They were spared because they had "showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt." David, in his answer to Achish, links the Kenites with the inhabitants of the South of Judah ( 1 Samuel 27:10 ). And Joshua discomfited (wasted!) Exo 17:13 And Joshua discomfited (wasted!) 2008 The Gale Group. 3 /5. Without raising the possibility of textual reconstruction in detail, it may be established, by drawing a parallel with the element "people," which appears repeatedly in this song, that the name Amalek in the masoretic text is the authentic one. God maintains a war against Amalek from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:16) Now what is striking here is the facts that while the war seemed to be directed at the Jewish people, the reason for the command is that the Amelekites were really waging war against God. 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. (Romans 6-8; Galatians 2:20; James 4:6-10, etc.). Said R. Simeon: Let us not think lightly of this war with Amalek. Rabbi Alan Odess, a teacher at Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education, does think of Amalek as the specific nation that attacked the People of Israel, but he believes that, "There are characteristics, underlying values, that Amalek exemplified," such as attacking the weak and defenseless. On the other hand, Gen. xiv. As his epithet Agagite indicates, Haman was a . (Jud. Providing Christ-centered, Scripture-rich communications and resources to feed, nourish, to edify, comfort, instruct, and equip Christs disciples in His perfect ways given us in His perfect Word (Psalms 119:105; Ephesians 4:11-12). The Israelites were victorious in this battle, but the Amalekites continued to be a thorn in their side throughout their time in the wilderness. 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). Nonetheless, there were many important rabbis who ruled that Amalek still exists and that we are still commanded to remember their deed and to destroy them. In the book of Numbers, God commands Moses to lead the Israelites in a battle against the Amalekites. Later the name Amalek becomes the name of a grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:12) who becomes a chief of Edom (36:16). What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Number 10. 2 See how Your foes rear their heads. But the Amalekites were cruel cowards. Eventually, God commanded Joshua to utterly destroy the Amalekites and he did so. In 1 Samuel 15, we see that God commanded Saul to exterminate the Amalekites, but he disobeyed and spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. God then put Amalek under a curse, which put them on Cursed Time. (, study of Torah is the antidote to this doubt. Pronunciation of Amalekites with 3 audio pronunciations. His disobedience led to the loss of his kingdom and, in Esther's time . 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. Exo 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. [podcast]. two evil spiritual forces coming together. v, 11), mixed multitude (the descendants of Cain), although God warned him, saying, to generation (Ex. Exodus 17:14 (c) Amalek was to be kept in subjection by Israel, and this is a type of our flesh which is to be kept in subjection by the people of GOD. ; Josh. We should also ask God to reveal any areas in our lives where we may be vulnerable to attack. Infamy notwithstanding, its roots are not so easily decipherable. 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. What does the mitzvah to destroy Amalek mean? destroyed? Moses was feeling the spiritual effect of the demonic principality of Amalek that operated through this tribe. Algorithms are never written with a specific programming language in mind. one's life is at stake: Talmud, Sanhedrin 74a - R. Johanan said in the name When the Israelites are worthy, then they dismiss these evil powers, and they While the Jews were still in Rephidim, the Amalekites, a mightily and fierce people, descendants of Esau, and well-trained in the art of warfare, suddenly attacked the people of Israel. mixed multitude are the impurity which the serpent injected into Eve. and sweet water to drink, and yet they complained! Submit yourselves therefore to God. XVII, 13). The word Amalek appears in the Old Testament, specifically in Exodus 17:8-16.In this passage, God tells Moses to take revenge on the Amalekites for attacking the Israelites while they were traveling through the wilderness. Even though He did nothing to influence the degenerate heart and downward plunge of Esau, the LORD God, who is love, foreknew the rebellion, the willful wickedness of Esau (1 John 4:8, 16). Thus the tannaitic aggadah of the first century B.C.E. universe; but when Israel is found to be unworthy she weakens My power above, and the Hence he said: I will prepare myself for the Sha'are Orah (Gates of Light) Rabbi Joseph Gikatilla, non-stop. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of the land of Canaan. Rate the pronunciation difficulty of Amalekites. I could wish you were cold or hot. by the enemy to prevent the "completion" of the Temple/Throne of God and the In no case did the Amalekites as a whole suffer decisive defeat at this time and their center in the Negev was not harmed. The account begins with a beautiful young Jewish girl named Hadassah, an orphan who had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai. world as long as God's holiness is not completely manifest. This brings us to the particular situation of the Amalekites. contraction of Hebrew words meaning "they loosened their grip on Torah." The Hebrew root is "amal" which means: to toil; wearing effect; pain; wickedness; sorrow; wearisome; trouble; mischief; etc. from the side of the serpent; another from the side of the Gentiles, who are compared to Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.". King Agag, king of the Amalekites, was spared by Saul. It is possible that this tradition is based on abortive attempts by Israel to expand its holdings in the South during the premonarchic period (see Num. The people's name Amalekite is initially mentioned in the story of the War of Four Against Five Kings (Genesis 14:7). What is the Spiritual Meaning of Amalekites? A similar expression occurs in the description of the much wider range of the Ishmaelites: "From Havilah, by Shur, which is east of (or close to) Egypt, etc." 5. He is Holy, holy, holy. (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. However, when considering the Torah's own recounting of the Amalekite attack on the Israelites in the book of Deuteronomy, we find that one of the defining characteristics of Amalek's wickedness is, curiously, the very happenstance nature of its encounter with Israel: v. 16 the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.. withal redemption will not be complete until Amalek will be exterminated, for against It is, however, a problem that is resource-dependent. We must also stand firm in our faith, knowing that God is ultimately victorious over all evil. The following passage associates the coming of Amalek with the union of trembling before Israel at the time of the Exodus, as it says: The peoples heard and The birthright (bekorah) that Esau forfeited and Jacob procured, involves both position and inheritance. Joshua is a type of Christ here who conquered all sin, death, hell, and the grave. Samael, who was coming down to assist Amalek. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16. In I Chronicles 4:4243, some obscure information has been preserved about the remnant of Amalek. They are enforces of social castes. Haman was an Agagite and the son of Hammedatha. Although Amalek was killed long ago, the Torah and other writings So why was this such a big deal to God?Well, according to biblical scholar Matthew Henry, The Amalekites were probably descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12), and so enemies of Isaacs family. In other words, they were enemies of Gods chosen people from the very beginning. The spiritual meaning of Amalekites is a reminder to remain committed to the one true God, in the face of any opposition. and in the world to come. Shengold Books. Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. In the biblical traditions, Israel, after sinning through cowardice and lack of faith as a result of the discouraging report of the spies, turned around and "defiantly marched to the crest of the hill country" (Num. Amalek was a grandson of Jacob's brother Esav. Amalek is directly tied to The Canaanite city of Sodom is destroyed by God It is a command that led the leading atheist Richard Dawkins to claim that the God of the Old Testament was "a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic. There are five that we get from this text 1. What is the Spiritual Meaning of Back Pain? Num. (2) The injunction "Remember" does not enjoin us to recall the evil actions of others but rather our own. " 4 Amalek is directly associated with Samael, the archangel of evil. We need to be courageous like Moses and have faith that God will help us overcome our enemies. 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. 1998. Exo 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Amalek as having no regard for God whatsoever: Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2,Page 65a - And " 5 With one mind they plot together; This demonic force was said to have afflicted the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert, and it continues to attack Gods people today.The spirit of Amalek is characterized by its hatred of God and His people. 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. temple: Talmud, Yoma 9b - Why was the first Sanctuary According to I Samuel 15:7, "Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of (or close to) Egypt." The Amalekites are not listed in the table of nations in Genesis 10, as they did not originate until after Esau's time. The idea of "doubt" being a critical sin was actually brought According to the biblical account, the war began as a result of a divine command of the Lord to Saul through Samuel to smite Amalek and destroy it, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" (I Sam. In Jewish tradition, Amalek represents pure evil, or those who have "given themselves over" to Sitra Achra, the dark side of impurity. The Amalekites represent Satan and the flesh and their war against God's people and all that is right. The Amalekites and the people of the East joined the Midianite raids on the Israelites in the time of Gideon, and, like true desert tribes, undoubtedly participated in the destruction of the crops, as related in the Book of Judges (6:17). Hence the meaning of the name in this context is not merely geographic (Judg. 4 " Come, " they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel's name is remembered no more. We need to realize the tiredness Moses felt was not just a natural tiredness. He was born to Eliphaz by his concubine Timna ( Gen 36:12) was one of the tribal chiefs . In regard to them it is written, Whoso hath sinned against me, him will I blot out thee. Said R. Simeon: At the moment when Joshua, the young Amalek is the father of the Amalekites. http://safeguardyoursoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/who-were-the-amalekites-MUSIC.mp3, Does Sin Defile a Saved Person? XXVI, 25) with the sword Those who reject Jesus Christ for their own temporal agenda will also forfeit the birthright. It can change the course of their lives. Listen Stories. One commentary states: The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, betweenMount Seirand the Egyptian border. What is the Spiritual Meaning of Seeing a Cardinal? 7 speaks of Amalekites, in southern Palestine, in the time of Abraham. 2) The Amalekites were extremely cruel. Amalek the flesh, a type. prevailed, but otherwise they fell. Required fields are marked *. Verse Concepts. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'spiritualdesk_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-spiritualdesk_com-banner-1-0'); Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the Negev Desert in southern Canaan.They were known for their brutality and for attacking anyone who crossed their path. against him and prevail, and therefore he said unto him: go and fight against 15:6). impurities are mingled in the composition of Israel, like animals among men. The Amalekites represent Satan and the flesh and their war against Gods people and all that is right. It is difficult to imagine that Mt. 1. 20:114, 24; Ezek. This made them enemies of both God and man. Haman (Hebrew: Hmn; also known as Haman the Agagite or Haman the evil) is the main antagonist in the Book of Esther, who according to the Hebrew Bible was an official in the court of the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus, commonly identified as Xerxes I (died 465 BCE) but traditionally equated with Artaxerxes I or Artaxerxes II. Very difficult. This evil force is also behind much of the worlds violence, oppression, and injustice.The only way to combat the spirit of Amalek is through prayer and spiritual warfare. XIV, 12). The term "city of Amalek" is not to be understood literally, and it is possible that it means a fortified camp. testify to the idea that the spirit of Amalek will not be done away with until the coming Moses, as it is written, And the sons of the Kenite the father-in-law of Moses Amalek is the power of darkness and evil in our world. Amalek was not completely eliminated at this time. Repentance, The cross! That is how Amalek stands guard to guide us in the right direction. More closely historical than the Pentateuch's accounts of Amalek are the traditions set in the period of the Judges and the monarchy. 3:1213). Refidim" (Exodus 17:8). [9] After warning Israel's allies, the Kenites, to leave the area (v. 6), Saul attacks, and deals Amalek a crushing blow: We are only able to do these things by the grace of God working through the gifts of Gods people. All Rights Reserved Bridger, David. 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. 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). 12:36 ). This brought a curse of ultimate annihilation from Moses (Ex 17:14-16, Deut 25:19) and Balaam (Num 24:20). man, started out to fight Amalek, the Young Man above was stirred, and death, excepting idolatry, incest, [which includes adultery] and murder. Telushkin, Joseph. Esau was the older brother of Jacob (who became Israel). The LORD will have war with Amalek (the flesh) from generation to generation. Exodus 17:16, The flesh is not going away until weve gone away to Heaven! They are said to be such an infectious curse that the Bible records God's call to eradicate them from the earth. Gods people were being destroyed by Amalek. This was the opinion of Maimonides in his Sefer Hamitzvot (Positive Commandments 188-189) and in his Mishneh Torah (Laws of . When it comes to the spirit of Amalek, there are a few things that every Christian should know. So, the flesh must be crucified or we will die, sin will separate us from God not from His love but from His life. Their story is that they, unprovoked, attacked Israel from behind as they had just finished crossing the Red Sea, and Israel went to war with them. A modern teacher/author ties this all together as follows: When the Beit HaMikdash was eventually constructed on the holy 3:1) who is regarded as a descendant of Agag (I Sam. The Amalekites (the flesh, Satan) were the first to attack Israel as they departed from the world/Egypt (salvation) toward the promise land (sanctification, ultimately eternal glory). There is no help for the flesh found in the Scriptures. word for "doubt" (safek) are the same. First they were cruel. are neither cold nor hot. Lord in our midst or not? Behold, I will deliver you to the dog!, and send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass, namely, the two Crowns of God also commands that all future generations should remember what the Amalekites did and continue to take vengeance against them. namely Israel above. Amalek the wicked comes from the power of the primordial But the meaning is that Amalek was The following truth unveils the nature of these wicked personalities and they are planted in every homes and families. Simeon said: There is a deep allusion in the name Rephidim. spiritual foundations are traced back to the prayers Moshe uttered on that hill in the Therefore his latter end shall be that he perish for Why did God hate them so much? It was an unprovoked and cowardly attack upon a tired and weary people, just liberated from slavery, on the way to their homeland. the cause of the "three great sins" -- idolatry, murder and unchastity (sexual you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. The . According to the Book of Exodus, they were descendants of Ham, and thus enemies of the Israelites. He is poison-god). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and He will always give us victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). This time, however, the Amalekites are defeated and driven out of Canaan.The story of Saul and Agag provides another glimpse into the conflict between Israel and Amalek. As a result of his disobedience, Saul loses Gods favor and is eventually replaced by David as king of Israel.Throughout Scripture, then, we see that Amalek represents those who oppose God and His people. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to exterminate the Amalekites because they had attacked them during their Exodus from Egypt. That they were of obscure origin is . In the oracle of Balaam, Amalek was called the 'first of the . it was launched against all the attributes of the Holy One, blessed be He. AND MOSES Amalek was the grandson of the infamous Esau, Jacobs brother, Isaacs son.