That principle is immediately illustrated later in the chapter. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The term "city of Amalek" is not to be understood literally, and it is possible that it means a fortified camp. Furthermore, it is possible that Saul is primarily engaged in battle against 15:4; Ezek. 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. This demonstrates again Israels strong antipathy to Amalek. The whole creation was affected and is affected by the sin of human beings. 3:1213). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 20:114, 24; Ezek. NY: Behrman House, Inc. 1976. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. c. In the time of Saul. When some men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who exercised some control over the Negeb and the area of Hebron, presumably they also came in contact with the Amalekites who roamed the same general area. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:23 ESV). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. 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. What the Bible says about Amalekites - Bible Tools 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:2223 ESV). The operative words in that statement are pass through. The valley of weeping is a place through which we pass; it is not where Gods people permanently dwell. If they defeat me, you flee, and if not, come and help me against Israel.". R' Samson Raphael Hirsch said that the command was to destroy "the remembrance of Amalek" rather than actual Amalekites;[53] the Sfat Emet said that the command was to fully hate Amalek rather than performing any action;[54] and the Chofetz Chaim said that God would perform the elimination of Amalek, and Jews are commanded only to remember what Amalek did to them. men, who rode upon camels and fled. From this chapter, God reveals sevens lessons about His judgment. The Amalekites were a fierce race of nomads who inhabited the desert to the south of Judaea towards Egypt. The Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. 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. If the story of the destruction and death of the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15 seems discordant with the rest of the Bible, the reason for that more likely lies with the reader than with any lack of consistency in the Bible itself. 3:1) who is regarded as a descendant of Agag (I Sam. Did God permit David to marry numerous wives in 2 Samuel 12:8? 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. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23). 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." Amalek in later history. resting places. in "hill country of Seir." This is perhaps the most widely ignored command in the Bible. 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. Can you still use Commanders Strike if the only attack available to forego is an attack against an ally? 13:29; 21:13, 434; Deut 1:44). Jewish Literacy. During the reign of Hezekiah, 500 Simeonites annihilated the remnant of the Amalekites, so God is not still at war with the Amalek. Can we reconcile with our eternal sworn enemies? What is meant by "The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" in b. Amalekites attack. next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young [10] First-century Roman-Jewish scholar and historian Flavius Josephus refers to Amalek as a 'bastard' () in a derogatory sense. 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". The war with Amalek did not end with their defeat, and the Israelites were commanded always to remember the deeds of Amalek (Deut. b. Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. This seems to many to be at odds with what the Bible says about Gods compassion for human beings and animals elsewhere. But if we remain in our sins, then we will perish in our sins, as Jesus himself said in the Gospel of Luke: No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3 ESV). What were the sins of the Amalekites? - Wise-Answer For Sauls failure to fulfill completely the divine command, Samuel announced to the monarch the Lords rejection of him as king (1 Sam 15:10-23). The Lord arrests him on the side of the road and says: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? (Acts 9:4 ESV). (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). However, Saul himself can hardly have advanced as far as the borders of Egypt (and if this Havilah is the same as that in Gen. 10:7, 29 Arabia as well). Here we have an example of not the extermination of the Northern Ten Tribes but exiling them and replacing them with other people groups. What positional accuracy (ie, arc seconds) is necessary to view Saturn, Uranus, beyond? Omissions? 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). This is seen in Judges 3:12-14 in the account of how Eglon, the king of Moab, collected the forces of the Amalekites and the Ammonites and defeated Israel and took the city of palms (evidently Jericho, cf. What is meant by "the sin of the Amorites is not yet complete" in Genesis 15:16? The word baca means balsam but is also the Hebrew verb for weep. (The balsam tree weeps its resin.) Answer The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. Haman in the Book of Esther was a descendant of the king Agag that Samuel executed (see 4 above). 3 Why did God want to destroy the Amalekites? 6:17 ff.). 1 Samuel 15: Seven Lessons on God's Judgment from the Sins of the The Bible is very clear: those who do not turn from their sin will eventually fall under judgment. When they leave Rephidim, the Israelites advance into the Sinai Wilderness, possibly marching through the passes of the Wadi Solaf and the Wadi esh-Sheikh, which converge at the entrance to the er-Rahah plain (which would then be identified with the Sinai Wilderness), which is three kilometers long and about eight hundred metres wide. What Does the Bible Say About Amalekites? - OpenBible.info There, they might blend in, or even be protected under the terms of Dt. These verses relate that some of the Simeonites went to Mt. contradiction - Is God still at war with Amalek? - Biblical They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. This principle remains active throughout the entire Old Testament. How did the Amalekites attack Israel? - TimesMojo 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. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 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 . They were created to be his vice regents over all creation. The Amalekites committed a terrible sin against Israel. The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. 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. Observing this connection, there is no need, as some have attempted, to emend the text of Judges 1:16 from the people (Heb. See 1 Samuel 15:7 where Saul is said to have defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. This seems to have been the same general area inhabited by the Ishmaelites about whom it is stated: They dwelt from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria (Gen 25:18). - Amalek & Israel - Land & People - The Amalekites & the Kenites - In the Aggadah Amalek and Israel temple (E. F. Campbell and G. E. Wright, Tribal League Shrines in Amman and Shechem, BA, XXXII, No. The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Perhaps, the statement where Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur is hyperbolical. - Amalek & Israel - Land & People - The Amalekites & the Kenites - In the Aggadah. When the Israelites left Egypt and set out toward Canaan (see Exodus 17:8 ff. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. 22:22)? The Amalekites - Jewish Virtual Library Telushkin, Joseph. 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to the Amalekites in a specific citynot on a massive geographical scale (c.f. 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. According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. The Exodus and Conquest are thus simultaneously works of salvation and judgment. The Amalekites are not listed in the table of nations in Genesis 10, as they did not originate until after Esau's time. There is no further Biblical reference. Etymology [ edit] In some rabbinical interpretations, Amalek is etymologised as am lak, 'a people who lick (blood)', [2] but most specialists regard the origin to be unknown. It was situated in the mountains where nomads brought cattle to drink. 30:17,18 ASV). The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". d. In the time of David. [25] Some Muslim historians claimed that the Amalekites who fought Joshua were descendants of the inhabitants of North Africa. In the wilderness wanderings. There is an earlier reference to the word Amalek in Genesis 14:7 where Chedorlaomer (c. 1900 b.c.) "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction." Amalekites Defeated by david 1 Samuel 27:8-9 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times, as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt. For this sin, God damned the Amalekites, commanding the Jews to wage a holy war to exterminate them. [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 was only the Amalekite army who were destroyed (apart from King Agag). In no case did the Amalekites as a whole suffer decisive defeat at this time and their center in the Negev was not harmed. Territory. Rather in Numbers 24:20 Amalek as first is to be understood as its being the first among the nations to attack Israel in her Exodus experiences (cf. It is a reminder that wickedness is a cancer that must be removed before the renewal and restoration of all things. Moses goes on to command that for this wicked treatment of an oppressed people, Israel later, when in the land of Canaan, was to exterminate the Amalekites (Deut 25:19). They were, and still continue to be in their descendants, the Bedouins, an untamable race of savages, whose delight is in robbery and plunder. 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. 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. Updates? 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. It is sad that they did not take advantage of their time of grace. ). Saul's act of extermination was not absolute, for he spared the best of the sheep and cattle setting aside part for a sacrifice to God and Agag, king of Amalek. Enduring Word Bible Commentary 1 Samuel Chapter 15 [48], In addition, many rabbinic authorities ruled that the commandment only applies to a Jewish king or an organized community, and cannot be performed by an individual. 13:21) and the kings of ana in Mari, whose main function may have been a military one. 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. Were the previous Israelites living in Samaria called Samarians too? Perhaps the author merely wishes to define the normal range of the nomadic Amalekites in the time of Saul. Amalek (/mlk/;[1] Hebrew: , 'mlq, Arabic: 'Amlq) was a nation described in the Hebrew Bible as a staunch enemy of the Israelites. [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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. R. 26:3). 1 Samuel 15 Easy-to-Read Version Saul Destroys the Amalekites 15 One day Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. Rabin (19602), 176; Jos., Ant., 3:40). c. Moses builds and altar. The flood did not just destroy rebellious adult men and women it killed everything and everyone not in the ark. 8:5, 12; cf. Deut 34:3). It only takes a minute to sign up. Why did God want to destroy the Amalekites? Their final defeat occurred in the time of Hezekiah. First God must prepare a renewed humanity, and only then can there be a restored cosmos. They were the first nation to attack the Israelites when they left Egypt ( Exodus 17:8; Numbers 14:45 ). vs06 I edited your question, feel free to revert to original or edit further as you wish. When righteous human beings exercise dominion everything they touch is blessed. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? (19) Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek. 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. 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.". The district over which they ranged was south of Judah and probably extended into northern Arabia. The line of promise thus becomes the locus of blessing and cursing in the world. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He was born to Eliphaz by his concubine Timna (Gen 36:12) was one of the tribal chiefs (, H477) of Edom (Gen 36:16, 17). The command imposed on Saul to subject the Amalekites to the ban (erem), however, conforms to the version in Deuteronomy. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. (1871). If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 2 Kings 17:24 KJV. Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? They Amalekites ranged fairly widely, having originated as one of the Edomite tribes. 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. Where did the Amalekites come from? - TimesMojo [58], "Amalekites" redirects here. Further, in their song (Judg 5:14) Deborah (who was from Ephraim, 4:5) and Barak speak of how Ephraim had shown strength in rooting out those of the Amalekites who were in its midst (cf. They persisted and progressed in sin and wickedness. The Edomites themselves survived beyond the time of Jesus. Agag - Wikipedia and Gr. In 1 Samuel 13 and 1 Samuel 15, for which act of Saul's disobedience did God take away the kingdom? 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. The "Amalekites" Are Alive and Well on Planet Earth Today! The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Because of Sauls failure to wipe out the Amalekites, they continued to harass and plunder the Israelites over hundreds of years.
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