RememberandDoNotForget

ByRabbi Dr. HillelbenDavid(GregKillian)

1

Introduction

Genealogy

The Haftarah

The Meaning of the name “Amalek”

Purim

A Purim Insight

Nefarious Deeds

King  War against Amalek  Temple

Haman

Nazarean Hint

Mashiach=Israel

Adar

Timing of Amalek’s Demise

Rephidim

Before and After

Who is Amalek?

Agag = Gog

Conclusion

Amalek and Rome

A Thought to Ponder

Introduction

In this study I would like to look at Amalek and the reasons why we are commanded to blot out his name. I also want to examine the messianic implications of this command.

OntheShabbatbeforePurim,twoTorahscrollsaretakenfromtheark;onefortheregularParashaandoneforthe Maftir.TheMaftircommandsusto ‘RememberwhatAmalek(עמלק)didtoyou’.[1]Becauseofthisreading,itiscalled,ShabbatZakhor(Remember).TheHaftarahalsodealswithAmalek.

ThisShabbatZakhor’sproximitytoPurimdemandsthattherebeaconnectionbetweenthetwo,andthedetailingofthatconnectionisoneofthepurposesofthispaper.

OnShabbatZakhorweperformthemitzvot(commands)torememberandnotforgetwhatAmalekdid.TheimperativetorememberthedeedsofAmalekwasgivenpermanencebyMosheatthecommandofHaShem:

Shemot(Exodus)17:14HaShemsaidtoMoshe, “WritethisasaremembranceintheBookandreciteitintheearsofYehoshua,thatIshallsurelyerasethememoryofAmalekfromundertheheavens.

Wheneversomethingis “writteninabook”,itisdonesowiththeideathattheissueneedstoberemembered.

Thereadings,relativetoAmalek,forShabbatZakhorare:

Annual Torah:

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 25:17-19

Triennial Torah:

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 24:19 25:19

Haftarah:

Shmuelalef(1Samuel)15:1-34

RambaminhisSeferHaMitzvottellsusthattherearethreespecificmitzvotrelatedtoAmalek:

1.Positivemitzvanumber188: “TheextinctionoftheseedofAmalek”:

Devarim(Deuteronomy)25:19Thereforeitshallbe,whenHaShemthyGodhathgiventheerestfromallthineenemiesroundabout,inthelandwhichHaShemthyGodgiveththee[for]aninheritancetopossessit,[that]thoushaltblotouttheremembranceofAmalekfromunderheaven;thoushaltnotforget[it].

2.Positivemitzvanumber189: “RememberingthenefariousdeedsofAmalek”:

Devarim(Deuteronomy)25:17RememberwhatAmalekdiduntotheebytheway,whenyewerecomeforthoutofEgypt;

3.Negativemitzvanumber59: “NotforgettingwhatAmalekdidtous”:

Devarim(Deuteronomy)25:19Thereforeitshallbe,whenHaShemthyGodhathgiventheerestfromallthineenemiesroundabout,inthelandwhichHaShemthyGodgiveththee[for]aninheritancetopossessit,[that]thoushaltblotouttheremembranceofAmalekfromunderheaven;thoushaltnotforget[it].

(TheRambamalsodiscussestheabovemitzvotinSeferHachinuchmitzvah603,604,608.)

SincewehavethreemitzvotrelativetothedestructionofAmalek,itisimportantthatwehaveagoodunderstandingofouropponentandofhisnefariousdeeds.Armedwiththisknowledgewewillbepositionedtofulfillthesemitzvotattheappropriatetimes.

OnceayearontheShabbatbeforePurim,wehavetheonlyTorahreadinginwhicheveryoneisobligatedtohear[2]:

Devarim(Deuteronomy)25:17-19RememberwhatAmalekdiduntotheebytheway,whenyewerecomeforthoutofEgypt;Howheencounteredyoubytheway,andsmotethehindmostofthee,[even]all[thatwere]feeblebehindthee,whenthou[wast]faintandweary;andhefearednotGod.Thereforeitshallbe,whenHaShemthyGodhathgiventheerestfromallthineenemiesroundabout,inthelandwhichHaShemthyGodgiveththee[for]aninheritancetopossessit,[that]thoushaltblotouttheremembranceofAmalekfromunderheaven;thoushaltnotforget[it].

OnShabbatZakhorwecanperformtwomitzvot:We “RememberthenefariousdeedsofAmalek” andwe “donotforgetwhatAmalekdidtous”.

TheTorahshowsusthatעמלק,Amalek,isintimatelyassociatedwithevilinthisworld.WewillseethatAmalekreallydoesrepresentevil.WhenAmalekiseliminated,sotooisevil.

Amalek,andthereforeevil,willbewithusuntilMashiachfinallydestroysit.OurSagesteachusthat “IneverygenerationAmalekrisestodestroyus,andeachtimeheclotheshimselfinadifferentnation”.[3]

ThewaysofAmalek,ineverygeneration,arealwaysthesameandtheyprovidethecluethatwearefightingAmalek.TheMidrashprovidesanintriguinginsightintothemethodologyofAmalek,whichhelpsustounderstandthemitzvottorememberandnotforget.TheHebrewwordKarcha,encounteredyou,alsotranslatescooledyouoff.ThustheMidrashsays:

MidrashTanchumaWhatistheincident(ofAmalek)comparableto?Toaboilingtubofwaterwhichnocreaturewasabletoenter.Alongcameoneevil-doerandjumpedintoit.Althoughhewasburned,hecooleditfortheothers.So,too,whenIsraelcameoutofEgypt,andHaShemrenttheseabeforethemanddrownedtheEgyptianswithinit,thefearofthemfelluponallthenations.ButwhenAmalekcameandchallengedthem,althoughhereceivedhisduefromthem,hecooledtheaweofthemforthenationsoftheworld.

Abarbanel[4]findsfoursignsthatwearefightingAmalek,whicharedisclosedbytheTorahinParashatZakhor:

1.Conventionalwarisfoughtinordertoprotectone’sterritoryfromabelligerentnation.Amalek’sterritorialintegritywasnotbeingthreatenedbytheexodusoftheJewsfromEgypt.Whythendidtheyhavetoinitiateawaragainstthem?

2.Whenwindsofwarloomonthehorizonofanysociety,itismostcommonthattheaggressorwillannouncehisintentionstogotowar.Here,Amalekdidn’tatallannounceitsintentionstoattack.

3.Amalek’sambushwasdirectedtowardstheweakandfeebleintheJewishcamp;thosewhowereleastabletodefendthemselveswerekilled.

4.ForsomeabsurdreasonAmalekfearedtheJews.Remember,though,thattheseweretiredslaves,awedbytheirsuddenreversaloffate,butwearynonetheless.TheseJewscastfearoverthecampofAmalekites.ButHaShem,thegreatwarrioronbehalfoftheJews,theydidnotfear.Howcome?Abarbanelaccordinglyconcludes:TheutterabsurdityofthisattackwhenmeasuredagainstconventionalwarforalltimesmarkedAmalekasthetargetofannihilationbytheJewishpeople.Indeed,thisisHaShem’spersonalwaralso.

TheRambam,inSeferHachinuch,teachesusthatthepenaltyfortheftisgreaterifwestealwhentheownerisnotaround.ThisgreaterpenaltyisleviedbecauseitshowsthatwedonotfearHaShem,butwedofeartheowner.ThuswemustconcludethatAmalek’spenaltywillbegreaterthanthoseenemieswhofearHaShem.

Genealogy

Amalekwastheillegitimate[5]sonofEliphaz,andthegrandsonofEsau,whoseguardianangelisnoneotherthanHaSatanhimself.[6]Thefirstappearanceoftheword “Amalek” intheTorah,is:

Bereshit(Genesis)36:8-16ThusdweltEsauinmountSeir:Esau[is]Edom.Andthese[are]thegenerationsofEsauthefatheroftheEdomitesinmountSeir:These[are]thenamesofEsau’ssons;EliphazthesonofAdahthewifeofEsau,ReuelthesonofBashemaththewifeofEsau.AndthesonsofEliphazwereTeman,Omar,Zepho,andGatam,andKenaz.AndTimnawasconcubinetoEliphazEsau’sson;andshebaretoEliphazAmalek:these[were]thesonsofAdahEsau’swife.Andthese[are]thesonsofReuel;Nahath,andZerah,Shammah,andMizzah:thesewerethesonsofBashemathEsau’swife.AndthesewerethesonsofAholibamah,thedaughterofAnahthedaughterofZibeon,Esau’swife:andshebaretoEsauJeush,andJaalam,andKorah.These[were]dukesofthesonsofEsau:thesonsofEliphazthefirstborn[son]ofEsau;dukeTeman,dukeOmar,dukeZepho,dukeKenaz,DukeKorah,dukeGatam,[and]dukeAmalek:these[are]thedukes[thatcame]ofEliphazinthelandofEdom;these[were]thesonsofAdah.

TheprogenyofAmalekarethearchetypalenemyoftheJewishPeople.TheirveryexistenceisdiametricallyopposedtotheTorah.TheSagesdescribethepeopleofAmalekasbeingtheessenceofalltheevilintheworld.

EsauweknowasthebrotherofYaakov,thesonofIsaac.TheTorahtellsusthatEsauwantedtokillhisbrotherYaakov,whowasalsocalledIsrael:

Bereshit(Genesis)27:41-42AndEsauhatedYaakovbecauseoftheblessingwherewithhisfatherblessedhim:andEsausaidinhisheart,Thedaysofmourningformyfatherareathand;thenwillIslaymybrotherYaakov.AndthesewordsofEsauhereldersonweretoldtoRebekah:andshesentandcalledYaakovheryoungerson,andsaiduntohim,Behold,thybrotherEsau,astouchingthee,dothcomforthimself,[purposing]tokillthee.

Eliphazweknowasoneofthesocalled “friends” ofIyov(Job):

Iyov(Job)42:7Anditwas[so],thatafterHaShemhadspokenthesewordsuntoJob,HaShemsaidtoEliphaztheTemanite,Mywrathiskindledagainstthee,andagainstthytwofriends:foryehavenotspokenofme[thethingthatis]right,asmyservantJob[hath].

EliphazwasEsau’sson.[7]AccordingtotheMidrash(quotedbyRashiinBereshit29:11)hewasbiddenbyhisfathertopursueYaakovandslayhim.Owing,however,totheinfluenceoftheteachingsofIsaac,whichhehadimbibed,heforboretodothis,andasacompromise,inordernottodisobeyhisfatherwholly,hedeprivedYaakovofallhispossessions,becauseamanwithoutpossessionsisreckonedasdead.

ThusweseethatEsau,Eliphaz,andAmalekallwanttokillYaakov.Amalekisfollowinginhisfather’sfootsteps.Amalekcomesfromaninfamousfamilyline.Thisfamilyalsohadsomeroyalblood,asweseefromtheTalmud:

Sanhedrin99bApropos,whatisthepurposeof[writing],AndLotan’ssisterwasTimna?—Timnawasaroyalprincess,asitiswritten,alluf[duke]Lotan,alluf[duke]Timna;andby ‘alluf’ anuncrownedrulerismeant.Desiringtobecomeaproselyte,shewenttoAbraham,IsaacandYaakov,buttheydidnotaccepther.SoshewentandbecameaconcubinetoEliphazthesonofEsau,saying, ‘Ihadratherbeaservanttothispeoplethanamistressofanothernation.’ FromherAmalekwasdescendedwhoafflictedIsrael.Whyso?—Becausetheyshouldnothaverepulsedher.

TheMidrashalsogivesussomeinsightintothegenealogyofAmalek:

MidrashRabbah-GenesisLXXXII:14ANDTIMNAWASCONCUBINETOELIPHAZESAU’SSON(XXXVI,14).R.Simeonb.Yohaitaught:Whatpurposeisservedbytheverse,ANDTIMNAWASCONCUBINETOELIPHAZ?-ItistoinformusofthegreatnessofthehouseofourfatherAbrahamandhowroyaltywishedtobecomeallied[throughmarriage]tohim.ForwhatwasLotan?Hewasasonofoneofthechiefs,asitsays,ThechiefofLotan,etc.(ibid29).Nowitiswritten,AndLotan’ssisterwasTimna(ibid22),andyet,ANDTIMNAWASCONCUBINE,etc.!Shesaid:SinceIamnotworthyofbeinghiswife,letmebehishandmaid.Nowmaywenotheredrawaconclusionafortiori:IfkingsrantocleavetothewickedEsau,whohadtohiscreditbuttheonepiousdeedofhonouringhisfather,howmuchmorewilltheyruntocleavetoYaakov,whofulfilledthewholeTorah!

ThechildofTimnawasAmalek,thearchenemyoftheJewishpeople.Thiswasnotaccidental.Whenapotentialconvert,withgenuineintentions,isdistancedfromtheJewishpeoplebybeingmadetofeelunfit,theconsequencesfortheJewishpeoplecanbedisastrous.ThesameoccurredtoOrpah.WhenshewasdiscouragedfromjoiningtheranksoftheJews,herchildrenweregivenvastpowersovertheJewishpeople.OneofthesechildrenwasGoliath,[8]anotherwasYishbi;[9]bothofthemweremassivewarriorswhofocusedtheireffortsonfightingagainsttheJewishpeople.

ThoughthenameAmalekreferstoanationthatactuallyexisted,italsodescribesacharactertraitwithinourselves.JustasAmalekstoodindirectoppositiontotheJewishpeople,thetraitsymbolizedbyAmalekdefiestheveryfoundationsofourdivineservice.

TheMidrash[10]describesthenatureofthistraitinitscommentaryontheverse:

Devarim(Deuteronomy)25:17-18 “RememberwhatAmalekdidtoyou...asyoucameforthfromEgypt,howheencounteredyouonthewayandcutdownalltheweakwhostraggledbehindyou.”

TheMidrashexplainsthattheHebrewword “Karcha” (“heencounteredyou”)canalsoberenderedas “hecooledyouoff”.Amalekrepresentsthecoldrationality,whichmakesusquestioneverythingwedoorexperience.[11]

The Targum Pseudo Yonatan add some insights to the above passage:

Targum Pseudo Yonatan to Devarim 25:17-19Keep in mind what the house of Amalek did unto you in the way, on your coming up out of Mitzrayim; 18. how they overtook you in the way, and slew every one of those among you who were thinking to go aside from My Word; the men of the tribe of the house of Dan, in whose hands were idols (or things. of strange worship), and the clouds overcast them, and they of the house of Amalek took them and mutilated them, and they were cast up: but you, O house of Israel, were faint and weary from great servitude of the Mizraee, and the terrors of the waves of the sea through the midst of which you had passed. Nor were the house of Amalek afraid before the Lord. [JERUSALEM. Who overtook you in the way, and slew among you those who were thinking to desist from My Word, the cloud overcast him, and they of the house of Amalek took him and slew him. But you, people of the sons of Israel, were weary and faint; nor were they of the house of Amalek afraid before the Lord.] 19. Therefore, when the Lord has given you rest from all your enemies round about in the land that the Lord Your God gives you to inherit for a possession, you will blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens; but of the days of the King Messiah you will not be unmindful.

Rashi also lends some insights to this passage:

17 You shall remember what [Amalek] did to you [The juxtaposition of these passages teaches us that] if you use fraudulent measures and weights, you should be worried about provocation from the enemy, as it is said: “Deceitful scales are an abomination of the Lord” (Prov. 11:1), after which the [next] verse continues, “When willful wickedness comes, then comes disgrace.” [That is, after you intentionally sin by using deceitful scales, the enemy will come to provoke you into war, and this will be a disgraceful matter to you].-[Tanchuma 8]

18 how he happened upon you on the wayHebrewקָרְךָ , an expression denoting a chance occurrence (מִקְרֶה). -[Sifrei 25:167] Alternatively, an expression denoting seminal emission (קֶרִי) and defilement, because Amalek defiled the Jews by [committing] homosexual acts [with them].-[Tanchuma 9] Yet another explanation: an expression denoting heat and cold (קוֹר) . He cooled you off and made you [appear] tepid, after you were boiling hot, for the nations were afraid to fight with you, [just as people are afraid to touch something boiling hot]. But this one, [i.e., Amalek] came forward and started and showed the way to others. This can be compared to a bathtub of boiling water into which no living creature could descend. Along came an irresponsible man and jumped headlong into it! Although he scalded himself, he [succeeded to] make others think that it was cooler [than it really was].-[Tanchuma 9]

and cut off [The word וַיְזַנֵּב is derived from the word זָנָב, meaning “tail”. Thus, the verse means: Amalek] “cut off the tail”. This refers to the fact that Amalek cut off the members [of the maleJews,] where they had been circumcised, and cast them up [provocatively] towards Heaven [exclaiming to God: “You see! What good has Your commandment of circumcision done for them?”]-[Tanchuma 9]

all the stragglers at your rear Those who lacked strength on account of their transgression. [And because these Jews had sinned,] the cloud [of glory] had expelled them [thereby leaving them vulnerable to Amalek’s further attack]. -[Tanchuma 10]

you were faint and weary faint from thirst, as it is written, “The people thirsted there for water” (Exod. 17:3), and [immediately] afterwards it says, “Amalek came [and fought with Israel]” (verse 17:8). -[Tanchuma 10]

and weary from the journey. -[Tanchuma 10]

He did not fear [God] i.e., Amalek did not fear God [so as to refrain] from doing you harm.-[Sifrei 25:167]

19 you shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek Both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep [camel and donkey] (God’s command to King Saul: see I Sam. 15: 3), so that the name of Amalek should never again be mentioned (נִזְכָּר) , from the word (זֵכֶר), even regarding an animal, to say: “This animal was from Amalek”.-[Midrash Lekach Tov]

Amalek,intermsofourspiritualserviceofHaShem,issymbolicofcoldnessandapathyforallthatisholy.OfAmalekitissaid, “Hecooledyouoff”, i.e.,thephysicalAmalekdampenedIsrael’seagernessandenthusiasmfortheTorahtheywereabouttoreceiveatSinaifollowingtheexodusfromEgypt;thespiritualAmaleklurksintherecessesofourhearts.Thetikkun(correction)forthistraitisTorahstudy.

TheHaftarah

YalkutShimoni1:264 “Accordingtoourtraditions,Esauwillfall,inthehandsofRachel’schildren”.

Chazal[12]teachthatAmalek,thedescendantofEsau,willfallbythehandofRachel’schildren.YehoshuafromEphraimwasthefirsttofightandsucceed(partially).KingSaul,thedescendantofBenyamin,tookupthechallenge,andMordechai,thedescendantofBenyamin,succeededagainstHaman.

TheHaftarahforShabbatZakhorrecallsthewarwithAmalekduringthetimeoftheprophetShmuelandKingSaul.TheleaderoftheAmalekites[13]atthattimewasKingAgag,[14]anancestorofHaman,whoisoneofthecentralcharactersinthestoryofPurim.

Saul,thefirstkinginIsrael,wasaBenjamite,oneofRachel’schildren.HismaintaskaskingwasthedestructionofAmalek:

ShmuelAlef(1Samuel)15:1-33SamuelalsosaiduntoSaul,HaShemsentmetoanointthee[tobe]kingoverhispeople,overIsrael:nowthereforehearkenthouuntothevoiceofthewordsofHaShem.ThussaithHaShemofhosts,Iremember[that]whichAmalekdidtoIsrael,howhelaid[wait]forhimintheway,whenhecameupfromEgypt.NowgoandsmiteAmalek,andutterlydestroyallthattheyhave,andsparethemnot;butslaybothmanandwoman,infantandsuckling,oxandsheep,camelandass.AndSaulgatheredthepeopletogether,andnumberedtheminTelaim,twohundredthousandfootmen,andtenthousandmenofJudah.AndSaulcametoacityofAmalek,andlaidwaitinthevalley.AndSaulsaiduntotheKenites,Go,depart,getyoudownfromamongtheAmalekites,lestIdestroyyouwiththem:foryeshowedkindnesstoallthechildrenofIsrael,whentheycameupoutofEgypt.SotheKenitesdepartedfromamongtheAmalekites.AndSaulsmotetheAmalekitesfromHavilah[until]thoucomesttoShur,that[is]overagainstEgypt.AndhetookAgagthekingoftheAmalekitesalive,andutterlydestroyedallthepeoplewiththeedgeofthesword.ButSaulandthepeoplesparedAgag,andthebestofthesheep,andoftheoxen,andofthefatlings,andthelambs,andall[thatwas]good,andwouldnotutterlydestroythem:buteverything[thatwas]vileandrefuse,thattheydestroyedutterly.ThencamethewordofHaShemuntoSamuel,saying,ItrepentethmethatIhavesetupSaul[tobe]king:forheisturnedbackfromfollowingme,andhathnotperformedmycommandments.AnditgrievedSamuel;andhecrieduntoHaShemallnight.AndwhenSamuelroseearlytomeetSaulinthemorning,itwastoldSamuel,saying,SaulcametoCarmel,and,behold,hesethimupaplace,andisgoneabout,andpassedon,andgonedowntoGilgal.AndSamuelcametoSaul:andSaulsaiduntohim,Blessed[be]thouofHaShem:IhaveperformedthecommandmentofHaShem.AndSamuelsaid,What[meaneth]thenthisbleatingofthesheepinmineears,andthelowingoftheoxenwhichIhear?AndSaulsaid,TheyhavebroughtthemfromtheAmalekites:forthepeoplesparedthebestofthesheepandoftheoxen,tosacrificeuntoHaShemthyGod;andtherestwehaveutterlydestroyed.ThenSamuelsaiduntoSaul,Stay,andIwilltelltheewhatHaShemhathsaidtomethisnight.Andhesaiduntohim,Sayon.AndSamuelsaid,Whenthou[wast]littleinthineownsight,[wast]thounot[made]theheadofthetribesofIsrael,andHaShemanointedtheekingoverIsrael?AndHaShemsenttheeonajourney,andsaid,GoandutterlydestroythesinnerstheAmalekites,andfightagainstthemuntiltheybeconsumed.WhereforethendidstthounotobeythevoiceofHaShem,butdidstflyuponthespoil,anddidstevilinthesightofHaShem?AndSaulsaiduntoSamuel,Yea,IhaveobeyedthevoiceofHaShem,andhavegonethewaywhichHaShemsentme,andhavebroughtAgagthekingofAmalek,andhaveutterlydestroyedtheAmalekites.Butthepeopletookofthespoil,sheepandoxen,thechiefofthethingswhichshouldhavebeenutterlydestroyed,tosacrificeuntoHaShemthyGodinGilgal.AndSamuelsaid,HathHaShem[asgreat]delightinburntofferingsandsacrifices,asinobeyingthevoiceofHaShem?Behold,toobey[is]betterthansacrifice,[and]tohearkenthanthefatoframs.Forrebellion[isas]thesinofwitchcraft,andstubbornness[isas]iniquityandidolatry.BecausethouhastrejectedthewordofHaShem,hehathalsorejectedtheefrom[being]king.AndSaulsaiduntoSamuel,Ihavesinned:forIhavetransgressedthecommandmentofHaShem,andthywords:becauseIfearedthepeople,andobeyedtheirvoice.Nowtherefore,Ipraythee,pardonmysin,andturnagainwithme,thatImayworshipHaShem.AndSamuelsaiduntoSaul,Iwillnotreturnwiththee:forthouhastrejectedthewordofHaShem,andHaShemhathrejectedtheefrombeingkingoverIsrael.AndasSamuelturnedabouttogoaway,helaidholdupontheskirtofhismantle,anditrent.AndSamuelsaiduntohim,HaShemhathrentthekingdomofIsraelfromtheethisday,andhathgivenittoaneighbourofthine,[thatis]betterthanthou.AndalsotheStrengthofIsraelwillnotlienorrepent:forhe[is]notaman,thatheshouldrepent.Thenhesaid,Ihavesinned:[yet]honourmenow,Ipraythee,beforetheeldersofmypeople,andbeforeIsrael,andturnagainwithme,thatImayworshipHaShemthyGod.SoSamuelturnedagainafterSaul;andSaulworshippedHaShem.ThensaidSamuel,BringyehithertomeAgagthekingoftheAmalekites.AndAgagcameuntohimdelicately.AndAgagsaid,Surelythebitternessofdeathispast.AndSamuelsaid,Asthyswordhathmadewomenchildless,soshallthymotherbechildlessamongwomen.AndSamuelhewedAgaginpiecesbeforeHaSheminGilgal.

Mordechai,theheroofMegillatEsther,wasadescendantofKingSaulandofthesameroyalhouse.NowonderhewasgiventhetaskofdestroyingHaman,thedescendantofAmalek!ThisincrediblycloseconnectionsuggestthatthereasonwhyShabbatZakhoristheShabbatbeforePurim,istodrivehomethatthedescendantsofRachelwilldestroythedescendantsofEsau.

Bytheway,HakhamShaulwasalsoaBenjamite:

Romans11:1Isaythen,HathGodcastawayhispeople?Godforbid.ForIalsoamanIsraelite,oftheseedofAbraham,[of]thetribeofBenjamin.

IbelievethatHakham’sShaulandhisnamesake,HisMajestyKingSaul(Shaul),hadmanythingsincommon.KingSaulbattledphysicallyagainstAmalekwhilstHakhamShaulusedTorahashisweapontoeradicatetheevilthatisAmalek.

Whenweareconfrontedwithanenemywhohatesusandwantsourdestructionbecausewearedifferent,becauseweremainfaithfultoHaShemandHisTorahnomatterwhat,becausewewon’tcompromiseourbeliefs,thisiswhenweconfrontAmalek,nolessthandidYehoshuaorKingSaulorMordechai.

TheMeaningofthename “Amalek”

Amalek:Thetermmaybedividedintoamal-totoil,andtheletterkuf,withthemeaning ‘ejectionofthelife-spirit’ e.g.katal-tokillwithremovaloflife-spirit.SoAmalekmeans ‘becomingdispiritedthroughlossofspiritasaresultofhardlabourandcontinuoustoil’.Suchdetachmentisnegativeinnature.

Amalekrepresentsintellectualdoubt,thekindthaterodesone’ssenseofbeliefthatHaShemisrunningworld.ThisiswhytheHebrewwordAmalek(inGematria)hasthenumericvalueof240,whichisequaltotheHebrewwordsafek,whichmeansdoubt.

Purim

TheFeastofPurimgetsitsnamefromthelotsthatHaman,theAmalekite,usedtochoosethedayofdestructionfortheJews.PuristhePersianwordforlots.TheHebrewwordforlotsisGoral.Thisisanamazingthing!Haman,likeallAmalekites,doesnotbelievethatthereisaG-dintheworld.Hethinksthateverythingoccursbyhappenstance.Yetweknowthatthetruthisquitedifferent:

Mishlei(Proverbs)16:33Thelotiscastintothelap;butthewholedisposingthereof[is]ofHaShem.

ItistheGoral,thePur,thatdemonstratesmostpowerfullythisHashgachaPratis,[15]thisprovidence,ofHaShemineverydetailoftheworld’sexistence.WhenaGoralisconducted,onehasnoinputorinfluenceontheoutcomeoftheGoral.ThusHaman’sdevicetoprovethereisonlyhappenstance,andthatthereisnoG-d,wasinfactprovingjusttheopposite!

TheTikuneiZoharcallsYomHaKippurima “daywhichislikePurim“ (YomKiPurim).OnYomKippurimouratonementisguidedbytheGoralinmuchthesamewaythatHaShemdirectedHaman’spur.

A PurimInsight[16]

Why do we celebrate Purim and Shushan Purim?

To answer this question we need to review the firsttwo encounters that the Bne Israel had with Amalek.

In the first encounter we find Amalek attacking the Bne Israel without provocation:

Shemot (Exodus) 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

In the second encounter we find the Bne Israel attacking Amalek at the command of HaShem:

1 Shmuel (Samuel) 15:2 Thus saith HaShem of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

From these two encounters we can establish a pattern:

  1. Amalek attacks the Bne Israel in an unprovoked manner.
  2. The Bne Israel attack Amalek for what he did to the Bne Israel.

Now, if we examine the attack of Haman the Agagite, in Megillat Esther, we find the same pattern:

  1. On Adar 13, Amalek attacked the Bne Israel in an unprovoked manner.
  2. On Adar 14, the Bne Israel attacked Amalek for what he did on Adar 13.

Purim is celebrated on Adar 14 because we dispatched our enemies, the Amalekites, on Adar 13.

Shushan Purim is celebrated on Adar 15 because we completed our attack on our enemies, on Adar 14, after they attacked us.

Now we can understand why we have a celebration for Purimand for Shushan Purim. Each of these festivals commemorates one aspect of our previous encounters with Amalek. Purim commemorates Amalek’s unprovoked attack on the Bne Israel. Shushan Purim commemorates the attack of the Amalekites, by the Bne Israel, because of their unprovoked attack.

NefariousDeeds

ThefirsttimethattheTorahtellsusaboutthecowardlywickeddeedsofAmalekisin:

Shemot(Exodus)17:7-16AndhecalledthenameoftheplaceMassah,andMeribah,becauseofthechidingofthechildrenofIsrael,andbecausetheytemptedHaShem,saying,IsHaShemamongus,ornot?ThencameAmalek,andfoughtwithIsraelinRephidim.AndMosessaiduntoJoshua,Chooseusoutmen,andgoout,fightwithAmalek:tomorrowIwillstandonthetopofthehillwiththerodofG-dinminehand.SoJoshuadidasMoseshadsaidtohim,andfoughtwithAmalek:andMoses,Aaron,andHurwentuptothetopofthehill.Anditcametopass,whenMoseshelduphishand,thatIsraelprevailed:andwhenheletdownhishand,Amalekprevailed.ButMoses’ hands[were]heavy;andtheytookastone,andput[it]underhim,andhesatthereon;andAaronandHurstayeduphishands,theoneontheoneside,andtheotherontheotherside;andhishandsweresteady[17]untilthegoingdownofthesun.AndJoshuadiscomfitedAmalekandhispeoplewiththeedgeofthesword.AndHaShemsaiduntoMoses,Writethis[for]amemorialinabook,andrehearse[it]intheearsofJoshua:forIwillutterlyputouttheremembranceofAmalekfromunderheaven.AndMosesbuiltanaltar,andcalledthenameofitHaShem-nissi:Forhesaid,BecauseHaShemhathsworn[that]HaShem[willhave]warwithAmalekfromgenerationtogeneration.

AftertheJewishpeopledefeatedAmalekinwar,theversestates, “HaShemwillbeatwarwithAmalekforallgenerations”.[18]WehaveseenmanytimesthroughouthistorythenationofAmalekrisetopowerandassaulttheJewishpeople.WesawthematwaragainwiththeJewishpeopleinthebookofShmuel.WesawthemintheformofthewickedHamaninthePurimstory.Wesawtheminthevarioustragicpogromsthroughouthistory.WesawtheminthedeedsofStalin,mayhisnamebeblottedout,whodiedonPurim.MorerecentlywesawthemintheformofNaziGermanyinthe1930’sand40’s.We also saw Amalek in Iraq during the Gulf war.

KingSaulfailedtoutterlydestroyAmalekashehadbeencommanded,andasaconsequencelosthiskingship,andwasslainbyanAmalekite.Eversince,eachgenerationoftheJewishpeoplehashadwarwithanAmalek:Haman,Stalin,Hitler,Nasser,SadamHussein,thePalestinian(Philistine)entity, and now Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Now,weknowthatKingSaulkilledalloftheAmalekitesexceptAgag,andtheProphetShmuelkilledAgagthefollowingday.ThusitappearsthatalloftheAmalekiteshavebeenkilled.Thispresentsasmallproblem:

ShmuelAlef(1Samuel)27:8AndDavidandhismenwentup,andinvadedtheGeshurites,andtheGezrites,andtheAmalekites:forthoseofoldtheinhabitantsoftheland,asthougoesttoShur,evenuntothelandofEgypt.

IfalloftheAmalekiteswerekilledbyKingSaulandShmueltheProphet,wheredidtheAmalekitescomefrom,whobattledagainstKingDavidlaterinhistory?

Rashi,[19]inShmuelAlef,commentsonthecommandtokilleverylivingbeing,includingalloftheanimals.Heaskswhytheoxenandsheepmustbekilled,andanswersthattheAmalekitesknewmagicalartsandcouldtransformthemselvesintoanimals,andthus,mightdisguisethemselvesandescape.

ThusapossibleanswertoourquestionisthatsomeAmalekitesescaped,disguisedasanimals.[20]Itcouldalsobe,however,thatthestoryofDavidtookplacebeforethestoryofSaul.Nevertheless,oneofthethingswelearnfromthefactthattheAmalekitescoulddisguisethemselves,isthatthisuseofadisguiseisatraitoftheAmalekitesthatwillhelpusidentifythem.Rashishowsusthattheyhaveuseddisguisesmanytimesandpointstothefollowingpasuk:

Bamidbar21:1 “AndtheCanaaniteheard...AndhefoughtagainstIsrael.”

TheCanaanitewasAmalek.UponhearingthatAharonhaddiedandthattheCloudsofGloryhaddeparted,hethoughtthatpermissionwasgrantedtobattlewithIsrael[21].

TheNazareanCodicilalsoaddressesanenemyofthenoblepeople:

Romans16:17-20NowIbeseechyou,brethren,markthemwhichcausedivisionsandoffencescontrarytothedoctrinewhichyehavelearned;andavoidthem.FortheythataresuchservenotourLordYeshuaHaMashiach,buttheirownbelly;andbygoodwordsandfairspeechesdeceivetheheartsofthesimple.Foryourobedienceiscomeabroaduntoall[men].Iamgladthereforeonyourbehalf:butyetIwouldhaveyouwiseuntothatwhichisgood,andsimpleconcerningevil.AndtheG-dofpeaceshallbruiseSatanunderyourfeetshortly.

Theenemythatisbeingaddressedistheonewhocausesdivisions.TheonewhodestroysareunityisjustlikeAmalek.AsAmalekcreatesdoubtsotoodoestheonewhocausesdivisionwithinthecongregation.

***

Bereshit(Genesis)21:1TheCanaanitesheard...

HeheardthatAharonhaddiedandthattheCloudsofGloryhadlifted...Amalekisa “punishingstrap” forIsraelalwaysreadyforpunishment.[22]

KingWaragainstAmalekTemple

Our Sages have taught that the Torah arranged threecommands to be dependent on a particular order as it pertains to Amalek. Let us look at these B’Seder–inorder:

TheTalmud[23]speaks oftheprocessofrebuildingoftheBeitHaMikdash.[24]The Talmud conditions that rebuilding on the destruction of Amalek.

Sanhedrin20bAndthusR.Judahsaid:ThreecommandmentsweregiventoIsraelwhentheyenteredtheland:[i]toappointaking,[25]tocutofftheseedofAmalek,[26]andtobuildthemselvesthechosenhouse.[27]WhileR.Nehorai[28]said:Thissection[29]wasspokenonlyinanticipationoftheirfuturemurmurings,[30]asitiswritten,Andshaltsay,Iwillsetakingovermeetc.[31]

The Midrash speaks of these same three requirements:

Pesiqta deRab Kahana, Midrashic Homilies for Shabbat Zakhor, Pisqa III, III:XIV “...When the Lord your God gives you peace from your enemies on every side, in the land which he is giving you to occupy as your patrimony, you shall not fail to blot out the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven” (Deut. 25:17-19): R. Azariah, R. Judah bar Simon in the name of R. Judah bar Ilai: When the Israelites entered the Land, they were commanded in three matters: to appoint a king, to build the chosen house, “And they shall make me a sanctuary” (Ex. 25:8), and to wipe out the memory of Amalek.

ItstatesthatthenationofIsraeliscommandedtoperformthreecommandmentssequentiallyaftertheyoccupythelandofIsrael:

  1. Theyaretoappointaking,
  2. TheyaretoeradicatetheoffspringofAmalek.
  3. TheyaretoconstructtheholyTemple.

The Ramban comments on Shemot (Exodus) 17:16: "By saying, The hand upon the throne of the Eternal: the Eternal will have war with Amalek from generation to generation, Scripture intimates that the Israelites must first appoint a king over themselves [before they are to annihilate the offspring of Amalek], for the throne of the Eternalrefers only to the king, as it is said, Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Eternal.[32]In line with the plain meaning of Scripture, this is correct.

TheeradicationofAmalekcomesafterwehaveaKingwhoisadescendantofRachel(EitherfromthetribeofYoseforfromthetribeofBenyamin).Ihavedealtwiththistopicextensivelyinthestudytitled “Esther“.OnlyAFTERAmalekisdestroyedcantheMashiachbenDavidrestoretheBeitHaMikdash.

Haman

ShabbatZakhoristhenameoftheShabbatbeforePurimsothatthedestructionofAmalekwillbeadjacenttothedestructionofHaman,thelatterbeinganAgagite,adescendantofAmalek.

Haman,oneofthecentralcharactersoftheMegillatEsther,wasdescendedfromAmalek.TheProphetssaysinYeshayahu[33]thatinspiteofBneIsrael’ssuffering,theywillprevail.ThereasongivenisthatweareHaShem’scrowningjewelsandchosennation.Incontrast,HaShem’sthronewillnotbecompleteuntilthedestructionofAmalek.ThisunderscoresthefundamentaldifferencebetweenBneIsraelandAmalek.OurexistenceisdefinedbyHaShem’sDivineintervention,whereasAmalekdefinedhisdestinythroughdenyingHaShem’sPresence.Naturally,thisplacesusatimpassableoddswithAmalekandhischildren.

Amalek’sgoalisthetotaldestructionofIsrael.HeattemptedtodestroyIsraelinthedesertinthedaysofMoshe.HeattemptedtodestroyIsraelinHaman’sday.HeAttemptedtodestroyIsrael(Mashiach)inthedaysofJudas.HeattemptedtodestroytheminthedaysofHitler,Stalin,andSaddamHussein.AsourSagesteach,thereisanAmalekwhoarisesineverygenerationtodestroyIsrael.

NazareanHint

Haman’streacherousbuyoutoftheJewshasaparallelintheNazareanCodicil:

Matityahu(Matthew)26:14-16Thenoneofthetwelve,calledJudasIscariot,wentuntothechiefpriests,Andsaid[untothem],Whatwillyegiveme,andIwilldeliverhimuntoyou?Andtheycovenantedwithhimforthirtypiecesofsilver.Andfromthattimehesoughtopportunitytobetrayhim.

Judas,aconvert,wasanimageofHaman,theAmalekite.

Mashiach=Israel

Mashiachwassoldforsilver,byJudas.

IsraelwassoldforsilverbyHaman.

BothJudasandHamanhadtoleavetheirwinefeast.

BothJudasandHamanwerehungbygallowsoftheirownmaking.

BothJudasandHamanweretraitorsoftheJewishpeople.

BothJudasandHamanwerebornGentiles.

BothJudasandHamansoldouttothosewhoweregladabouttheirenemy’simpendingdestruction.

BothJudasandHamangavetheirlivestodestroytheJewishpeople.

BothJudasandHamanhadtheirplanscometonothingonNisan17.

HamanwasthoughttobeEsther’sfriendandJudaswasthoughttobeYeshua’sfriend.

BothJudasandHamanwereAmalekites!

BecausetherighteousarethebodyofMashiach;iftheheadiskilled,soisthebody.AmalekisonlyinterestedinthedestructionofalloftheBneIsrael.

Adar

AdarmarksthefallanddefeatofHamantheAgagite,adescendantofAmalek.

ShabbatsimilarlymarkstheconnectionbetweenHaShemandHispeople- “BetweenMeandBneIsraelitisasignforever”[34].Therefore,theGemaradrawsaconnectionbetweendesecrationofShabbatandtheattackofAmalek:

Shabbat118 “HadBneYisraelobservedthefirstShabbatafterthegivingofthemanna,noothernationwouldhavebeenabletohavedominionoverthem.Theversestates: ‘Anditwasontheseventhdaythatsomeofthepeoplewentouttogather[themanna],’ andafterwardstheTorahstates: ‘AndAmalekcameandfought.’“

WhentheBneYisraeldesecratetheShabbat,theyalsodamagetheirconnectiontoHaShem,therebyexposinganopeningforAmalektoattempttochallengetheentirerelationshipbetweenHaShemandHisnation.

TheMidrash[35]statesthatthewordZakhor(remember)appearswithregardtobothAmalekandShabbatbecausethetwoareequal.OnesymbolizesHaShem’sHashgachaPratis,Hisprovidence,andoneitsdenial.RememberingandkeepingtheShabbatstrengthenstheholycovenantbetweenHaShemandHisnationIsrael,andthiscounteractstheeffectsofAmalek.

OurSagesdecreedthatParashatZakhorwastobereadontheShabbatbeforePurimandnotonPurimitself.Shabbatsymbolizesourreturnoutoflove.

Devarim(Deuteronomy25:17-18RememberwhatAmalekdidtoyouasyouwereleavingEgypt.Hehappeneduponyou,andstrucktheweakestpeopletrailingbehind,whenyouwereexhausted.AndhedidnotfearG-d.

ParashatKi-TeitzeiisknownastheParshawiththemostamountofmitzvot,soitmaynotbesurprisingtofindthemitzvatorecallAmalek’shatredoftheJewishpeopleattheendoftheParsha,seeminglydisconnectedfromwhatcamebeforeitandwhatcomesafterit.

However,themitzvathatprecededthisoneofrememberingAmalekwasthatofkeepingproperlybalancedweightsandmeasures,sothatnoonewilleverenduppayingmorethantheyshouldhaveforwhathepurchased.However,theweighingofitemsisasymbolforfarmorethanthegive-and-takeofthebusinessworld;italsorepresentstheideaofbeingdeliberateinjudgment.Thus,Chazalhavetaught:

PirkeAvot1:1MoshereceivedTorahfromSinai,andhandeditovertoYehoshua;YehoshuatotheElders;theElderstotheProphets;andtheProphetshandeditovertotheMenoftheGreatAssembly.Theysaidthreethings:Bedeliberateinjudgment;developmanystudents;andmakeafenceforTorah.

FirsttheMishnahdiscussestheMesorah,thelineofTorahtraditionwithoutwhichTorahJudaismcannotsurvive.Rightafterthat,however,thefirstteachingtoemergeistobedeliberateinjudgment,toweighissuesandassesstheirimportance.

ItisasifourHakhamimareadmonishingthattheMesorahitselfsurvivesonlywhenthoseresponsibleforitactlevelheaded,arewell-balanced,andareonlyinterestedinthepursuitofjustice,HaShem’sjustice.Ifnot,thentheteachingsbecomeflawed,severedfromtheirDivineSource.Theresultofnotproperlyweighingideas:doubt,confusion,andwarwithAmalek!

Wait,thelessonisnotoveryet!

FollowingthecommandtorememberAmalekcomesBikkurim,themitzvatobringuptheFirst-FruitstotheTempleinanelaborateceremony.TheunderlyingpremiseofthismitzvahisthatHaShemhasbeengoodtotheJewishpeople,takingusoutfromthedepthsofspiritualobliviontotheheightsofaholylifeontheholylandofEretzIsrael.Itisamitzvaofrecognizingthegood.

ThisistheotherhalfofthesandwichthatenclosesthestoryofAmalek.Disgruntledpeoplearerebelliouspeoplewhotendtoturnagainsttheauthoritiesgoverningtheirlives.Iftheeconomyisgoodandthestandardoflivingisreasonablyhigh,thenleaderscangetawaywithjustaboutanything.Butifthequalityoflifedrops,andyou’realeader,watchout!