Sanctification, being set apart to Christ, choosing to love and obey Him over self is the primary battle of the believer, from the moment Jesus saves him, as hes on his way to the promise land of eternal glory (Romans 6-8, etc.). Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Victory over the Amalekites. The word Amalek appears in the Old Testament, specifically in Exodus 17:8-16.In this passage, God tells Moses to take revenge on the Amalekites for attacking the Israelites while they were traveling through the wilderness. 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. This demonic force was said to have afflicted the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert, and it continues to attack Gods people today.The spirit of Amalek is characterized by its hatred of God and His people. One kind is They were spared because they had "showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt." David, in his answer to Achish, links the Kenites with the inhabitants of the South of Judah ( 1 Samuel 27:10 ). By committing to faith and righteousness, victory is achievable. 3 With cunning they conspire against Your people; they plot against those You cherish. When They said one to another: Let But instead, they chose to fight against Gods chosen people (Numbers 14:39-45). Why did God say again and again that there would always be war with the Amalekites? Repentance, The cross! Why did God hate them so much? The people's name Amalekite is initially mentioned in the story of the War of Four Against Five Kings (Genesis 14:7). So the human flesh is at enmity with GOD. Moses appointed Joshua to lead the Israelite army not because of his own weakness or advanced years but because he wished "to train Joshua in warfare" (Mekhilta, 179; Ex. * The spirits of the Amalekites are the spirits of the ancestors. there has been and will be no war like that, nor can even the war of Gog and Magog be The Amalekites were known for their ferocity and brutality, and they continued to be a thorn in Israels side throughout their history. Moses wage war or crush the enemy? and sweet water to drink, and yet they complained! Cain. However, when considering the Torah's own recounting of the Amalekite attack on the Israelites in the book of Deuteronomy, we find that one of the defining characteristics of Amalek's wickedness is, curiously, the very happenstance nature of its encounter with Israel: 5. Amalekites A people inhabiting the country south of idumea and east of the red sea. of the Holy One, blessed be He. I could wish you were cold or hot. According to the biblical account, the war began as a result of a divine command of the Lord to Saul through Samuel to smite Amalek and destroy it, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" (I Sam. 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." In 1 Samuel 15, we see that God commanded Saul to exterminate the Amalekites, but he disobeyed and spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. 2 See how Your foes rear their heads. Among these traditions we find that Amalekites attacked the Israelites in a pitched battle at Rephidim, which, to judge by the Bible (Ex. For "the enemy comes only on account of sin and transgression" (ibid.). Do you need a new Bible or Christian Gifts? The flesh never gets converted, and never becomes holy in itself. On the other hand, Gen. xiv. [9] After warning Israel's allies, the Kenites, to leave the area (v. 6), Saul attacks, and deals Amalek a crushing blow: When the Hebrew people doubt 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." v, 11), Amalek was one of the sons of Eliphaz and a grandson of Esau ( Gen 36:15, 16; 1 Chron 1:36 ). R. 26:3). Amalek's power is traced directly to the serpent, the master of planting Second, God inhabits the praises of His people and the spirit of dread and fear cannot stay in that environment. Now Joshua, the youth, had God had told King Saul to destroy the Amalekites centuries earlier ( 1 Samuel 15:3 ), but Saul failed to obey the command. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of Canaan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Jewish Literacy. He chose sin instead of the Savior. 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). In the book of Numbers, God commands Moses to lead the Israelites in a battle against the Amalekites. Numbers 13:29. universe; but when Israel is found to be unworthy she weakens My power above, and the word for "doubt" (safek) are the same. A modern teacher/author ties this all together as follows: When the Beit HaMikdash was eventually constructed on the holy war above, and thou, Joshua, prepare thyself for the war below. This is the meaning The three sins of idolatry, murder and unchastity are those for 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. 25:1219), for in the early days "the wars of Israel" and the "wars of the Lord" were synonymous expressions (cf., e.g., Judg. attaches himself to that sore evil, and he will be punished both in this world temple: Talmud, Yoma 9b - Why was the first Sanctuary 2008 The Gale Group. The Amalekites (the flesh, Satan) were the first to attack Israel as they departed from the world/Egypt (salvation) toward the promise land (sanctification, ultimately eternal glory). We need to realize the tiredness Moses felt was not just a natural tiredness. the cause of the "three great sins" -- idolatry, murder and unchastity (sexual The following truth unveils the nature of these wicked personalities and they are planted in every homes and families. Were there not many tribes, The Holy One, as it were, said: when Israel is worthy below My power prevails in the by Chaim Kramer April 10, 2022. Pronunciation of Amalekites with 3 audio pronunciations. XXIV, 18); whilst the other nations were filled with fear and When the Israelites are worthy, then they dismiss these evil powers, and they v. 16 the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.. Amalek is a son of Esau's first-born son Eliphaz and of the concubine Timna, the daughter of Seir, the Horite, and sister of Lotan (Gen. xxxvi. In 1834, a ruthless and unrelenting campaign was begun against Reb Noson to prevent. Joshua wasted or convincingly defeated the flesh and Satan, represented in the name Amalek! " 4 Amalek is directly associated with Samael, the archangel of evil. v, 12), that is to say, weighty, honourable, holy hands, that had never Said the Holy One, blessed be He: Ye said, is the We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter. Exo 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. You find that as soon as they said, Is the Similar names: Anem Araunah Arnon Elzabad Huzoth Jagur Jattir Jazeel Kallai Maaz Matred Merodach Nason Nephusim Nimshi. true meaning of his Master's command. 8). Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. complaints and demands, saying, I want this, and I do not want that, he Amalek is stirring up hatred. In the oracle of Balaam, Amalek was called the 'first of the . The Israelites were victorious in this battle, but the Amalekites continued to be a thorn in their side throughout their time in the wilderness. Your email address will not be published. Instead, David had him put to death for killing Gods anointed king. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob Matthew 1:1-2. JULY 13, 2021 Exodus 17:14-16 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.". The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe that inhabited the southern part of Canaan. 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. Not so; only the text signifies that so long as Israel from the side of the serpent; another from the side of the Gentiles, who are compared to Submit yourselves therefore to God. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Romans 9:13, Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16. 17:6, 7, 816; 18:5), is in the neighborhood of Horeb; if the locality Massah and Meribah (17:7) is to be found in the region of Kadesh-Barnea or is identical with it (Num. What is the Spiritual Meaning of a Mourning Dove? ever.. As his epithet Agagite indicates, Haman was a . XVII, 13). XIV, 12). The Amalekites, throughout their history, were aggressive to the Israelites. Genesis 36 refers to the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, as . 47:19). 2) the first targets of their warfare were the sick, aged, and tired of Israel who lagged behind the line of march (Deut. turned their thoughts above and subjected their hearts to their father in heaven they Amalekites are presented as descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau. "Amalek came and battled Israel in Rephidim." (Exodus 17:8) "G-d maintains a war against Amalek, from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:15) The first Chassidic discourse by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (after the passing of his father the 5th Rebbe in 1920 in Rostov, during the Russian Communist Revolution) was on the verse "Amalek is the first among the nations, and in the . Grounded daily in the Word. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of Canaan, between Egypt and Edom. fighting the first battle which God Himself commanded? The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. Amalek is the father of the Amalekites. 39 proper name, of a people Amalek (on see Lag BN 162 Ba NB 160); ancient people Numbers 24:20 (twice in verse), south of Canaan in Negeb Numbers 13:29 (all J E), fierce and war-like Bedawin (compare GASm Geogr. It was an unprovoked and cowardly attack upon a tired and weary people, just liberated from slavery, on the way to their homeland. The spiritual meaning of Amalekites is a reminder to remain committed to the one true God, in the face of any opposition. 8:5, 12; cf. Amalek as having no regard for God whatsoever: Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2,Page 65a - And First they were cruel. Therefore his latter end shall be that he perish for there in Israel no greater warriors than Joshua? Those who lag behind in the service of the Lord thus separating themselves from Christians who are on the march, will find that this enemy Amalek will make inroads in their souls and lives. Studylight.org, What Happened when Moses Held Up His Hand? The idea of "doubt" being a critical sin was actually brought Yerusshlayim (Jerusalem) 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). In commemoration of the victory, Moses built an altar which he called "YHWH-Nissi," and proclaimed that "The Eternal will be at war against Amalek throughout the ages." Often used in the plural. Typology: Whats the first attack we encounter after being saved? Worship Him! XX, 8); it was they Amalek is the power of darkness and evil in our world. The reason was that Moses in his wisdom That they were of obscure origin is . This gives us a clue as to what their spiritual meaning may be.The Amalekites represent those things in our lives that are unclean and unwanted. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.". XXXIII, 11)? We begin with a short citation from the Midrash on Numbers: Midrash Rabbah - Numbers XIX:20 - The Amalekites Amalek is described as the "chief of Amalek" among the "chiefs of the sons of Esau", from which it is surmised that he ruled a clan or territory named after him. When it comes to the spirit of Amalek, there are a few things that every Christian should know. Very difficult. This war were afraid; trembling took hold of the inhabitants of Pelesheth (Ex. Infamy notwithstanding, its roots are not so easily decipherable. They are a people who generations of interpreters have charged with moral turpitude, a filthy and disgusting people. Required fields are marked *. As such we prayerfully rely on the support of our readers/listeners. What does the mitzvah to destroy Amalek mean? For this Esau was the older brother of Jacob (who became Israel). English translation by Avi Weinstein, Altamira Press, London, 1994, p. 320. Jewish study became lax, they were in danger. 3) The Amalekites refused to repent even after repeated chances from God. In Genesis 36:12, the Torah introduces Amalek: Now Timna was concubine to Elifaz, son of Esav, and she bore Amalek to Elifaz. Moderate. against him and prevail, and therefore he said unto him: go and fight against Amalek being the state of mindset - which turns the people who are supposed to be united, into fault finders, gossipers, nagging characteristics etc, towards their own protocol of leadership or leadership structure. And Joshua discomfited (wasted!) And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, "Because the Lord has . xv, 14); in spheres (Exodus 17:14-16) for as long as Amalek is around, spewing his venom, the By his sin, Esau forfeited the birthright to his brother Jacob. They were first mentioned in the Bible in relation to their attack on the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Exodus 17:8-16). He is Holy, holy, holy. (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. We can now make the following contrasts and comparisons: Thus "doubt," caused by lack of Torah study, is a tactic used refers to the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, as Amalekites (verses 12 and 16).. They are considered to be descended from an ancestry Amalek. Lord in our midst or not? Behold, I will deliver you to the dog!, and it was launched against all the attributes of the Holy One, blessed be He. AND MOSES Canaanite came down (ib. desert. The command imposed on Saul to subject the Amalekites to the ban (erem), however, conforms to the version in Deuteronomy. In the Hebrew Bible, the spirit of Amalek is a demonic force that represents evil and destruction. Indeed the name Amalek ( ) begins with the letter Ayin (symbolizing the eye) and equals 240 in gematria -- the same value for safek ( ), meaning "doubt," and for rahm ( ), meaning "haughty." It is, however, a problem that is resource-dependent. 6. fright gripped them." 15:3). AND THEY TOOK A STONE AND PUT IT UNDER caused the two tablets of the Law to be broken. of Messiah: Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 25b - But They were known for their brutality and for being a constant thorn in the side of the Israelites. Said R. Simeon: Let us not think lightly of this war with Amalek. I, 16), and according to tradition he was called Kenite because he originated from The Amalekites hold an exceptional place in the Old Testament. poison-god). 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. Amalek the wicked comes from the power of the primordial When Amalek attacked the Israelites, their desire was to steal the wealth that they had gotten from Egypt as payment for centuries of slavery ( Ex. He was born to Eliphaz by his concubine Timna ( Gen 36:12) was one of the tribal chiefs . Warfare in the Old Testament was a very cruel thing in our modern eyes, even when Israel fought. The LORD will love us into hell if we choose to become and remain separated from Him in sin. The Amalekites were a biblical people and enemy of the Israelites. We later learn (Genesis 36:22) that Timna was the sister of Lotan who was a chieftain of the land of Seir where Esav went to live. The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of the land of Canaan. His disobedience led to the loss of his kingdom and, in Esther's time . After the victories of Saul and David the Amalekites ceased to be a factor of any influence in the border regions of Judah and the Negev, just as the Midianites had after the war of Gideon. But as soon as Jewish study became lax, they were in danger. He was outside the family of GOD, and no effort was ever made to bring him into the family of GOD. 25:17). 47:19), then this battle was waged in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Concerning such a case, King Solomon said: There is a sore (, study of Torah is the antidote to this doubt. reached at that time a high degree of spiritual perception, not, indeed, as high as Moses, 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.). In the Hebrew Bible, the Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of Canaan. Who does the Amalek target most? In the Book of Deuteronomy (25, 19) it is a commandment incumbent upon the people Israel to wipe out the memory of Amalek - "you shall wipe out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven . Also, the sword here represents the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). He is the cause of all unchastity Characteristics Of Amalekites The Amalekites were nomadic people who inhabited the southern part of Canaan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Exodus 17:14 (c) Amalek was to be kept in subjection by Israel, and this is a type of our flesh which is to be kept in subjection by the people of GOD. As a result of his disobedience, Saul loses Gods favor and is eventually replaced by David as king of Israel.Throughout Scripture, then, we see that Amalek represents those who oppose God and His people. The spirit of the Jebusite represents a spirit that puts people down, humiliate them or makes them feel small. The Amalekites are a people mentioned a number of times in the Hebrew Bible. Amalek's philosophy negates the concept that there is a purpose to humanity or to creation itself-again the antithesis of Jewish philosophy. So, the Amalekites were somehow related to, but distinct from, the Edomites. Torah: The Torah says: "Amalek battled Israel in (a place called) 3942); it seems most likely that the reference is to the western Negev, where the Amalekites roamed from early times. We need to pray for strength and courage as we face this adversary. world as long as God's holiness is not completely manifest. Lev. The . was equipped with weapons prepared by his Mother (the Shekinah) for the battle 30:14). Amalek! The Hittite spirit wants to entrap you mentally. 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. 31:8; Judg. of R. Simeon b. Jehozadak: By a majority vote, it was resolved in the upper chambers of is the evil serpent, the strange god. However, the meaning of Amalek in the Bible is actually much more significant. commanded: Transgress and suffer not death he may transgress and not suffer Amalek's father is the father of all lies and liars. The greatness of Amalek's power is seen in this commentary on Israel's In other cases, it is permitted to sin if 2:55), the Amalekites did not deviate from their desert nomadic character until they ceased to exist. 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. 6. generation to generation) mean? The proposed identification of the Amalekites with the Amaw or the Shasu of Egyptian sources is untenable. Gods people were being destroyed by Amalek. It is as if we walk along a path, and wherever we can fall or deviate from it, thorns appear and send us a "Keep away!" warning signal. Amalek the oath was taken that the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation Thousands reached daily, worldwide 24/7/365. Why did Moses abstain from This brings us to the particular situation of the Amalekites. When Israel was on the Exodus from Egypt, they just trudged along in one huge group. Moments with Our Master 365 Day Devotional [book], Grow in Christ Edification Pack Special [books], 40 Bible Verses Every Disciple MUST Know! As a son of the promised child Isaac (type of Christ), Esau chose rebellion instead of righteousness, the temporal fix instead of eternal favor. [Book], Cross Triple Package 20% Discount [BOOKS], Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us [book]. There are no well-defined standards for writing algorithms. There is no help for the flesh found in the Scriptures. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. Refidim" (Exodus 17:8). An ancient marauding people in the S of Canaan and the Negeb who were fierce enemies of Israel particularly in the earlier part of her history. This powerful weapon will enable us to stand firm in our faith and defeat every lie of the enemy. 24:20), had no wish to fight alone against Israel but rather, with the help of many nations (Mekhilta, ed. His hands were heavy It can change the course of their lives. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16. We must ask God to protect us from this enemy and bind its power in Jesus name. Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. of my book (Ex. Deu 25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. Amalekites were a pagan nation during the time of Moses and the Israelites, The spiritual meaning of Amalekites is a reminder to stay unyielding in faith and righteousness, God will always provide victory to those who remain faithful to Him and His teachings, It conveys the message that opposition should not sway the faithful from God. According to the Book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, Amalek (Arabic,,Hebrew: , Modern Amalek Tiberian mlq) was the son of Eliphaz and the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12; 1 Chr. The Hebrew root is "amal" which means: to toil; wearing effect; pain; wickedness; sorrow; wearisome; trouble; mischief; etc. (See Revelation 9:21 which adds "theft" to these others.). This implies that Israel is commanded to wage a holy war of extermination against Amalek (Deut. What is the spiritual meaning of seeing a kingfisher? Because he was able to divine the Though there have been other societies with . XIV, 4), Then the Amalakite and the They are relentless in their opposition and will not give up easily. etc. What is the Spiritual Meaning of a Circles? From http://www.aish.com/purimthemes/purimthemesdefault/Haman_Heir_to_Amalek.asp. Finally, we need to proclaim victory over this enemy in Jesus name! When it comes to spiritual warfare, there is no enemy more fierce or determined than the spirit of Amalek. mountain, symbolizing the possibility of human connection with God and holiness, its 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. ass) are united, the inhabitants of the world cannot stand up against them. God, Amalek strikes. Difficult. been defiled, hands worthy to wage the war above. doers" of the Torah is of Amalek and the anti-Messiah. (1) The Biblically mandated vendetta against the nation of Amalek is well known to all religious Jews, enshrined as it is in a variety of rituals designed to keep its memory alive. In his fourth sermon, the prophet Balaam, declares Amalek the founder of the "first nation," although it isn't clear if the son of Esau is meant, or rather the . It is the spirit that inhabits those who lack the fear of God. Deuteronomy 25:17(c) Here again Amalek is represented as a type of Satan and of the flesh, both of which attack GODs people, especially when they are weak, weary and sick. straightway came Amalek. R. Judah said: It is written, Amalek is the Amalek, "the first of the nations" (Num. in the study of the Torah, as we have explained on another occasion. AND MOSES SAID region called Youth (=Metatron).