However, in 1 Samuel 15:2 this people were still flourishing. (Genesis 12:17 ESV). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 47:19). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This is borne out by Judges 12:15 where the area of Ephraim around the town Pirathon (not far from present-day Nablus) is called the hill country of the Amalekites. See 1 Samuel 27:5-7 and 30:1 for the fact that Amalek raided Philistine towns like Ziklag (a few m. N of Beersheba) which Achish, king of Gath, had given to David. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto 13:21) and the kings of ana in Mari, whose main function may have been a military one. 1998. 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." Some commentators explain this as a reference to the territory which was later on inhabited by the Amalekites. [25] Some Muslim historians claimed that the Amalekites who fought Joshua were descendants of the inhabitants of North Africa. Israel rebelled. 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. The new inhabitants are now referred to as Samarians. They were the first nation to attack the Israelites when they left Egypt ( Exodus 17:8; Numbers 14:45 ). This verse records the words of God through the prophet Samuel to Saul, "Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. It shows that Saul's claim that he had destroyed all the Amalekites was quote false and hollow. So Saul puts together an army of two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. It is difficult to imagine that Mt. If hypothetically Paris were to be invaded and all the Parisians were killed, but Paris infrastructure was still usable, would it be too much to consider another group of people move in? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Perhaps the author merely wishes to define the normal range of the nomadic Amalekites in the time of Saul. As David Firth argues, this was probably "only one encampment was attacked, it would explain why Amalek continued to pose problem later" (1 & 2 Samuel, Downers Grove, IL/Nottingham, UK: InterVarsity/Apollos, 2009). During the reign of King Hezekiah, a group of Simeonites killed the remaining Amalekites who had been living in the hill country of Seir (1 Chronicles 4:4243). read in Amalek. Judges 6:3, 33; 7:12 depict the Amalekites joining forces with the Midianites (who seem to have wandered in the area of Sinai [Exod 4:19] and wilderness E of Paran [1 Kings 11:18]; and also in the territory E of Gilead [Judg 8:4-12]), and making camel raids against the agriculture communities of Israel as far S as Gaza (6:3, 4). [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". The place lies in the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai. ; LXX ) to Amalekite (), to try to make agreement with 1 Samuel 15:6, since the connection of the Kenites in these two passages is clear and evidence for changing the text is lacking. In Numbers 24:20 Balaam prophesied, Amalek was the first of the nations, but in the end he shall come to destruction. This reference does not suggest that the early Genesis 14:7 reference to Amalek is in conflict with the Genesis 36:16 statement regarding Amalek, the grandson of Esau. ", "ISIS a Reenactment of Biblical War Between Israel and the Amalekites, Military Analysts Say", "Unmasking Purim, Fighting Amalek: Behind the whimsy of this holiday lie some deep lessons for living", "Esther 3 Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges", "Ethical Criticism of the Bible: The Case of Divinely Mandated Genocide", "Religion, nationalism and genocide: ancient Judaism revisited", "1 Samuel 15: Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers", "Metaphysical Hatred and Sacred Genocide: The Questionable Role of Amalek in Biblical Literature", Amalek, Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Remember Amalek: A lesson in Divine Providence, Latznu: Popular Culture and the Disciples of Amalek, Antiquities of the Jews - by Josephus Flavius, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amalek&oldid=1149600431, This page was last edited on 13 April 2023, at 07:21. To touch the people of God is to touch God. R. 26:3). b. Amalekites attack. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Perhaps, the statement where Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur is hyperbolical. 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. 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. He said: I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? 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 we do have is historical documentation that shows that some Amalekites lived well beyond the time of Saul. Both Joshua and Moses are a prophetic picture of Yeshua the Messiah. Joshua's Hebrew name is Yehoshua, which is the long version of the name Yeshua or Joshua in English. Eynei Kol ai, 73, on Sanhedrin 96b. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer. The Amalekites, throughout their history, were aggressive to the Israelites. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. In doing so he created a line of promise and blessing that was intended to encompass all the people in the world. [26] However, the modern biblical scholar David Freedman uses textual analysis to glean that the use of Amalekite in Genesis 14:7 is actually an anachronism,[13] and in the early 19th century, Richard Watson enumerated several speculative reasons for having a "more ancient Amalek" than Abraham. 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. God also gave each an opportunity to repent before He judged 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]. All the tragedies which Israel suffered are considered the direct outcome of Amalek's hostile act (PdRK 27). identifies Amalek with Rome (Bacher, Tann, 1 (19302), 146). 1 Samuel 30:1, 2 points to the Amalekite heavy raiding activity in the area of the Negeb, and Judges 6:3, 33 in speaking of the Amalekite association with the kings of the E in their raiding parties suggests that they may have lived sometime together in the Arabian territory toward the E. The Amalekites also extended their influence farther N into the Philistine country and the region of Ephraim. --This decree was entrusted to Joshua in the first instance, as the "servant of the Book" ( Exodus 17:14 ); here it is enjoined upon the nation of Israel. 3:26) and the areas mentioned in the previous verses (I Chron. ). 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. [30][31], According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. In I Chronicles 4:4243, some obscure information has been preserved about the remnant of Amalek. God has a settled antagonism against sin. 7 Where did the Israelites go after leaving Rephidim? Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? 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. The flood scrubbed the world clean of our contagion. The Amalekites were a fierce race of nomads who inhabited the desert to the south of Judaea towards Egypt. Sauls rebellion against God was so serious that he was rejected by God as king: For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" . 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!" 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. 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. 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. 22:22)? [4] Amalek is described as the "chief of Amalek" among the "chiefs of the sons of Esau",[5] from which it is surmised that he ruled a clan or territory named after him. 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. Amalekites are presented as descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau. This seems to many to be at odds with what the Bible says about Gods compassion for human beings and animals elsewhere. That is pretty large distance of battle between Arabia and Egypt. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. The Amalekites clearly survived well after the time of Saul, despite his hollow boasts. 4 [Dec., 1969], 104-111). As enumerated by Maimonides, the three mitzvot state: 598 Deut. New International Version (NIV). Also Minchat Chinuch, parshat Ki Tetze, mitzvah 434. c. Moses builds and altar. There may be geographical significance in the listing of Amalek after Edom in the Song of Balaam (Num. Judg 12:15 and remarks earlier). There, they might blend in, or even be protected under the terms of Dt. 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. Introduction: In chapter 15, God judged first the Amalekites and then Saul. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 25:17). 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). So this explains why David would still be fighting Amalekites in his time. 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). 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? So we should probably think of Agag as an important Amalekite clan leader, not a formal king of the 'nation' of Amalek. According to 1 Samuel 14:47, 48 the king had fought against this enemy. a. 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. 34:5; Josh. 24:20), had no wish to fight alone against Israel but rather, with the help of many nations (Mekhilta, ed. Each rebelled against God and refused to repent out of pride. The Amalekites, throughout their history, were aggressive to the Israelites. This is one of the surrounding nations with which Israel has continual conflict. They were nomadic and moved around. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Human sin affects absolutely everything that it touches. (1871). men, who rode upon camels and fled. Num. First, God gave the Amalekites 400 years to repent before He judged them of . Is Glen Miller's explanation concerning why the women, children, and animals were killed in 1 Samuel 15 possible based on the text? They Amalekites ranged fairly widely, having originated as one of the Edomite tribes. Ed. Jewish Literacy. When these peoples came with considerable forces and camped in the Valley of Jezreel (6:33), Gideon and his 300 men, under the direction of the Lord, routed and killed many of them (7:19-23). Parisians maybe? [29], According to a midrash, Amalek's mother Timna was a princess who had tried to convert to Judaism but had been rejected by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. It is sad that they did not take advantage of their time of grace. Why does Acts not mention the deaths of Peter and Paul? What was the sin of the Amalekites? The commandment to kill Amalekites is not practised by contemporary Jews, based on the argument that Sennacherib deported and mixed the nations, so it is no longer possible to determine who is an Amalekite. Who a person is toward the line of promise is who that person is before God. 8:5, 12; cf. As a people, the Amalekites were identified as a recurrent enemy of the Israelites. [56]John Gill also describes the cherem as an example of the law of retaliation being carried out. In particular, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin have defended a literal reading of these passages at length. The reason for the Lords concern about disobedient Israels encountering Amalek and other enemies without His special power was that the Amalekites who dwelt in both the hill country and in the valleys of S Canaan and the Negeb, were effective fighters in both areas (Num 14:25, 44, 45). If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. It is a reminder that those who harass and abuse the people of God invite the curse of God. There seems to be a contradiction is scriptures. the Amalekites in a specific citynot on a massive geographical scale (c.f. [27], Although Egyptian and Assyrian monumental inscriptions and records of the period survive which list various tribes and peoples of the area, no reference has ever been found to Amalek or the Amalekites. When they are in right relationship with God they mediate blessings; when they are in active rebellion, they mediate corruption, chaos and death. When God in judgment withdrew His hand of blessing and ordered them to go back S into the wilderness (14:1-25), the people again disobeyed God, and with their own feeble effort attacked the Amalekites. There may have been multiple enclaves of Amalekites scattered throughout the Sinai peninsula. What was the reason for David to leave no man or women alive? balsam Maybe the name stuck to the new people group even if they had no direct blood ties to Amalek. And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the 13:29; 21:13, 434; Deut 1:44). (Gen. 25:18). Their supposed founder was one Esau's sons, namely Amalek. But does that mean the entire nation of the Amalekites was destroyed, including all the women and children? 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. @Bach The problem stands: Samuel told Saul to kill all men, women, children and animals (15:3) and yet it only says that he spared Agag and the animals (15:9) implying that he did kill all men, women and children, This is extremely FASCINATING for many reasons. The Good News of the Gospel is that because of the person and work of Jesus, all human beings may receive the free gift of God which is eternal life. This group of Amalekites was reportedly destroyed by 500 Simeonite families who had migrated to the area, "because there was pasture for their flocks." 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. 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). This principle is further illustrated in terms of Jesus response to the persecution of the church by Saul in Acts 8 and 9. [49] According to Haggahot Maimuniyyot, the commandment applies only in the future messianic era and not in present times; this limitation is almost a consensus among medieval authorities. 24:18, 20). Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. Ibn-Arabshh purported that Amalek was a descendant of Ham, son of Noah. 15:3). It will ever conflict, but need not conquer. What is meant by "the sin of the Amorites is not yet complete" in Genesis 15:16? 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. 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). In the biblical genealogical system, Amalek is the son of Esau's son Eliphaz by Eliphaz's concubine Timna (Gen. 36:12). The Amalekites were not completely destroyed by Saul, since at the end of his reign they were still raiding the Negev of the Cherethites, of Judah, and of Caleb, and the town of Ziklag, that had been assigned by King Achish of Gath to David (I Sam. We have many examples including the giant king Og. Since they were descendants of Esau, some may well have lived in Edom. What sin did the Amalekites commit? 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. All human beings stand under a sentence of death: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 ESV). b.c. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Amalekites. 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 LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Also, the text describes "king Agag and his people" as being destroyed. 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. 25:17 Remember what Amalek did to the Israelites 3 Why did God want to destroy the Amalekites? Were the previous Israelites living in Samaria called Samarians too? The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. You can also download the Into The Word app on iTunes or Google Play. This past week, Pastor Andrew discussed the fall of Saul and had to deal with 1 Samuel 15:3. The wages of sin is death Old Testament and New. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 47:19), then this battle was waged in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. How come David fought an Amalekite army that Saul has already eradicated a few years earlier? During the reign of Hezekiah, 500 Simeonites annihilated the remnant of the Amalekites, so God is not still at war with the Amalek. Those among the Amalekites who lived in the border regions maintained a relationship to the Kenites, who certainly lived near the permanent settlements (I Sam. Because of Sauls failure to wipe out the Amalekites, they continued to harass and plunder the Israelites over hundreds of years. What would make it complete?And they shall come back here in the fourth gene. 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. [13] However, it is possible that some of the fortified settlements in the Negev highlands and even Tel Masos (near Beer-sheba) have Amalek connections. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. He Was a Descendant of Amalek The Book of Esther tells us that Haman was a descendant of Amalek , a nation known for its hatred of the Jewish people. Saul spared only the best of the sheep and of the oxen, besides Agag. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. (1 Samuel 15:23 ESV). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. 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). That is possible but we do not have any documentation. and only as a remnant whom some of the Simeonites defeated at Mount Seir (i.e., Edom; Gen 32:3; 1 Chron 4:41-43). [8] He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. The Amalekites are not simply threatening a people group with their determination to wipe out Israel, but they are a threat to the salvation plan of God for all other nations. As descendants of Esau they had despised the covenant themselves and now were determined that none others could have access to what they had rejected. They did this for no reasons except violence and greed. First God must prepare a renewed humanity, and only then can there be a restored cosmos. When it says that the iniquity of the Amorites has not reached its fullness, one way of looking at it is that there was still a chance to eliminate the gene pool of the seed of the elohim. Therefore, all who are wise will forsake their sin and seek absolution through the means that he provides. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. 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. (1 Samuel 15:23 ESV). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, [1] oxen and . Who attacked Israelites? [55], Theologian Charles Ellicott explains that the Amalekites were subject to cherem in the Book of Samuel for the purposes of incapacitation, due to their 'accursed' nature and the threat they posed to the commonwealth of surrounding nations. He was rebuked by God for not doing just that. Because of this and their many other sins, God vowed to blot them out from under heaven (Ex. According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. The decisive clash between Israel and Amalek came only with the advent of the monarchy, in the famous Amalekite war of Saul. The dispute between Samuel and Saul with regard to the erem was not over the command itself, but the extent to which it had been put into effect. 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." Where was Moses holding up his arms during the Battle of Refidim? It has no lasting place in his creation. The end of the age will involve first separation, and only then, renewal and restoration. This book was written to address and resolve the 600 year disparity between Biblical history and secular ancient history. For "the enemy comes only on account of sin and transgression" (ibid.). They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. God hates it when the strong take cruel advantage over the weak, especially when the weak are His people. Where does the word Rephidim appear in the Bible? The focus of Psalm 84 is the delight of worship. Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. What does a shepherd do with his rod and staff? [57], According to Christian Hofreiter, historically almost all Christian authorities and theologians have interpreted the herem passages as referring to real, historical events when God commanded the Israelites to exterminate all the members of particular nations. Matthew George Easton advocated that the Amalekites were not descendants of Amalek by taking a literal approach to Genesis 14:7. 599 Deut. 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). An Amalekite is a name for a member of the Amalekite nation. (19) Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek. 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. . 2 Kings 17:24 KJV. This is perhaps the most widely ignored command in the Bible. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. a. 2. Amalek was one of the sons of Eliphaz and a grandson of Esau (Gen 36:15, 16; 1 Chron 1:36). The word baca means balsam but is also the Hebrew verb for weep. (The balsam tree weeps its resin.) Human beings have a special dignity and status relative to God and the rest of his creation. The Gospel is going forth to all nations and when it has done, then the end will come. During the period of the Judges, the Amalekites participated with other nations in attacks on the Israelite tribes. Next, the Amalekite who claimed he had finished killing Saul (cf. 12:15), but serves to indicate the warlike nature of Ephraim, beside Benjamin. 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.
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