what was the sin of the amalekites

next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young 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. 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. 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. 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). Based on the information in 1 Samuel 15:4-9, God instructs Saul to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy them; men, women, children, infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys. people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! The Apostle Paul said: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV). Amalek is described as the "chief of Amalek" among the "chiefs of the sons of Esau," from which it is assumed that he ruled a clan or territory named after him . 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. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Answer The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. b. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. They were nomadic and moved around. - Amalek & Israel - Land & People - The Amalekites & the Kenites - In the Aggadah. [56]John Gill also describes the cherem as an example of the law of retaliation being carried out. For "the enemy comes only on account of sin and transgression" (ibid.). Four key events at Rephidim: a. Israel complains about water, but Moses strikes the rock 5 days later at Mt. The Amalekites, throughout their history, were aggressive to the Israelites. The Amalekites are one of the peoples dwelling in the southern part of Canaan. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. When those privileged to enter the eternal kingdom express surprise over the grace being shown to them, Jesus says: Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:40 ESV). From the scanty information in I Samuel 15, it may be concluded that Saul achieved victory over the Amalekites and advanced all the way to their headquarters, "the city of Amalek." According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. 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. Why did God tell Saul to destroy the Amalekites? What risks are you taking when "signing in with Google"? (Gen. 25:18). 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). Israel rebelled. men, who rode upon camels and fled. Who a person is toward the line of promise is who that person is before God. And David recovered all that the Maybe the name stuck to the new people group even if they had no direct blood ties to Amalek. [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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Where did the Israelites go after leaving Rephidim? vs06 I edited your question, feel free to revert to original or edit further as you wish. In Genesis 12 God entered into covenant with the family of Abraham. --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. 14:48). Haman was "the son of Hammedatha the Agagite" ( Esther 3:1 ), probably directly descended from the Amalekite king Samuel killed. ", "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. In Leviticus 27:32, a rod was used by the priests to count the tithe. In Jewish folklore, the Amalekites are considered to be the symbol of evil. (Some scholars (Edeleman in Bibliography) have argued that there was a northern Amalekite enclave adjoining Ephraimite territory.) The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. There seems to be a contradiction is scriptures. In Judaism, the Amalekites came to represent the archetypal enemy of the Jews. During the Purim festival, the Book of Esther is read in the commemoration of the saving of the Jewish people from Haman who plotted to kill all Jews in Persian Empire. Please, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. 2 The Lord All-Powerful says: 'When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Amalekites tried to stop them from going to Canaan. Here we have an example of not the extermination of the Northern Ten Tribes but exiling them and replacing them with other people groups. 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. The Defeat of Amalek. b. Amalekites attack. It does not store any personal data. The Amalekites. A summary of Davids conquests of Amalek is given in 2 Samuel 8:12 and 1 Chronicles 18:11. The command itself leaves little room for compassion or mercy: 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. Horovitz and I.A. Id say yes, if I had to guess. It is customary for the audience to make noise and shout whenever "Haman" is mentioned, in order to desecrate his name, based on Exodus 17:14. Start for FREE. 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 . 22:22)? There is no further Biblical reference. The Lord arrests him on the side of the road and says: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? (Acts 9:4 ESV). In particular, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin have defended a literal reading of these passages at length. The king attacked and conquered this foe with their city called Amalek (1 Sam 15:4-7) the exact location of which is not known. New International Version (NIV). Their final defeat occurred in the time of Hezekiah. Counting and finding real solutions of an equation, tar command with and without --absolute-names option. 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. Shur is on the edge of Egypt; Havilah is in Saudi Arabia. The rabbis derived these from Deuteronomy 25:1718, Exodus 17:14 and 1 Samuel 15:3. [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. In no case did the Amalekites as a whole suffer decisive defeat at this time and their center in the Negev was not harmed. Who were the Amalekites? 47:19). According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. Updates? Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. by H.S. These verses relate that some of the Simeonites went to Mt. Only if they refuse must they be physically killed. 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." 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.It was an unprovoked and cowardly attack upon a tired and weary people, just liberated from slavery, on the way to their homeland. 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. What happens at the Split Rock of Rephidim? In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [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. This principle is transposed by Jesus into a New Covenant key in the parable or metaphor of the sheep and the goats. 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. Deuteronomy explicitly admonishes the Israelites to remember Amalek and blot out its memory from under heaven, whereas in the Exodus version this can only be inferred (see above). The Amalekites are not listed in the table of nations in Genesis 10, as they did not originate until after Esau's time. 3:1213). a. Within this period of the Judges the Amalekites were associated with the Moabites, Ammonites, and Midianites in their marauding activities. What would outsiders refer to them as? The word baca means balsam but is also the Hebrew verb for weep. (The balsam tree weeps its resin.) 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). Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! We are living in the part of the story wherein the opportunity to be on the right side of this process is being extended to all people, everywhere. Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? 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. 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). 25:19 Wipe out the descendants of Amalek The Amorites' sin had not escaped God's notice. The Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia. 14:45). 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!" This is perhaps the most widely ignored command in the Bible. Seir means Edom, in light of the fact that the concept "Seir" may be applied to a variety of regions (e.g., Josh. That is the danger of dominion. Some commentators explain this as a reference to the territory which was later on inhabited by the Amalekites. More metaphorically, to some Hasidic rabbis (particularly the Baal Shem Tov), Amalek represents atheism or the rejection of God. 13:13 ff. 30:17,18 ASV). 30:14). the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [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. So why did God command the absolute destruction of the Amalekites men, women, children and cattle instead of sparing them as he did in the case of the Ninevites? They did this for no reasons except violence and greed. More closely historical than the Pentateuch's accounts of Amalek are the traditions set in the period of the Judges and the monarchy. The district over which they ranged was south of Judah and probably extended into northern Arabia. Did God permit David to marry numerous wives in 2 Samuel 12:8? 15:5). To touch the people of God is to touch God. 7 Where did the Israelites go after leaving Rephidim? This brought a curse of ultimate annihilation from Moses (Ex 17:14-16, Deut 25:19) and Balaam (Num 24:20). 23:7 -- "You shall not abhor an Edomite for he is your brother.". If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? God also gave each an opportunity to repent before He judged them. Where does the word Rephidim appear in the Bible? These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. In Jewish history the Amalekitesa tribe with genocidal intentions against God's peoplecame to symbolize all those who sought to eradicate the Jewish people, from Titus to Hadrian, Khmelnitsky to Hitler. The Amalekites committed a terrible sin against Israel. Agag (/ e /; Hebrew: gg) is a Northwest Semitic name or title applied to a biblical king.It has been suggested that "Agag" was a dynastic name of the kings of Amalek, just as Pharaoh was used as a dynastic name for the ancient Egyptians. 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). That is possible but we do not have any documentation. The King (and presumably many senior officials) survived and many others did as well. It is a reminder that those who harass and abuse the people of God invite the curse of God. also Judg 10:12). The RSV in Judges 5:14 wrongly changes the words in Amalek to into the valley, although that v. indicates in a footnote that the Heb. Moreover, the attack of the Amalekites upon the Israelites encouraged others. 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). This was because Haman was considered to be an Amalekite although this label is more likely to be symbolic rather than literal.[37][38][39]. 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. Ibn-Arabshh purported that Amalek was a descendant of Ham, son of Noah. Territory. When the Israelites traveled into Canaan, they discovered the Amalekites, who inhabited the northern Sinai Peninsula and the Negev. [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. The decisive clash between Israel and Amalek came only with the advent of the monarchy, in the famous Amalekite war of Saul. And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the Thus, in 1 Samuel 15:3, it was considered necessary to destroy the livestock in order to destroy 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. Despite the title "king" the Amalekites were not a nation with fixed borders and a centralized administrative structure. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:1920 ESV). Together with the Ammonites, they joined Moab against Israel and were among those who captured "the city of palms" apparently Jericho or the pasture lands of Jericho (Judg. Pharoah took Abrahams wife Sarah for his own. In Genesis 1 we are told: Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. 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.[3]. People are free to rebel, if they choose, but the consequence of such rebellion will be death. The new inhabitants are now referred to as Samarians. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. [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. What does the word Baca mean in the Bible? The royal line of the Kings is what led to Haman. The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. [3] 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. 24:18, 20). It was only the Amalekite army who were destroyed (apart from King Agag). The Hebrew word used in 1 Samuel 15:7 has the same meaning as in 1 Samuel 15:4 (and 15:20). 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. Schreiber, Mordecai (ed.). He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the . 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. [12] They appear to have lived a nomadic or seminomadic lifestyle along the fringes of southern Canaan's agricultural zone. An Amalekite is a name for a member of the Amalekite nation. Thus, in 1 Samuel 15:3, it was considered necessary to destroy the livestock in order to destroy Amalek.

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