Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom. At this place, following the Amalekite attack, Israel defeated her enemy (Exod 17:8-16). 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). Was David responsible for Saul's insane order to slaughter everyone in the city of Nob (1 Sam. 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 . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It is difficult to imagine that Mt. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Genesis 1:26 ESV). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Answer The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan, between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. Amalek and Israel. That means that God gave the Amalekites more than 400 years to turn from their wicked ways as compared to the 40 days that he gave to the people of Nineveh but unlike the Ninevites, the Amalekites did not repent. 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. I'd be interested if that Amalekite bloodline still survives aka Hitler etc. Their story is that they, unprovoked, attacked Israel from behind as they had just finished crossing the Red Sea, and Israel went to war with them. Similarly, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah did not just fall upon adult men and women, it fell generally upon the city as a whole men and women, boys and girls, and cattle. When they are in right relationship with God they mediate blessings; when they are in active rebellion, they mediate corruption, chaos and death. The answer is NO. 1 Sam. In the biblical genealogical system, Amalek is the son of Esau's son Eliphaz by Eliphaz's concubine Timna (Gen. 36:12). 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. All the tragedies which Israel suffered are considered the direct outcome of Amalek's hostile act (PdRK 27). people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto [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. [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". 15:15 ASV). In the Book of Exodus, the Amalekites attacked the Children of Israel on their journey to the land of Israel. 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 . The rabbis derived these from Deuteronomy 25:1718, Exodus 17:14 and 1 Samuel 15:3. Source: Did Saul lie to Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:7? Why did God want to destroy the Amalekites? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In which made it possible for Haman the Agagite [descendant of Agag] to appear (Esther 3:1); his cruel plot against the Jews could only be counteracted by another descendant of Kish, Mordecai. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. The Amalekites were a people of the Negev and adjoining desert that were a hereditary enemy of Israel from wilderness times to the early monarchy. [Genesis 36:12], Regarding Samuel's destruction of them, a casual reading can lead to the assumption that one big battle was described. Is Glen Miller's explanation concerning why the women, children, and animals were killed in 1 Samuel 15 possible based on the text? 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. by H.S. 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. 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. It is a reminder that the wages of sin is death. 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. . [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. 24:18, 20). Perhaps the author merely wishes to define the normal range of the nomadic Amalekites in the time of Saul. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 25:19 Not to forget Amalek's atrocities and ambush on our journey from Egypt in the desert, Some commentators have discussed the ethical deficiency of the commandment to exterminate all the Amalekites, especially including the command to kill children, and the presumption of collective punishment. How come David fought an Amalekite army that Saul had allegedly eradicated a few years earlier? An Amalekite is a name for a member of the Amalekite nation. It is a reminder that wickedness is a cancer that must be removed before the renewal and restoration of all things. More closely historical than the Pentateuch's accounts of Amalek are the traditions set in the period of the Judges and the monarchy. Thus, in 1 Samuel 15:3, it was considered necessary to destroy the livestock in order to destroy Amalek.[32]. The Amalekites harassed the Hebrews during their Exodus from Egypt and attacked them at Rephidim near Mount Sinai, where they were defeated by Joshua. King David fought several battles with the Amalekites (1 Sam 27:8, 30:1, 17, 18). That is pretty large distance of battle between Arabia and Egypt. 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). But 1 Sam 15 reports that Saul defeated them "from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt." 2 Kings 17:24 KJV. Pharoah took Abrahams wife Sarah for his own. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 15:6). Exodus 17 describes Israel's 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 He only attacked one city in Havilah. It is also customary to recite Deuteronomy 25:1718 (see below) on the Shabbat before Purim. So this explains why David would still be fighting Amalekites in his time. This is one of the surrounding nations with which Israel has continual conflict. Then the future king, through the help of an abandoned Egyp. AMALEK m lk, AMALEKITES m l k ts (, ; Gr , ). 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). Exod 17:8; Num 14:45). The Amalekites are a picture of the sinful desires of our flesh that consume, destroy, and exhaust us like a person trying to free themselves from the bondage of a rope."..Beloved, our flesh will always oppose us, but need not oppress us. Corrections? 25:1219), for in the early days "the wars of Israel" and the "wars of the Lord" were synonymous expressions (cf., e.g., Judg. Amalek in later history. This is perhaps the most widely ignored command in the Bible. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23). Within this period of the Judges the Amalekites were associated with the Moabites, Ammonites, and Midianites in their marauding activities. In the light of Amaleks past harassment of Israel the Lord commanded Saul to exterminate this enemy (1 Sam 15:1-3). Who attacked Israelites? The Hebrew word which is usually translated as "the nation" or "the people" can also refer to military troops as in 1 Samuel 15:4. Therefore, Saul's boast the he had destroyed the Amalekites was not true and he was rebuked for this and other matters. They Amalekites ranged fairly widely, having originated as one of the Edomite tribes. Parisians maybe? Perhaps, the statement where Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur is hyperbolical. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Thus the tannaitic aggadah of the first century B.C.E. The most immediate answer would seem to be that unlike the people of Ninevah, the Amalekites did not repent, though they were given plenty of time to do so. The operative words in that statement are pass through. The valley of weeping is a place through which we pass; it is not where Gods people permanently dwell. 14:45). The place lies in the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai. When righteous human beings exercise dominion everything they touch is blessed. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? Their supposed founder was one Esau's sons, namely Amalek. Was Samuel referring to Saul in 1 Samuel 8:10-17? [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. 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. 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. ", "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. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. This principle is further illustrated in terms of Jesus response to the persecution of the church by Saul in Acts 8 and 9. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! What's the cheapest way to buy out a sibling's share of our parents house if I have no cash and want to pay less than the appraised value? Etymology [ edit] In some rabbinical interpretations, Amalek is etymologised as am lak, 'a people who lick (blood)', [2] but most specialists regard the origin to be unknown. People are free to rebel, if they choose, but the consequence of such rebellion will be death. The whole creation was affected and is affected by the sin of human beings. During the period of the Judges, the Amalekites participated with other nations in attacks on the Israelite tribes. The Lord rebuked Jonah for being upset about the repentance of Nineveh, which served to forestall their destruction, saying: And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:11 ESV). (1 Samuel 30:17-18) Perhaps the Amalakites conscripted the help of their friendly neighbours. 3. 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). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Psalm 95 identifies no author, but Hebrews 4:7 attributes it to David. This is the sequence taught by Jesus himself: Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 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. 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. And David recovered all that the 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). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He was rebuked by God for not doing just that. 1 Samuel 14 and 15 present Sauls encounter with the Amalekites. The Hebrew word used in 1 Samuel 15:7 has the same meaning as in 1 Samuel 15:4 (and 15:20). What was the reason for David to leave no man or women alive? August 21, 2017. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The Amalekites seem to have been fairly well controlled under the monarchy, for the OT does not mention them again until the time of Hezekiah (c. 700 b.c.) Schreiber, Mordecai (ed.). Judg 12:15 and remarks earlier). In Genesis 12 God entered into covenant with the family of Abraham. In Leviticus 27:32, a rod was used by the priests to count the tithe. The Amalekites, throughout their history, were aggressive to the Israelites. Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. All Rights Reserved Bridger, David. "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction." Amalekites Defeated by david 1 Samuel 27:8-9 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times, as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt. 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]. (I Samuel 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). They were, and still continue to be in their descendants, the Bedouins, an untamable race of savages, whose delight is in robbery and plunder. next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young The flood scrubbed the world clean of our contagion. 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. A summary of Davids conquests of Amalek is given in 2 Samuel 8:12 and 1 Chronicles 18:11. The Amalekites. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zeph. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 25:19 Wipe out the descendants of Amalek ; Josh. 8:5, 12; cf. In I Chronicles 4:4243, some obscure information has been preserved about the remnant of Amalek. Both Joshua and Moses are a prophetic picture of Yeshua the Messiah. NY: Behrman House, Inc. 1976. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? (Gen. 25:18). Rather than there being a contradiction in scripture, the more obvious reason for the conundrum is that although Saul attacked the Amalekite army he did not not complete the task according to Gods instructions. Introduction: In chapter 15, God judged first the Amalekites and then Saul. 15:10; and perhaps also Judg. The record says that Saul took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword..