descendants along the way. His offspring became the nation of Amalek, and they lived to the south of the Land of Israel, ...
Where did the Amalekites fight?
The Amalekites took part in the battles in the valley of Jezreel (6:33; 7:12) and perhaps also in the Jordan Valley, but there is no evidence that Gideon also fought with the Amalekites in his pursuit of the Midianites in Transjordan.
Who were the Amalekites?
The Amalekites were a people of the Negev and adjoining desert that were a hereditary enemy of Israel from wilderness times to the early monarchy. Amalek, a son of Esau's son Eliphaz, was presumably the eponymous ancestor of the Amalekites.
What does Deuteronomy say about Amalek?
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). The command imposed on Saul to subject the Amalekites to the ban ( ḥerem ), however, conforms to the version in Deuteronomy.
What was the first enemy of Israel?
According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. 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. In effect, by setting encounters with Amalek in the days of Moses and Joshua, the writers of the Bible were saying that hostilities existed from time immemorial. Among these traditions we find that Amalekites attacked the Israelites in a pitched battle at Rephidim, which, to judge by the Bible (Ex. 17:6, 7, 8–16; 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. 20:1–14, 24; Ezek. 47:19), then this battle was waged in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. The Book of Exodus relates that Joshua fought against Amalek under the inspiration of Moses, who was supported by Aaron and Hur, and that he mowed them down with the sword. 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. In commemoration of the victory, Moses built an altar which he called " YHWH -Nissi," and proclaimed that "The Eternal will be at war against Amalek throughout the ages." This implies that Israel is commanded to wage a holy war of extermination against Amalek (Deut. 25:12–19), for in the early days "the wars of Israel" and the "wars of the Lord" were synonymous expressions (cf., e.g., Judg. 5:23).
What happened to the Amalekites after the war of Gideon?
After the victories of Saul and David the Amalekites ceased to be a factor of any influence in the border regions of Judah and the Negev, just as the Midianites had after the war of Gideon. In I Chronicles 4:42–43, some obscure information has been preserved about the remnant of Amalek.
What did Samuel say when he put Agag to death?
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. 15:33). This may indicate that Agag's military success was proverbial.
What did Joshua do after he defeated the Amalekites?
After he defeated the Amalekites, Joshua refrained from the common practice of abusing the bodies of the slain and instead "treated them with mercy" (Mekhilta, 181). The war with Amalek did not end with their defeat, and the Israelites were commanded always to remember the deeds of Amalek (Deut. 25:17).
Who defeated the Amalekites?
During the kings’ era, Saul and David also repeatedly defeated the Amalekites (1 Sam. 14:48; 15:7; 27:8; 30:17, 18; 2 Sam. 8:12). The last remnant of that nation, who had taken refuge in Edom from Saul’s wars of extermination (1 Sam. 14:48; 15:8; 2 Sam. 8:12), were finally destroyed by the Simeonites during the reign of King Hezekiah (1 Chron.
Why did the Israelites defeat the Amalekites?
This defeat occurred because the Israelites disobeyed God and didn’t heed His instructions that were given to Moses (Num. 14:45). In the period of the judges, the Amalekites sought to subjugate Israel but were defeated by the band of Gideon that was made up of only 300 men.
What happened to the Amalekites after they crossed the Red Sea?
After the Jewish people crossed the Red Sea, they encamped in Rephidim. The Amalekites viciously attacked them, showing no mercy even for their own kindred (Deut. 25:18).
Where did the Amalekites live?
36:12). This group of people lived in the Sinai Peninsula, in what is now known as the Negev Desert. Though a race close to Israel, they rejected the Hebrews after the Exodus, and were bent upon their utter destruction.
Who defeated the Israelites in the first battle?
Beginning with the first encounter at Rephidim, a long and bitter feud developed between the two nations. A year later the Israelites were defeated by the Amalekites, who joined forces with the Canaanites at Kadesh-barnea.
Who led the Conquest of the Amalekites?
3. (:13) Joshua Leads Conquest of the Amalekites
Where were the Amalekites?
John Hannah: The Amalekites were nomads in the desert south of Canaan (cf. 1 Sam. 15:7; 27:8). They were descendants of Esau through Eliphaz (Gen. 36:12). They apparently were attempting to dislodge the Israelites from this pleasant oasis and to secure their territory from intrusion.
Why did Moses name the altar?
Because Yahweh had supplied the sign of his favor/presence/power by the staff—in effect a small military signal pole given to Moses —and had done so in the context of a military encounter, Moses stated by the name of the altar that the staff he had held high during the battle was the signal pole of Yahweh, a visible rallying point for the army of Israel in holy war.
Who addresses the Lord's charge to blot out the Amalekites?
J Ligon Duncan: addresses the Lord's charge to blot out the Amalekites - Now I want to say two things about this.
Did the Amalekites have a day to prepare for battle?
Douglas Stuart: Of interest is that the Israelites had a day to prepare for battle. The Amalekites may have arrived gradually at Rephidim, signaling their presence early in the process, or else advance parties may have encountered the Israelites then gone north to get the main body of warriors with which to engage them, thus alerting the Israelites and allowing them time to prepare. Alternatively, the Amalekites may have announced to the Israelites that if they did not surrender their valuables, they would be attacked the next day.
Who destroyed the Amalekites?from newworldencyclopedia.org
Destroyed by Saul and David. It would be the kings Saul and ultimately David, however, who finally fulfilled—or nearly fulfilled—the doom pronounced earlier by Moses against the Amalekites. Saul "fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.".
When did the Amalekites appear again?from newworldencyclopedia.org
The Amalekites do not appear again until 400 years later, when Moses is leading the Israelites toward Canaan from Egypt. At Rephidim, the Amalekites suddenly appear and attack the Israelites, who are apparently trespassing on their territory. Moses commissions the young Joshua to act as general for the Israelites.
What does Deuteronomy say about Amalek?from jewishvirtuallibrary.org
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). The command imposed on Saul to subject the Amalekites to the ban ( ḥerem ), however, conforms to the version in Deuteronomy.
Why did the Talmudic Sages treat the Amalekites?from newworldencyclopedia.org
Talmudic sages justified the treatment of the Amalekites on the ground of Amalekite treachery toward Israel. Not only did the Amalekites attack the Israelites, one opinion states, they first deceived them into believing they merely wanted to negotiate peacefully. Moreover, they attacked from the rear in a cowardly fashion and mutilated the bodies of those Israelites they succeeded in killing. (Pesik. R. 12, Mek. BeshallaḦ)
What are the 613 mitzvot?from newworldencyclopedia.org
Of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) followed by Orthodox Jews, three refer to the Amalekites: to remember what the Amalekites did to the Jews, to remember what the Amalekites did to the Israelites in the wilderness, and to destroy the Amalekites utterly.
What was the first enemy of Israel?from jewishvirtuallibrary.org
According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. 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. In effect, by setting encounters with Amalek in the days of Moses and Joshua, the writers of the Bible were saying that hostilities existed from time immemorial. Among these traditions we find that Amalekites attacked the Israelites in a pitched battle at Rephidim, which, to judge by the Bible (Ex. 17:6, 7, 8–16; 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. 20:1–14, 24; Ezek. 47:19), then this battle was waged in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. The Book of Exodus relates that Joshua fought against Amalek under the inspiration of Moses, who was supported by Aaron and Hur, and that he mowed them down with the sword. 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. In commemoration of the victory, Moses built an altar which he called " YHWH -Nissi," and proclaimed that "The Eternal will be at war against Amalek throughout the ages." This implies that Israel is commanded to wage a holy war of extermination against Amalek (Deut. 25:12–19), for in the early days "the wars of Israel" and the "wars of the Lord" were synonymous expressions (cf., e.g., Judg. 5:23).
What did Saul do to the Amalekites?from gotquestions.org
He then attacks the Amalekites but does not complete the task. He allows the Amalekite King Agag to live, takes plunder for himself and his army, and lies about the reason for doing so. Saul’s rebellion against God and His commands is so serious that he is rejected by God as king ( 1 Samuel 15:23 ).
Where were the Amalekites?
One commentary states: “ The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. …refers to the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, as Amalekites (verses 12 and 16).”
Who is the father of the Amalekites?
Amalek is the father of the Amalekites. When thinking of the Jewish people, the root from which they sprang forth into history, we are to always remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Bible records 33 verses which include the names of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of which Jesus was a descendant in His human capacity.
What happened when Moses held up his hand?
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.
How many sons did Isaac have?
Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. The Amalekites are the descendants of Esau, who sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup and in doing so forfeited his firstborn birthright (Genesis 25; Hebrews 12:16).
Where did Amalek fight in Exo 17?
Exo 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
How is the enemy defeated in the Bible?
The enemy is defeated through proper, thorough biblical worship – all the the Bible teaches about knowing and walking with Jesus! Repentance, The cross! Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Grounded daily in the Word. Fasting and Prayer. etc.
Who are Esau and Amalek?
Esau and Amalek are a type of Satan who was ousted by Jesus’ redemptive cross and lost his place of rulership over all who possess the born again birthright via being bought and paid for by the precious blood of the Lamb (Romans 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21; Colossians 2:14-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19, etc.).
What is the second major instance of Saul's disobedience?
This is the second of two major instances of Saul’s disobedience. The first comes in chapter 13, when Saul offers up the burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel. In response to this sin, Samuel says,
What does Samuel say about Agag?
33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal (1 Samuel 15:33).
How did Saul sin?
But here, Saul sins by failing to obey God’s commandment to the letter. Saul does most of what God instructs him to do through Samuel, but he does not obey completely. Samuel sees this incomplete obedience as sin. Saul’s disobedience is religious in nature. Saul’s disobedience is perceived and represented as obedience.
Why does Saul refuse to repent?
Saul seems unwilling to “repent,” to reverse his decision to let king Agag live. This being the case, Samuel carries out the command of God himself, for it is necessary that all of the Amalekites be put to death, especially the king who led them in their wickedness. Agag is brought forward.
How does Saul justify his disobedience?
Saul seeks to excuse his disobedience by claiming that he intends to use the animals which are spared to offer sacrifices to God. Samuel will have none of this. In verses 22 and 23, he sets down a principle which will be taken up often by later prophets, our Lord, and His apostles. 56 The principle is stated both positively and negatively. In verse 22, Samuel states matters positively. He informs us that while performing God’s prescribed religious rituals is a good thing (especially if done with clean hands and a pure heart), obedience to God’s commands is even better.
What did Saul say to Samuel?
20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites” (verse 20).
What does Saul say to Samuel in verse 29?
This is a conditional prophecy, which could be avoided if Saul truly repents. He does not. So now, in verse 29, when Saul begs Samuel not to abandon him, not to bring the promised judgment upon him, Samuel reminds him that God is not a man who makes mistakes and then has to “repent” to change course.
Who defeated the Amalekites?
The Amalekites launched full out attacks. The fighting morale was crucial here. Moses made sure he kept his arms raise all throughout, needing the help of Aaron and Hur. The enemy was close to winning a few times but were ultimately defeated by Joshua. After the battle, Moses built an altar.
What happened to the Amalekites?
The Amalekites, that day, lost a lot more than a battle. They were perpetually cut off from the creator of a heaven and Earth and disallowed the benefit and protection of being under Him.
What did Moses do to quench the thirst of the people?
As the people journeyed through the wilderness they began complaining about their thirst. Moses was directed by God to strike a rock at Rephidim and have water come out from it. This miracle quenched the people’s thirst and a possible rebellion. The people were still not ready for fighting, especially after.
Why did the Hebrews come to Dophkah?
Reached Dophkah (could refer to Du Mofka meaning “Mountain of Turquoise”) through an inland route.The Hebrews came here because they were not able to continue following the coast due to a mountain massif. The journey through the wilderness of Sin (probably referring to Sinai) was roughly 50km to Dophkah.This place was an Egyptian Turquoise mine worked by Semitic slaves. Moses may have passed by here to free these slaves as he had done in Egypt. There is a temple on top of the mountain dedicated to Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of the desert. This goddess was represented by a calf and might have been the inspiration for the golden calf image that the Hebrews made later.
What was the Bible's goal after the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea?
Bible Battle #4 – C. 1446 BC. After the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea their goal was to reach Mount Sinai. Their camp was attacked by nomadic Amalekites who saw them as trespassers but were defeated.
What was the Bible after the Battle of Rephidim?
BIBLE HISTORY AFTERMATH of the Battle of Rephidim. This was the first major battle for Israel. They were able to make a name for themselves by repealing the Amalekites and ensure a clear path through the wilderness.
Why did God warn the nations to be terrified?
This was to ensure that the way would be clear for their safe, unopposed passage into Sinai. God did not want other nations to be subdued by Israel unless they stood on the way.
