Exodus 19:9-15 Israel Prepares To Meet With God

"The LORD said to Moses,

'I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,

so that the people will hear me speaking with you

and will always put their trust in you.'

Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

And the LORD said to Moses,

'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow.

Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day,

because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai

in the sight of all the people.

Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them,

"Be careful that you do not go up the mountain

or touch the foot of it.

Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows;

not a hand is to be laid on him.

Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live."

Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast

may they go up to the mountain.'

After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people,

he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

Then he said to the people,

"Prepare yourselves for the third day.  Abstain from sexual relations."

Exodus 19:9-15 (NIV)

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Some observations:

• The LORD was coming to the people in a dense cloud.  They would not have been able to bear the absolute holiness of God face to face.  Remember Exodus 13:21-22, where God led His people on their journey out of Egypt in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night?  He never left them, but He also shielded Himself from their direct view.
• God was going to come to them so that they would be close enough to hear for themselves what God was saying to Moses.  Then, in the future, they would always be able to trust that God was indeed speaking to Moses, and they would believe what he told them.
• After Moses tells the LORD what the people had said, the LORD gives Moses specific instructions as to how they might draw near to Him safely.  Limits were to be placed around the mountain so that curious individuals would not attempt to go up the mountain or even touch the mountain.  Disobedience was punishable by death.  Even animals were not permitted to touch the mountain.
• Even in carrying out the death sentence against those who might disobey, no one could touch the one who had touched the mountain.  Otherwise that person would also become liable to death, I suppose.  Instead, the disobedient were to be shot with arrows or stoned, methods of punishment which would not require actual human contact.
• Only when the ram's horn sounded a long blast could the people approach the foot of the mountain.
• Moses consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes.  This process made them ceremonially clean so that they could participate in this meeting with God.
• Moses told the people to prepare for their meeting with God on the third day.  Meanwhile,they were to abstain from sexual relations.  This does not mean that sex is in some way 'dirty', but it would render them ceremonially unclean.
• This passage reminds me about the utter holiness of the LORD, and the respect we should have for Him.   

Exodus 19:1-8 My Treasured Possession

"In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt

-- on the very day --

they came to the Desert of Sinai.

After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai,

and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Then Moses went up to God,

and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said,

'This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob

and what you are to tell the people of Israel:

"You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,

and how I carried you on eagles' wings

and brought you to myself.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant,

then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

Although the whole earth is mine,

you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.'

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people

and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak.

The people all responded together,

'We will do everything the LORD has said.'

So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

Exodus 19:1-8 (NIV)

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This portion of Scripture is very precise about the date on which the Israelites came to the Desert of Sinai and camped in the front of the mountain.  It was exactly three months after they had left Egypt.  No doubt this has some type of significance, for otherwise it probably wouldn't have been so clearly emphasized in these verses.  At this time I do not know just what the precise dating indicates.  Sometimes the dating has a role in bringing light to other portions of Scripture.  I guess we will have to just keep this in mind as we go forward.

The reason why I was interested in this aspect of Scripture was that I had recently been watching a short video by Grant Jeffrey which dealt with date-related aspects of Scripture.  In that case, he was showing how the very date of modern Israel being declared a nation (in 1948) had been prophesied in the Bible.  I have to watch it again and check out the information more carefully, because I do not know much about this man or his teaching.  However, I have seen other parts of the Bible where very precise things have been prophesied, things which no human could have arranged or faked.  I will do posts on these from time to time, or as they relate to a particular passage.  It's fascinating because no other book than the Scriptures has these types of definitive predictive prophecies which are always fulfilled.

In this passage, the LORD gives Moses a message for the Israelites.  After reminding them of the care which He has demonstrated towards them, He lets them know that if they continue to obey Him and keep His covenant, they will be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  Just as a priest is a representative for the people in religious matters, the Israelites will as a nation be responsible for revealing the knowledge of the true God to the nations of the earth.  They will be a holy nation, consecrated or set apart for the LORD's purposes.

The Israelites respond positively to this news.  They assert that they are willing to do all that the LORD has said regarding these matters.  Moses delivers this answer to the LORD [even though, of course, God knew it already]. 

Exodus 18:13-27 Advice from Moses' Father-in-Law

"The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people,

and they stood around him from morning till evening.

When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said,

'What is this you are doing for the people?

Why do you alone sit as judge,

while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?'

Moses answered him,

'Because the people come to me to seek God's will.

Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me,

and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws.'

Moses' father-in-law replied,

'What you are doing is not good.

You and these people who come to you will only wear themselves out.

The work is too heavy for you;
you cannot handle it alone.

Listen now to me and I will give you some advice,
and may God be with you.

You must be the people's representative before God
and bring their disputes to him.

Teach them the decrees and laws,

and show them the way to live

and the duties they are to perform.

But select capable men from all the people --

men who fear God,

trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain --

and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Have them serve as judges for the people at all times,

but have them bring every difficult case to you;

the simple cases they can decide themselves.

That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

If you do this and God so commands,
you will be able to stand the strain,

and all these people will go home satisfied.'

Moses listened to his father-in-law

and did everything he said.

He chose capable men from all Israel

and made them leaders of the people,

officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

They served as judges for the people at all times.

The difficult cases they brought to Moses,

but the simple ones they decided themselves.

Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way,

and Jethro returned to his own country.

Exodus 18:13-27 (NIV)

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Well, I think I understand now why Moses is called "..A very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth."  (Numbers 12:3)  Here he is, the one who has confronted the Pharaoh of Egypt on numerous occasions, and who was chosen by God to lead the multitude of Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea on dry ground, and yet he is able to stand there and humbly receive the advice given to him by his father-in-law.

I did chuckle a bit, though, as I typed this section of Scripture.  For not long after Moses' father-in-law arrives and they have a nice meal together, Jethro leads off with  "What is this you are doing?"  It seemed so stereotypically 'in-law-ish'.  Now let me say right here that my own in-laws are not like that usual stereotype.  But when Jethro starts off this way, you might expect trouble to follow.  However, Moses responds in a way that is full of wisdom and humility.  As it turns out, Jethro's advice is quite wise.  He also speaks with great restraint and humility.  Let me just make some observations about their interaction:

• Jethro is honest about a problem which he perceives.  He doesn't mince words, yet he doesn't make it a personal attack upon Moses, either.  He sees the crowds of people surrounding Moses all day and waiting for their problems to be addressed and he knows that this is not good for either party.
• Jethro asks Moses to explain why the situation exists.  He doesn't assume he knows it all.
• Moses explains that as the leader, naturally the problems are brought to him.  He has the responsibility to represent the people before God and to explain to them God's commands.
• Jethro acknowledges this fact of Moses' responsibility before God, and fashions his advice in such a way that he both acknowledges Moses' concerns and offers a possible solution so that Moses can meet the needs of the people without exhausting himself.
• Jethro also acknowledges that God is the One who will bring success to this idea if it is His will.  Jethro never acts as though his own great idea will be the final reason for success.
• The division of the multitude into more manageable groups brings both a sense of order to the administration of justice and a way to hold individual leaders responsible for the people within their sphere of influence.  The fact that there are different types of leaders (those officials who will be in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens) highlights the fact that some leaders may be better at caring for small groups, while others may be capable of ministering to a wider audience.
• Moses does not seem to be worried that such division of labor will be a threat to himself or his position.
• Jethro also gives very sound advice regarding the selection of men who will be fit for such responsibility:  They must be capable, God-fearing, trustworthy, and not interested in gaining treasures for themselves.
• Moses will still need to teach the people God's laws and decrees.  In this way, people will know what is right and may avoid situations which would require judicial rulings.  Moses is free to handle the more difficult cases which may arise.  These 'larger' issues will affect the whole body of Israel, so it is good that Moses has some authority in these important cases.

Moses listens to his father-in-law's advice, and is a better leader because of his humility.  Jethro also goes on his way home in peace.  What more could one ask for after a visit from the in-laws?

Exodus 18:1-12 A Visit From the Inlaws

"Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses,

heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel,

and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,

his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons.

One son was named Gershom,

for Moses said, 'I have become an alien in a foreign land';

and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, 'My father's God was my helper;

he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.'

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife,

came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God.

Jethro had sent word to him, 'I, your father-in-law Jethro,

am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.'

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law

and bowed down and kissed him.

They greeted each other and then went into the tent.

Moses told his father-in-law about everything
the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake
and about all the hardships they had met along the way

and how the LORD had saved them.

Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things
the LORD had done for Israel

in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.

He said, 'Praise be to the LORD,

who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh,

and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods,

for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.'

Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering

and other sacrifices to God,

and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel

to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

Exodus 18:1-12 (NIV)
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We have already learned that Jethro had welcomed Moses into his household when Moses was fleeing from the wrath of Pharaoh [after Moses had killed an Egyptian who was attacking an Israelite].  Moses had become Jethro's son-in-law after he intervened and helped Jethro's daughters.

Moses had been invited to stay with Jethro and had eventually married Jethro's daughter Zipporah.  Moses had continued to care for Jethro's flocks until the LORD spoke to Moses from a burning bush and sent him back to Egypt to rescue the enslaved Israelites.  Moses had taken his wife and two sons with him when he left for Egypt.

Now Moses was returning to the same area.  Apparently he sent Zipporah and her sons to her father Jethro to visit with him and to announce that they were in the area.  Jethro sent word back to Moses that he would come out to meet Moses and the Israelites.

Moses told his father-in-law everything which the LORD had done in Egypt to Pharaoh and his forces.  He also related all the adventures which the Israelites had gone through in their travels up to this point, and how the LORD had faithfully delivered them from every trial.

Jethro was happy to hear about all that the LORD had done for Israel.  He was amazed that the LORD had delivered Israel from the powerful Pharaoh.  [Remember, Egypt probably had one of the best armies of that day.]  I am sure that Moses also told Jethro about their encounter with the Amalekites, and how the LORD had provided food and water during Israel's desert travels.  Jethro gives praise to the LORD and seems to come to the realization that the LORD is greater than all other 'gods'.  Jethro brings sacrifices and an offering to God.  Then Jethro, Moses, Aaron and all of the elders of Israel eat bread together in the presence of God.  This seems to be more than just a meal celebrating Moses' safe return.  It has all the features of a treaty or covenant-making type of meal, especially since it occurs "in the presence of God." (v.12).  Jethro seems to have come to know the true God, the God of Israel.

Jethro's conversion reminds me that the LORD's intentions were to save people from every nation.  I also marvel at the LORD's plan:  Moses, who had spent 40 long years caring for Jethro's flocks in this very area, was now shepherding the nation of Israel through territory which was at least somewhat familiar to him.  That had to be helpful to Moses, and beneficial for Israel.  Then I think:  "What is God leading me through today which will later bring glory to Him, growth for me, and help for His people?"  Whatever it is, we know that the LORD's plan is good. 

Esther and the Reason Behind the Enmity

The previous post dealt with all of the examples of the terms 'Amalek', 'Amalekite', or 'Amalekites' in Scripture in an attempt to determine just why the LORD had declared such a lasting enmity towards the Amalekites.  He had told Israel that the Amalekites were to be destroyed and said that even the memory of them would eventually be wiped out.  I thought that was a bit strange, because Israel had other enemies which had fought against them and yet those were not as severely denounced in this way.

After examining all of the Scriptures which mentioned the Amalekites, I came to the conclusion that the one thing which is common to all of these references is that the Amalekites were consistently against Israel.  Whether alone or allied with other peoples, there is never a time when their attitude toward Israel was not hostile.  For that reason, I figured that the reason that the LORD was hostile toward them was because He was keeping His covenant with Abraham and with Israel, which included the promise that  "I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse.."  (Genesis 12:1-3)  I was still a bit unsatisfied, though, with this reason.  I mean, it was totally valid, yet it did not seem to be the whole picture.

Then I remembered another book of the Bible which deals with this enmity between Israel and the Amalekites.  It is the book of Esther.  I knew that this book did not refer to the Amalekites by name, yet someone who is an Amalekite figures prominently in the story.

In Esther, a person named Haman is mentioned.  He is described as "son of Hammedatha, the Agagite".  While Hammedatha is probably Haman's father, the 'Agagite' part of his description most likely refers to Agag, who was king of the Amalekites back during Saul's time as king over Israel. (I Samuel 15:20) Saul had killed most of Agag's people, the Amalekites, yet had spared King Agag, despite the LORD's orders to kill all of the Amalekites.  The prophet Samuel had killed Agag in order to complete what the LORD had commanded, and Saul's disregard for the LORD's commands became the main reason for his own loss of kingship over Israel.

Haman is promoted to a position higher than that of the other nobles in Persia.  They would all bow down and pay him honor when he arrived, as king Xerxes had commanded.  However, Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin whose ancestors had been taken captive from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, refused to bow down to him.  This enraged Haman, who wanted to destroy not only Mordecai, but his whole people. (Esther 1:1-6)  In fact, verse 6 notes that "...having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai.  Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes."  This, too, is further evidence that Haman is an Amalekite, and likely a relative to King Agag.  Otherwise, why would Haman care at all who Mordecai's people were?  (His likely relationship to King  Agag also is strengthened by the fact that Haman seems to be of noble birth himself, for he is counted among the nobles.) (Esther 1:6)

Mordecai's actions also seem to indicate that he considers Haman an Amalekite.  The Jews did not consider it wrong to bow down to show respect for a king or other person (unless it violated the 2nd commandment about not bowing down to other 'gods').  Yet Mordecai absolutely refused to bow down to Haman.  The NIV Study Bible's comments on these verses puts the situation into words better than I can:

"Only the long-standing enmity between Israel and Amalek accounts both for Mordecai's refusal and for Haman's intent to destroy all the Jews.  The threat against the Jews 'throughout the whole kingdom' (v.6) is a threat against the ultimate issue of redemptive history."

Then I really had an 'aha' moment, for I realized that this 'threat against the ultimate issue of redemptive history' was really the crux of the matter regarding the LORD's wrath against the Amalekites.  How? Well, if the Jews were wiped out, as the Amalekites (and Haman) wish, then The LORD's redemptive purposes would have been thwarted.  The Messiah, the Savior, the ultimate 'Anointed One', was to come through the Jewish people.  Therefore, if any person or people group stand against the LORD's purposes in this matter, it is understandable that they would become the object of His wrath.

Here is what I would say in summary:  The Amalekites were no greater sinners than any other people group.  The Scriptures say that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".  (Romans 3:23)  Also, if any individual among them were to turn to the LORD, they could be forgiven by means of the same sacrifice which makes any other person righteous, the one made by the Messiah, the Anointed One, Jesus:

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law,
has been made known,

to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ
to all who believe.

There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

He did this to demonstrate his justice,

because in his forbearance
he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished --

he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, 

so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Where, then, is boasting?  It is excluded.

On what principle? On that of observing the law?
No, but on that of faith.

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Is God the God of the Jews only?  Is he not the God of Gentiles too?

Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God,

who will justify the circumcised by faith
and the uncircumcised through that same faith."

                                                                 (Romans 3:21-30 NIV)

We can see by these Scriptures that all people are welcome in God's kingdom. In those Scriptures about the Amalekites, they were standing in the way of God's redemptive plan and He would not tolerate that.  Yes, God was also keeping His covenant with Israel, blessing those who blessed them and cursing those who cursed them, but behind that was the even more far-reaching matter of unfolding His plan of redemption for all peoples.  That is why He reacted with such vehemence to threats against the Jewish people.

Now, Jesus has already come.  He has made that sacrifice on the cross to atone for the sins of all mankind.  Jesus is God's invitation to every individual, regardless of race or religion, to receive forgiveness and be reconciled to God.

One further thought:  The Jews are still God's covenant people.  He continues to this day to uphold the promises which He made to Abraham and to Israel.  That is why Israel continues to exist despite numerous and continued attempts to wipe them out as a people.  That is also why they will continue to exist until the LORD returns, even amidst clamoring boasts and threats to the contrary.  The God of Israel remains unchanged as well.  It would be wise for all who seek to do harm to the people of God to learn well and pay heed to these warnings in Scripture.

Amalekites

Warning:  This post is really long -- probably one of the longest I've ever done.  Sorry, but there was no real way to split it up into several posts and still retain my intent, which was to show everything which the Scriptures reveal about the Amalekites.  If it gets too much, come back and read it in sections.
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In this post I wanted to take a closer look at why the LORD told Moses "I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven" (Exodus 17:14).  Moses also said that "...the LORD would be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:15)  It seemed that the punishment for the Amalekites was more severe than that of a usual enemy of Israel, for not only would the LORD be at war with them from generation to generation, but also even the very memory of them was eventually going to be wiped out.  Why?

We know that the LORD does only what is right and just, so there must be a very significant reason for this sentence against the Amalekites.

Let's take a look at what Scripture says about them:

"Amalek"
Genesis 36:12
Genesis 36:16
Numbers 24:20

Deuteronomy 25:19
Judges 5:14
I Samuel 15:5
II Samuel 8:12
I Chronicles 1:36
I Chronicles 18:11
Psalm 83:7

"Amalekite"
Exodus 17:13
I Samuel 30:13
II Samuel 1:8
II Samuel 1:13

"Amalekites"
Genesis 14:7
Exodus 17:8-16
Numbers 13:29
Numbers 14:25,43,45
Deuteronomy 25:17
Judges 3:13
Judges 6:3,33
Judges 7:12
Judges 10:12
Judges 12:15
I Samuel 14:48
I Samuel 15:2,3,6-8,15,18,20,32
I Samuel 27:8
I Samuel 28:18
I Samuel 30:1,18
II Samuel 1:1
I Chronicles 4:43

Wow! That is a lot of passages to look through, isn't it?  However, I believe that it boils down to several significant incidences for the most part.  Using the above references, lets lump the terms "Amalek", "Amalekite" and "Amalekites" together, and try to see what the books of the Scriptures which are listed above say about the Amalekites:

Genesis:  In Genesis 14, Kedorlaomer (king of Elam) joined with three other kings and went out to fight against another confederation of five kings which had rebelled against his authority.  First, Kedorlaomer and his three partners defeated the Rephaites,Zuzites,Emites, and the Horites.  Then they turned back and conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites and the Amorites. [This territory is called Kadesh, or En Mishpat ("spring of justice/judgment") or Meribah Kadesh (quarreling/litigation at Kadesh),  and later, Kadesh Barnea.  I suppose that the presence of a spring explains one reason for the apparently frequent fighting here.]  Then the five rebel kings mentioned above met Kedorlaomer and his three allies in the Valley of Siddim and were defeated by K.'s forces. (By the way, this is the battle in which Abraham's nephew Lot -- who had left Abraham to live in Sodom -- is captured).  Genesis 36 reveals that Amalek is a grandson of Esau.  Esau's Canaanite wife Adah (daughter of Elon the Hittite) had a son Eliphaz, whose concubine, (Timna), bore him Amalek.  Amalek was one of Esau's tribal chieftains.

Exodus:  Now we come to the incident which we were looking at when we decided to  look into these Amalekites more closely -- where they attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.  Moses sends Joshua out with some of the men of Israel and intercedes for them while they battle the Amalekites.  The Amalekites are defeated and the LORD asks Moses to write a scroll to commemorate the incident.  The LORD also says that He will blot out even the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven, and Moses says that the LORD would be at war against these Amalekites from generation to generation.  Why?  Well, for one thing, they were battling against Israel.  The LORD had promised Abraham that anyone who blessed Israel would be blessed, while anyone who cursed Israel would be cursed.  As the true God who keeps His promises/covenant with His people, He would deal decisively with anyone who opposed them.  It also seems that His punishment always fits the crime:  For example, the Egyptian Pharaoh who had tried to eliminate all of Israel's sons by drowning them in the Nile lost his own son in a terrible plague which destroyed all of Egypt's firstborn.  Also, that Pharaoh lost his life during the crossing of the Red Sea when he drowned while pursuing Israel.  It seems that whatever fate an enemy had planned for Israel comes back upon its own head.  On that basis alone (that they were trying to destroy His people), the LORD could justify wiping out the Amalekites.  However, there is more information presented in the book of Deuteronomy.  (See below.)

Numbers:  The book of Numbers reveals that the Amalekites lived in the Negev or the Sinai Peninsula.  Another passage says that they lived in the valleys along with the Canaanites.  Several verses later, it says that the Amalekites and Canaanites fought against Israel from the higher hill country.  It seems that the Amalekites were semi-nomadic, and would at times ally themselves with other nations.  However, they were consistently allied against Israel.

Deuteronomy:  The passages about the Amalekites in Deuteronomy give us additional information about the attack at Rephidim:

"Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt.

When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey

and cut off all who were lagging behind;

they had no fear of God.

When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you

in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance,

you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.

Do not forget."

Deuteronomy 25:17-19 (NIV)

It seems that the Amalekites did not face Israel head-on, but instead cut off the stragglers among Israel as they journeyed through the desert.  These stragglers would most likely have been civilians, not the fighting men.  Showing no fear of God, the Amalekites cut off  all who were lagging behind:  perhaps the elderly, the infirm, or any men, women or children who could not keep up with the main body because they were "weary and worn out" from their journey.  Throughout Scripture, God seems to have a special concern for the weak, the helpless, the poor, the fatherless, widows, and refugees.  Perhaps that is an additional reason why the LORD's response is so hostile.

When the prophet Balaam is hired to curse Israel, and he attempts to utter his oracle against Israel, he is instead compelled to bless the nation.  In Numbers 24:20, he says, "Amalek was first among the nations, but he will come to ruin at last."  I wondered what 'first among the nations' meant.  I didn't think it meant 'the first to attack Israel with the intent to wipe out the nation', because the Egyptians already had attempted that previously with the Pharaoh's plan to have all the Israelite males killed at birth.  Perhaps it meant 'first in military might or power'.  It seems that the descendants of Esau had kings (and probably the accompanying military structure) long before the Israelites (Genesis 36:31), so perhaps Esau's grandson Amalek, as a recognized chief or tribal leader, had ascended to some type of recognizable military power by the time Balaam uttered his reluctant oracle blessing Israel.  Maybe that means that although the Amalekites may be first in earthly might or power at that point, they would come to ruin because of how "they had no fear of God".  In this sense, the Amalekites become an example of a nation/power which opposes God.

Judges The book of Judges has some interesting passages about the Amalekites.  In Judges 3:13, it is revealed that when Israel kept on participating in idolatrous worship of idols, the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.  Eglon enlisted the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him in attacking Israel, and they suceeded in taking possession of Jericho (the City of Palms).  Israel was subject to Eglon for 18 years until the Israelites repented and God raised up Eglon the Benjamite to deliver them from Moab.

In Judges 5:14, it says "Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you."  I thought at first that it seemed to be saying that the Ephraimites were descendants of Amalek.  However, looking closer at the context of this verse, it is a listing of the tribes of Israel which helped Deborah and Barak fight against the Canaanite king Jabin's forces led by his captain Sisera.  (Judges 4:1-3)  These verses (actually all of Judges chapter 5) are a song by Deborah celebrating the LORD's victory over the Canaanites.  While it is true that the Amalekites seemed to have lived in the territory which the Ephraimites occupied, the context indicates that these Ephraimites and Benjamites were among those who were being commended for being among the first to join the fight against the LORD's enemies.  I will look into this situation more closely when we get to the book of Judges, but perhaps this verse is saying that the Ephraimites did not let the fact that they were from an area formerly occupied (or perhaps still partially occupied?) by the Amalekites get in the way of responding to the LORD's call for action against them.  Deborah's song later goes on to chide those tribes who did not participate in the battle. (Judges 5:16-17)

Judges 6:3,33 indicates that the Amalekites joined with other eastern peoples against Israel.  These Midianites, Amalekites and others would sweep through and destroy crops, animals and people on a regular basis.  Judges 7:12 reveals that these hostile forces were very numerous; they "settled in the valley, thick as locusts" and their camels "could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore."

Judges 10:11-12 is the LORD's accusation against Israel that although He had delivered them from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites, they had forsaken the LORD and served idols.  So He told them to call for help from these 'gods' for their current distress.  However, when Israel repented and removed these idols, God relented and delivered them.

Judges 12:15 indicates that the Amalekites lived in the territory occupied by Ephraim, "in the hill country of the Amalekites."  See information about Kadesh in Genesis section above.

I Samuel  Chapter 15 of this book is all about a battle against the Amalekites.  The prophet Samuel tells the Israelite king Saul that the LORD has ordered Saul to attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy them, including men, women,children, infants, cattle, sheep, and donkeys.  This is one of those passages which people recoil from in horror.  How could the LORD order such a thing?  The passage itself explains that the Amalekites were being punished for attacking the Israelites as they came out of Egypt.  (See the Exodus and Deuteronomy sections above for more information about why this punishment was so extensive.)  Notice that Saul warns another group of people -- the Kenites -- to leave the area so that they will not be destroyed in the upcoming battle.  They had "showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt." (v.6)  Obviously this is another case of the LORD keeping his covenant to Israel.  Part of His promises to Abraham was that "whoever blesses you I will bless and whoever curses you I will curse."  Apparently the Amalekites were being given exactly the same treatment which they had given the Israelites.  It is still a horrible situation, for it shows that sin is so destructive that it can result in harmful effects upon others who had no direct part in the sin.  However, God is not responsible for those results.  The Amalekites are responsible.  God has given people freedom to choose to follow Him or to choose the consequences of rejecting Him. [On a related note, the Amalekites were relatives of Esau, who had known of God and of the promises to Israel.  Word of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt had also spread throughout the land, even reaching to Jericho, for later, when Joshua is about to attack Jericho, the prostitute Rahab tells the spies that everyone is fearful because of the might of this God who delivered Israel from Egypt.  So it is not as though the Amalekites had not heard about Him.]  Instead of acknowledging God, they had attacked His people.  This puts matters in a different light.  It is still horrible that so many Amalekites had to die, but it puts the blame squarely upon the Amalekites when we realize that they knew exactly what they were getting into when they attacked the Israelites.

Other verses in I Samuel mention the Amalekites:

  I Samuel 14:48 shows that King Saul fought against many nations which were enemies of Israel, including the Amalekites.  This verse also indicates that the Amalekites had plundered Israel.

I Samuel 27:8 speaks of a time when David had fled to Gath (a Philistine town) to escape Saul's constant attempts upon his life.  David raided against the Geshurites, Girzites and the Amalekites instead of those who the Philistine king Achish thought he was raiding -- the Israelites.

I Samuel 28:18 speaks of how King Saul had not carried out the LORD's orders regarding destroying the Amalekites.  The LORD had refused to answer his inquiries because Saul had been rejected as king because of this and other disobedient actions.  Now Saul had consulted a witch because of his fears about an upcoming battle with the Philistines, so the LORD let him know that the Israelites would be defeated in this battle, and that both he and his sons would die.  His kingdom would go to David.

I Samuel 30:1,18 The Philistine rulers (apart from king Achish) did not trust David enough to allow him to participate with them in this battle against Israel, so they sent him back to Ziklag, the city David and his men had been assigned as a home.  When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had attacked and burned Ziklag and taken captive all who were there.  David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD indicated that he should pursue the raiders and rescue the captives.  On the way, they come across an Egyptian slave of an Amalekite, who had been abandoned when he fell ill.(v.13)  This man led David to where the Amalekites were camped, and David and his men were able to recover all the people and plunder.

Meanwhile, Saul and three of his sons die on Mount Gilboa in the battle against the Philistines.  Saul's sons die in battle, and Saul takes his own life after being mortally wounded.  The Israelites living nearby flee their towns when they realize that Saul is dead, and the Philistines come and occupy the towns.

II Samuel

David returns to Ziklag, and several day later, an Amalekite arrives and presents King Saul's crown and armband to David as evidence that Saul has died.  The man claimed that he had killed Saul, and that Saul had requested that he do so because he had been mortally injured.  The man apparently hoped that he would be given a reward for this 'service', but he was unaware of David's deep respect for the office of the LORD's anointed king, so David has him killed instead.  The fact that David carefully inquires about the man's identity (v.13) leads me to believe that this may also have had something to do with David's decision, for although David had already fled to Philistine territory before Saul's decision to keep an Amalekite king alive [despite the LORD's previous orders to destroy all of the Amalekites (I Samuel 15)], he certainly would have known about how the Amalekites had attacked the Israelites as they left Egypt years before, and that they often raided Israelite towns as well.  The fact that Amalekites had only recently (temporarily) captured David's wives at Ziklag would not have worked in the Amalekite's favor, either!  However, it does seem that the fact that the man had claimed to slay the LORD's anointed king was what really earned him his death sentence. (II Samuel 1:15-16)

Later, when David had been king for some time, he dedicates treasures which he had gained while fighting against many nations, including the Amalekites, to the LORD. (II Samuel 8:11-12)
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OK, those are all the verses that I know of which speak about the Amalekites.
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Update:  Although the verses discussed above are the only ones I know of which mention 'Amalek', 'Amalekite', or 'Amalekites' I did just remember another portion of Scripture which deals with this enmity between Israel and the Amalekites.  It is the book of Esther.  Don't worry, though, I will start a new post. 

Exodus 17:8-16 Amalekite Attack

"The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

Moses said to Joshua,

'Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites.

Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.'

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered,

and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,

but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone

and put it under him and he sat on it.

Aaron and Hur held his hands up --

one on one side, one on the other --

so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered

and make sure that Joshua hears it,

because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.'

Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.

He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD.

The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.' "

Exodus 17:8-16 (NIV)

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Some things to think about:  

• The Amalekites were the first nation to attack Israel after they left Egypt. 
• Another account of this incident found in Deuteronomy reveals that the Amalekites did not wage a fair fight against Israel's army, but instead attacked the weak and weary stragglers among the people at the rear of Israel's group.  (Deuteronomy 25:18)
• Joshua is soon to become Moses' aide.  Later, he will be his successor.  He is a faithful man and his experiences in the desert will help equip him for his later duties as he leads Israel into the Promised Land (Canaan).
• Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill to intercede for the Israelites.  The fact that the Israelites won while the staff was raised and did worse when the staff was lowered did not mean that the staff in itself was some type of magic charm.  Moses actions indicated that he was appealing to God for help in the battle.  The whole incident was an actual appeal to God for help, but it also became a very visual picture which showed the Israelites that victory was only from the LORD, and not from their own strength.  Aaron and Hur were a great help to Moses, keeping his hands steady till sunset.
• Hur was Miriam's husband according to the historian Josephus and other sources, although the Bible is silent on this.  Hur may also be the same man who is the son of Caleb (one of twelve men who later spied out the land of Canaan before Israel returned to it) and grandfather to Bezalel (one of the workers/craftsmen on the tabernacle).  We'll talk more about them later when they come up in the text.
• Joshua overcame the Amalekites, and the LORD ordered that a scroll was to be written to remember this incident, and to record that the LORD had promised to completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.
• Moses builds an altar and called it 'The LORD is my Banner'.  He also continues and notes that '...hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD'.  I believe it has sort of a double meaning, both that the LORD had answered Moses prayer when he lifted his hands to the LORD, and also that the LORD had proved victorious when the Amalekites' hands were stretched out against the people of the LORD (and thus, 'lifted up' against the throne (rule/authority) of the LORD Himself.
• Moses also notes that the LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.  This seems strange, doesn't it?  Why were they so particularly singled out for destruction?  I think that this will require another post to look at the Amalekites more closely.