Saul Defeats the Amalekites but Spares Their King. All Rights Reserved Bridger, David. From this chapter, God reveals sevens lessons about His judgment. They were the first nation to attack the Israelites when they left Egypt ( Exodus 17:8; Numbers 14:45 ). God has a settled antagonism against sin. They were created to be his vice regents over all creation. [10] First-century Roman-Jewish scholar and historian Flavius Josephus refers to Amalek as a 'bastard' () in a derogatory sense. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, [1] oxen and . 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. in "hill country of Seir." 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. First God must prepare a renewed humanity, and only then can there be a restored cosmos. It was only the Amalekite army who were destroyed (apart from King Agag). What risks are you taking when "signing in with Google"? ", "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. d. In the time of David. For this sin, God damned the Amalekites, commanding the Jews to wage a holy war to exterminate them. God saved the Jews in Persia, however, and Haman, his sons, and the rest of Israels enemies were destroyed instead (Esther 9:510). The royal line of the Kings is what led to Haman. 5:14). Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Saul disobeyed God by not killing _____, the King of the Amalekites., Saul also disobeyed God by not killing all of the _____, but instead keeping the best sheep and oxen for an offering., A(n) _____ is an ancient Hebrew dry measure (twenty-one quarts). 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. [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. 15:5). So Saul puts together an army of two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. Their final defeat occurred in the time of Hezekiah. c. Moses builds and altar. According to the Bible, Amalek was the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. [Genesis 36:12], Regarding Samuel's destruction of them, a casual reading can lead to the assumption that one big battle was described. 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. 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. This put the line of promise in immediate danger: But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abrams wife. In Genesis 2:15-17 we are told: The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives. 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). 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). Deut 34:3). Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. 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 - Jewish Virtual Library Gods command to utterly and entirely destroy the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15 has been a cause of stumbling for many Bible readers over the years. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Well, the city of Amalek (gotta attack the headquarters first before you plan a society's collapse) was located within the Havilah-Shur region. Therefore, all who are wise will forsake their sin and seek absolution through the means that he provides. Id say yes, if I had to guess. Updates? 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In the Book of Exodus, the Amalekites attacked the Children of Israel on their journey to the land of Israel. David pursued the Amalekites, defeated all but four hundred of them, and took back all that had been stolen ( 1 Samuel 30:17-20 ). Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. The most outstanding example is "Haman the Agagite" (Esth. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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). And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the All the tragedies which Israel suffered are considered the direct outcome of Amalek's hostile act (PdRK 27). [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. They did this for no reasons except violence and greed. During the period of the Judges, the Amalekites participated with other nations in attacks on the Israelite tribes. At this place, following the Amalekite attack, Israel defeated her enemy (Exod 17:8-16). The magnitude of the Amalekite defeat in the days of Saul is apparently reflected in the pronouncement of Balaam: "Their (i.e., Israel's) king shall rise above Agag, their kingdom shall be exalted" (Num. It shows that Saul's claim that he had destroyed all the Amalekites was quote false and hollow. An Amalekite is a name for a member of the Amalekite nation. 22:22)? On what basis are pardoning decisions made by presidents or governors when exercising their pardoning power? The matter was, therefore, a war of rescue as were the wars of the Judges, and it seems that because of its difficulty Saul vowed that in the event of success he would devote the spoil to the Lord by erem. The King (and presumably many senior officials) survived and many others did as well. More closely historical than the Pentateuch's accounts of Amalek are the traditions set in the period of the Judges and the monarchy. 1 Chronicles 4:41-43 (NASB) 41 "These, recorded by name, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and [a]attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and destroyed them utterly . 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. What should I follow, if two altimeters show different altitudes? This may indicate that Agag's military success was proverbial. The word baca means balsam but is also the Hebrew verb for weep. (The balsam tree weeps its resin.) To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Human beings exercise dominion; that is to say, they exercise influence. 8:5, 12; cf. God wont give Israel the land until it is just and appropriate to take it from the Amorites. [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. The wages of sin is death Old Testament and New. What positional accuracy (ie, arc seconds) is necessary to view Saturn, Uranus, beyond? Amalekites oppresses Israel with the help of Moab (Judges 3:12, 13), Amalekites appressed Israel with the help of Midian (Judges 6:3, 7:12). It is entirely consistent with the overall storyline and theology of the Bible. The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. In Judaism, the Amalekites came to represent the archetypal enemy of the Jews. What happened in Massah in the Bible? 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. What is meant by "the sin of the Amorites is not yet complete" in Genesis 15:16? 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.". contradiction - Is God still at war with Amalek? - Biblical 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. Saul then made a statement of repentance and obtained some public reconciliation with the prophet Samuel, following which the prophet then killed Agag, the Amalekite king (15:24-33). The Amalekites (/mlkats/[6]) were considered to be Amalek's descendants through the genealogy of Esau. In the Book of Exodus, the Amalekites attacked the Children of Israel on their journey to the land of Israel. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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). In Genesis 1 we are told: Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. amalek - Exodus of Israelites, war against Amalekite, blot them out Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Despite the title "king" the Amalekites were not a nation with fixed borders and a centralized administrative structure. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. What would outsiders refer to them as? 1 Samuel 15 ERV - Saul Destroys the Amalekites - BibleGateway Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Their final defeat occurred in the time of Hezekiah. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. 1 Samuel 15 NIV - Bible Hub 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. Otherwise, their fate, will be identical to that of the Amalekites. 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). 15:33). d. Jethro visits and watches Moses Judge the people and offers Moses advice. In no case did the Amalekites as a whole suffer decisive defeat at this time and their center in the Negev was not harmed. Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. 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. [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". 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). Saul spared only the best of the sheep and of the oxen, besides Agag. In Leviticus 27:32, a rod was used by the priests to count the tithe. The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. Answer The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. Pharoah took Abrahams wife Sarah for his own. 1 Samuel 15:15 says: And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the b. Amalekites attack. What was the sin of the Amalekites? They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. 20:114, 24; Ezek. They were nomadic and moved around. 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. Who were the Amalekites and what do they Represent to us? [podcast] 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. This demonstrates again Israels strong antipathy to Amalek. When righteous human beings exercise dominion everything they touch is blessed. It is a reminder that those who persist in sin will face the certain and awful judgment of the Lord. He was rebuked by God for not doing just that. When they are in right relationship with God they mediate blessings; when they are in active rebellion, they mediate corruption, chaos and death. Who were the Amalekites? | GotQuestions.org 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). Davids initial encounter with the Amalekites, in the OT record, took place during the time of his association with Achish, king of Gath, when the young Israelite made raids in the S against the Amalekites and others (1 Sam 27:8). 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? https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amalekites, JewishEncyclopedia.com - Amalek, Amalekites, Amalekites - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The whole creation was affected and is affected by the sin of human beings. But 1 Sam 15 reports that Saul defeated them "from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt." Territory. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 34:5; Josh. 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. next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young Access 50+ premium resources. Timna was a Horite and sister of Lotan. 6 Where was Moses holding up his arms during the Battle of Refidim? 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. Now listen to his message. [56]John Gill also describes the cherem as an example of the law of retaliation being carried out. 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. [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. 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). It is sad that they did not take advantage of their time of grace. 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. They were among the nomadic raiders defeated by Gideon and were condemned to annihilation by Samuel. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Surely, there were Amalekites who lived beyond this region. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. [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]. Shengold Books. This is one of the surrounding nations with which Israel has continual conflict. 31:8; Judg. 24:7). 7 Where did the Israelites go after leaving Rephidim? They Amalekites ranged fairly widely, having originated as one of the Edomite tribes. The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. It is related that when Samuel put Agag to death he said "As your sword has bereaved women, so shall your mother be the most bereaved of women" (I Sam. resting places. Exod 17:8; Num 14:45). Where was Moses holding up his arms during the Battle of Refidim? The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It was the Amalekites who raided David's city of Ziklag, stealing away his family and possessions ( 1 Samuel 30:1-3 ). Can we reconcile with our eternal sworn enemies? 47:19), then this battle was waged in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Perhaps the author merely wishes to define the normal range of the nomadic Amalekites in the time of Saul. This is the inner logic that explains the sequence of redemption. 1998. 8, 9). The end of the age will involve first separation, and only then, renewal and restoration. Human sin affects absolutely everything that it touches. 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. They were completely defeated and chased as far as Hormah (near Arad and Ziklag) (Num 14:39-45; Josh 12:14; 15:30). AMALEK m lk, AMALEKITES m l k ts (, ; Gr , ). During the reign of Hezekiah, 500 Simeonites annihilated the remnant of the Amalekites, so God is not still at war with the Amalek. The answer is NO. Five centuries later, as recorded in the story of Esther, an evil man named Haman plotted genocide against the Jews in Persia during the reign of Xerxes. It is a reminder that wickedness is a cancer that must be removed before the renewal and restoration of all things. The Amalekites persisted in their sin . Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. @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. Amalek, a son of Esau's son Eliphaz, was presumably the eponymous ancestor of the Amalekites. Because of this and their many other sins, God vowed to blot them out from under heaven (Ex. (Gen. 25:18). [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. 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. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. One of the descendants is the Amorites. Where did the Israelites go after leaving Rephidim? Esau was the older brother of Jacob (who became Israel). Any offense against the line of promise is treated as an offense against God. 3. 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. Corrections? The Amalekites committed a terrible sin against Israel. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. How old was David when he fought Goliath? Why do you think they all lived in that city? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 3:26) and the areas mentioned in the previous verses (I Chron. The command imposed on Saul to subject the Amalekites to the ban (erem), however, conforms to the version in Deuteronomy. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". As enumerated by Maimonides, the three mitzvot state: 598 Deut. 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. Later in the time of the Judges the Amalekites showed continued harassing activity against Israel. Here we have an example of not the extermination of the Northern Ten Tribes but exiling them and replacing them with other people groups. Rabin (19602), 176; Jos., Ant., 3:40). 599 Deut. Omissions? What the Bible says about Amalekites - Bible Tools The focus of Psalm 84 is the delight of worship. In doing so he created a line of promise and blessing that was intended to encompass all the people in the world. [25] According to Samuel Cox, the Amalekites were the "first" in their hostility toward the Israelites. According to the Midrash, the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals, in order to avoid capture. 13:21) and the kings of ana in Mari, whose main function may have been a military one. The etymology is uncertain, according to John L. McKenzie (1995), while Cox (1884) suggested "High." Some believe that this Amalekite patronage of the Kenites is also mentioned in Judges 1:16, reading (in accordance with a few Septuagint manuscripts and the Latin Vulgate version) "and they settled with the Amalekite" instead of "and they settled with the people." Next, the Amalekite who claimed he had finished killing Saul (cf. Jewish Literacy. - Amalek & Israel - Land & People - The Amalekites & the Kenites - In the Aggadah Amalek and Israel 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? Eventually it found its way to Iraq where the Staff fell into the hands of the Yezidi and over time became worn. There, they might blend in, or even be protected under the terms of Dt. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. According to William Petri, Amalekites tried to prevent the Israelites from reaching the oasis. 3942); it seems most likely that the reference is to the western Negev, where the Amalekites roamed from early times. The psalm is a hymn psalm, one of the Royal psalms, praising God as the King of His people. Who attacked Israelites? 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. 25:18; Josh. 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. 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). First, God gave the Amalekites 400 years to repent before He judged them of . [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. [28] While considerable knowledge about nomadic Arabs has been recovered through archeological research, no specific artifacts or sites have been linked to Amalek with any certainty. 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.
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