And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. 1 Sam 31:3-5; 2 Sam 1:4-10) was killed by David because he had slain the Lords anointed king (1:14-16), and also had confessed he was an Amalekite (1:8, 13). According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. When Adam and Eve sin they are exiled from the garden and condemned to die: you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3:19 ESV). [33] Groups identified with Amalek include the Romans, Nazis, Stalinists, ISIS, Palestinians[34] and bellicose Iranian leaders such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[35][36]. People are free to rebel, if they choose, but the consequence of such rebellion will be death. Next, the Amalekite who claimed he had finished killing Saul (cf. Assuming that everyone who died in the city of Amalek equates to the entire Amalek nation being exitinct is like assuming you've met every single American that exists upon visiting New York. Introduction to positive commandments, Beer Mayim Hayim, letter Alef, Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, "Timna, concubine of Eliphaz: Midrash and Aggadah", "Shabbat Zachor: "Remember what Amalek did to you!" The whole creation was affected and is affected by the sin of human beings. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. by H.S. It seems that somehow or other, an Amalekite or two continued to survive and their theme always seems to be the destruction of the Jewish people: Aka Haman. Why Did God Command Saul to Eliminate the Amalekites? identifies Amalek with Rome (Bacher, Tann, 1 (19302), 146). All the tragedies which Israel suffered are considered the direct outcome of Amalek's hostile act (PdRK 27). Introduction: In chapter 15, God judged first the Amalekites and then Saul. Origen of Alexandria is sometimes cited as having viewed the herem passages allegorically; Hofreiter argues that although Origen viewed a spiritual interpretation as having primary importance to Christians, he did not deny that the herem passages described historical events. Deut 34:3). 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. the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. In the course of time this biblical injunction became so deeply rooted in Jewish thought that many important enemies of Israel were identified as direct descendants of Amalek. This reading which occurs only in secondary versions of the Septuagint and not in original ones can be explained as an attempt to interpret a difficult passage in the light of I Samuel 15:6, i.e., the verse in the Song of Deborah where it says of Ephraim "they whose root is in Amalek" (Judg. The total destruction of the Amalekites was an echo of the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, as also an anticipation of the final judgment at the end of the age. This is seen by observing the Kenites who lived with the Amalekites at the city of Amalek (1 Sam 15:5, 6) and that they earlier had taken up this residence with the people in the region of the Negeb near Arad (Judg 1:16), which was only about twenty m. S of Hebron. Later in the time of the Judges the Amalekites showed continued harassing activity against Israel. The command imposed on Saul to subject the Amalekites to the ban (erem), however, conforms to the version in Deuteronomy. However, in 1 Samuel 15:2 this people were still flourishing. 25:1219), for in the early days "the wars of Israel" and the "wars of the Lord" were synonymous expressions (cf., e.g., Judg. Who were the Amalekites? - Bible Portal Horeb. In Jewish folklore, the Amalekites are considered to be the symbol of evil. Therefore, the archaeologist and historian Hugo Winckler suggested in 1895 that there were never any such people and the Biblical stories concerning them are entirely mythological and ahistorical. Was Samuel referring to Saul in 1 Samuel 8:10-17? Is Glen Miller's explanation concerning why the women, children, and animals were killed in 1 Samuel 15 possible based on the text? Can we reconcile with our eternal sworn enemies? Does a password policy with a restriction of repeated characters increase security? 15:8) the Amalekite king (Jos., Ant., 11:209). 600 Deut. Rashi explains the third commandment: From man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, so that the name of Amalek not be mentioned even with reference to an animal by saying "This animal belonged to Amalek". Shepherds used this same methodology to count their flock. Each rebelled against God and refused to repent out of pride. Source: Did Saul lie to Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:7? What should I follow, if two altimeters show different altitudes? Neither does the title "king," applied to Agag, necessarily imply an organized kingdom as customarily found in settled regions, and it may be presumed that Agag was a type of tribal chief called a king, like the kings of Midian (Num. Horovitz and I.A. Killing the Amalekites | Precept Austin balsam [11], According to the Bible, the Amalekites inhabited the Negev. How come David fought an Amalekite army that Saul has already eradicated a few years earlier? servant of an Amalekite (30:11-15), found the Amalekite camp, defeated the enemy, and recovered his wives and possessions (30:16-20). They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. ), they were one of the first nations the Israelites encountered. When the nation was weak and vulnerable the Amalekites attacked the weakest and most vulnerable of the nation ( Deuteronomy 25:18 ). 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. The Amalekites provide an explanation for the irrational and intense hatred for Jews that echoes through human history. Early history. Hence the meaning of the name in this context is not merely geographic (Judg. Why did God tell Saul to destroy the Amalekites? That Amaleks unrelenting and destructive spirit and action against God and the cause of His people Israel was heinous to the Lord is seen later in the reminder to Saul concerning these wilderness incidents and in Gods command that the king is to destroy these God-defying Amalekites (1 Sam 15:2, 3; cf. 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. Amalek, "the first of the nations" (Num. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Why Did God Command The Absolute Destruction Of The Amalekites? The "Amalekites" Are Alive and Well on Planet Earth Today! What does a shepherd do with his rod and staff? and his associate kings subdued among others, all the country of the Amalekites, which reference need not be taken as an anachronism, but is to be understood as possibly a different Amalek, or better, that the term is used to identify the land which later became the home of the Amalekite descendants of Esau. c. Moses builds and altar. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Psalm 95 identifies no author, but Hebrews 4:7 attributes it to David. By the time Aaron died, the final location of the Staff was lost, although it was believed to have been stolen from Solomons Temple around the same time as the Ark of the Covenant. It is a reminder that wickedness is a cancer that must be removed before the renewal and restoration of all things. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Who attacked Israelites? What were the sins of the Amalekites? - Wise-Answer This may indicate that Agag's military success was proverbial. King Saul , ancestor of Esther and Mordechai , failed to follow Gd 's command to get rid of the Amalekite king Agag , and the events of Purim can thus be seen as a "rematch" for this . The name Amalek is not mentioned in writings outside the Bible. [25] Some Muslim historians claimed that the Amalekites who fought Joshua were descendants of the inhabitants of North Africa. The flood did not just destroy rebellious adult men and women it killed everything and everyone not in the ark. 2:345; Josh. AMALEK m lk, AMALEKITES m l k ts (, ; Gr , ). To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Moreover, the attack of the Amalekites upon the Israelites encouraged others. What would make it complete?And they shall come back here in the fourth gene. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. The name "Amalek" can refer to the nation's founder, a grandson of Esau; his descendants, the Amalekites; or the territories of Amalek, which they inhabited. David The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". [9] But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambseverything that was good. One of the descendants is the Amorites. 1 Sam. Though the Amalekites are not mentioned in the table of nations in Genesis 10, in Numbers 24:20 they are referred to as "first among the nations.". Both Joshua and Moses are a prophetic picture of Yeshua the Messiah. He was rebuked by God for not doing just that. Counting and finding real solutions of an equation, tar command with and without --absolute-names option. The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. Why do you think they all lived in that city? Saul spared only the best of the sheep and of the oxen, besides Agag. If it helps, 1 Samuel 15:8-9, Saul did spared the king of Amalekites, Agag. Seir, killed the survivors of Amalek, and settled there. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 13:13 ff. In the light of Amaleks past harassment of Israel the Lord commanded Saul to exterminate this enemy (1 Sam 15:1-3). 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. [24][25] It is, however, possible that the name Amalek may have been given to two different nations. 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. 8:2627) except in special cases (Deut. Although the story of David's victory over the Amalekites is intended to add to his glory, it need not be doubted that it reflects an historical truth about David's wars against the desert tribes in his premonarchial period, being distinguished by exact topographical indications, by correct military-legal conduct, and the division of booty among the cities of Judah and of the Negev (30:9, 2131). Suppose something similar occurred here, the Amalekites were completely killed off and some neighbors seeing the Amalekite cities empty sought to take advantage, moves in and became a people. There may be geographical significance in the listing of Amalek after Edom in the Song of Balaam (Num. It seems probable that the wanderings of the Amalekites, or of a particular part of them, extended as far as Transjordan in the neighborhood of Moab or Ammon. Do not spare them. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? The word baca means balsam but is also the Hebrew verb for weep. (The balsam tree weeps its resin.) Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Their first encounter with Israel was when they attacked the rear of Israel but were defeated by Joshua at Rephidim (Ex 17:8-13, Deut 25:17, 18). Among these traditions we find that Amalekites attacked the Israelites in a pitched battle at Rephidim, which, to judge by the Bible (Ex. That means that God gave the Amalekites more than 400 years to turn from their wicked ways as compared to the 40 days that he gave to the people of Nineveh but unlike the Ninevites, the Amalekites did not repent. There is no further Biblical reference. (I Samuel According to William Petri, Amalekites tried to prevent the Israelites from reaching the oasis. He was keeping track of the measure of their sins, and, during Abraham's time, it was not yet "full." So the Amorites were warned that judgment was coming. Human beings have a special dignity and status relative to God and the rest of his creation. Saul Defeats the Amalekites but Spares - BibleGateway temple (E. F. Campbell and G. E. Wright, Tribal League Shrines in Amman and Shechem, BA, XXXII, No. Esau was the older brother of Jacob (who became Israel). b.c. After Rephidim, the next major encounter with Amalek came following the report of the spies to Israel that the enemy to the N of Kadesh-barnea in the wilderness of Paran in S Canaan, including the Amalekite forces which dwelt in the land of the Negeb, were too strong to conquer, despite the pleadings of Caleb and Joshua to the contrary (Num 13:25-33; 14:38). To touch the people of God is to touch God. 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. Israel rebelled. 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. I'd be interested if that Amalekite bloodline still survives aka Hitler etc. There, they might blend in, or even be protected under the terms of Dt. What was the sin of the Amalekites? [8] He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Edomites themselves survived beyond the time of Jesus. 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. 7 Where did the Israelites go after leaving Rephidim? 1 Samuel 15: Seven Lessons on God's Judgment from the Sins of the Can you still use Commanders Strike if the only attack available to forego is an attack against an ally? They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Haman in the Book of Esther was a descendant of the king Agag that Samuel executed (see 4 above). [13] This is probably based on the association of this tribal group with the steppe region of ancient Israel and the area of Kadesh (Genesis 14:7). This group of Amalekites was reportedly destroyed by 500 Simeonite families who had migrated to the area, "because there was pasture for their flocks." Nur Masalha, Elliot Horowitz, and Josef Stern suggest that Amalekites have come to represent an "eternally irreconcilable enemy" that wants to murder Jews, that Jews in post-biblical times sometimes associate contemporary enemies with Haman or Amalekites, and that some Jews believe that pre-emptive violence is acceptable against such enemies. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. The immediate reason given for the destruction of the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15 is given in verse 2: Thus says the LORD of hosts, I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. The New Testament Apostles did not understand that reality to have been nullified by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rather they understood this Old Testament story, and others like it, as: an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly (2 Peter 2:6 ESV). The last mention of the Amalekites is found in the book of Esther where Haman the Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag, connives to have all the Jews in Persia annihilated by order of King Xerxes. The Amalekites are a picture of the sinful desires of our flesh that consume, destroy, and exhaust us like a person trying to free themselves from the bondage of a rope."..Beloved, our flesh will always oppose us, but need not oppress us. [24], By the 19th century, there was strong support by Western theologians for the idea that the nation of Amalek could have flourished before the time of Abraham. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. Their final defeat occurred in the time of Hezekiah. Concerning further harassment Moses recounts how, in Israels journey from Egypt, Amalek, with no fear of God, attacked their rear guard and cut off those who became physically weak (Deut 25:17, 18). Omissions? 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. For this sin, God damned the Amalekites, commanding the Jews to wage a holy war to exterminate them. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. Similarly, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah did not just fall upon adult men and women, it fell generally upon the city as a whole men and women, boys and girls, and cattle. Saul Defeats the Amalekites but Spares Their King. 14:48). That principle is immediately illustrated later in the chapter. More closely historical than the Pentateuch's accounts of Amalek are the traditions set in the period of the Judges and the monarchy. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'I will punish what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt. 2:55), the Amalekites did not deviate from their desert nomadic character until they ceased to exist. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 12:15), but serves to indicate the warlike nature of Ephraim, beside Benjamin. 23:7 -- "You shall not abhor an Edomite for he is your brother.". They were completely defeated and chased as far as Hormah (near Arad and Ziklag) (Num 14:39-45; Josh 12:14; 15:30). 15 And Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore hearken to the words of the Lord. The Amalekites were the descendants of Amalek, who was the son of Eliphaz (son of Esau, ancestor of the Edomites) and Eliphaz's concubine Timna (Genesis 36:12). The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. He states that "there is practically no historical evidence that anyone in the Great Church" viewed them as being purely an allegory. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:1517 ESV). These verses relate that some of the Simeonites went to Mt. They lived primarily south of Canaan, in the Negev area and sometimes in the Sinai region. Exodus 17 describes Israel's first encounter with the wandering Amalekites at Rephidim, a place between the wilderness of Sin and the wilderness of Sinai (Exod 17:1; 19:2), at which the Israelites camped in their Exodus journey from 13:21) and the kings of ana in Mari, whose main function may have been a military one. In I Chronicles 4:4243, some obscure information has been preserved about the remnant of Amalek. Did God permit David to marry numerous wives in 2 Samuel 12:8? The most immediate answer would seem to be that unlike the people of Ninevah, the Amalekites did not repent, though they were given plenty of time to do so. Now if the Hebrew Samarians went to war with Assyria and lost and the New Samarians went to war with Assyria decades later did Assyria fight the same people group? Evidently the Amalekites had some cities, as this one, in which they sometimes settled, and possibly fulfilled religious obligations as has been shown was the case of nomadic tribes in the Trans-Jordan in connection with a 15th cent. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. There may have been multiple enclaves of Amalekites scattered throughout the Sinai peninsula. c. In the time of Saul. [8] One modern scholar believes this attests to Amalek's high antiquity,[9] while traditional commentator Rashi states: "He came before all of them to make war with Israel". Furthermore, it is possible that Saul is primarily engaged in battle against This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Amalekites clearly survived well after the time of Saul, despite his hollow boasts. What positional accuracy (ie, arc seconds) is necessary to view Saturn, Uranus, beyond? So this explains why David would still be fighting Amalekites in his time. Schreiber, Mordecai (ed.). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The New Jewish Encyclopedia. Haman was "the son of Hammedatha the Agagite" ( Esther 3:1 ), probably directly descended from the Amalekite king Samuel killed. Thus, the continuing oppressive spirit of this pagan nomadic tribe required a different treatment by the Lord from that which was to be normally carried out; namely, that terms of peace be first offered to a potential enemy (Deut 20:10-12). [30][31], According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. The King (and presumably many senior officials) survived and many others did as well. They were the first nation to attack the Israelites when they left Egypt ( Exodus 17:8; Numbers 14:45 ). 6 Where was Moses holding up his arms during the Battle of Refidim? For Amalekites in the Book of Mormon, see, Commandment to exterminate the Amalekites, Religious and modern scholarly discussion. The Amalekites as a nomadic desert tribe moved in the area from the Sinaitic region and the steppe land of the Negeb in S Canaan, S of Beersheba, over E to include the Arabah region N of Elath and Ezion-geber and possibly the more interior Arabia. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. God saved the Jews in Persia, however, and Haman, his sons, and the rest of Israels enemies were destroyed instead (Esther 9:510). Since they were descendants of Esau, some may well have lived in Edom. The Vulgate also names David as the author. The place lies in the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai. men, who rode upon camels and fled. 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. 5:14). According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. It does not store any personal data. The royal line of the Kings is what led to Haman. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys." International Standard Version Now, go and attack Amalek. Smiths Bible Dictionary Rephidim (Exodus 17:1,8; 19:2) The name means restsor stays, i.e. Amalekite | ancient tribe | Britannica Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Hebrew word which is usually translated as "the nation" or "the people" can also refer to military troops as in 1 Samuel 15:4. 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I - Bible Hub Whereas the Kenites passed into permanent settlement during the First Temple period and were assimilated in Judah (I Chron. The Amalekites were a fierce race of nomads who inhabited the desert to the south of Judaea towards Egypt. and more. Thus the tannaitic aggadah of the first century B.C.E. Any offense against the line of promise is treated as an offense against God. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:4043 ESV). Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. [16] It has been further argued that if the identification of the settlements at Tel Masos with the Amalekites is correct, then behind the biblical narrative of Saul's campaigns against this central Amalekite station of the southern network of metal transportation and trade, there may have been a strategic desire to wrest control of copper production, a metal of key importance in the early Israelite period and, it is argued, in its early theology and ritual.[17]. It is a reminder that those who harass and abuse the people of God invite the curse of God. This is perhaps the most widely ignored command in the Bible. Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom. Num. 13:29; 21:13, 434; Deut 1:44). When the Israelites left Egypt and set out toward Canaan (see Exodus 17:8 ff. According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives. The Amalekites. This demonstrates again Israels strong antipathy to Amalek. King Herod and his family were Idumean [Edomite] converts to Judaism, and Amalekites may have lived there long after the tribe fades from the biblical record. Their final defeat occurred in the time of Hezekiah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Exodus 17 describes Israels first encounter with the wandering Amalekites at Rephidim, a place between the wilderness of Sin and the wilderness of Sinai (Exod 17:1; 19:2), at which the Israelites camped in their Exodus journey from Egypt. It is unimaginable that such a juxtaposition would have been possible after the consciousness of the divine war of extermination against Amalek had taken root in Israel. [40][41][42][43] It has also been described as genocidal, according to genocide scholars like Norman Naimark.[44][45][46][47]. Amalek's Attack - Chabad.org Amalek (/mlk/;[1] Hebrew: , 'mlq, Arabic: 'Amlq) was a nation described in the Hebrew Bible as a staunch enemy of the Israelites. In Genesis 15 God says to Abraham that his people shall sojourn in Egypt until the time of their redemption corresponds with the end of the grace period extended to the Amorites: And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. (Genesis 15:16 ESV). 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. 2008 The Gale Group. Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. The most immediate answer would seem to be that unlike the people of Ninevah, the Amalekites did not repent, though they were given plenty of time to do so. Although Samuel alludes to Amalek's provocation of Israel, "in opposing them on the way, when they came up out of Egypt" (15:2), there is no mention of the battle of Rephidim and of the victorious war of Moses and Joshua. 1 Samuel 15 NIV - Bible Hub God had a very good reason for wanting Saul to destroy the Amalekites. How did the Amalekites attack Israel? - TimesMojo This fits with their association with Esau/Edom, who established his lineage there.
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