Nadene Goldfoot
Amalek were a nomadic folk that wandered between Southern Canaan. They preyed on other people. They attacked the Israelites in the desert near Rephidim, just outside of Egypt's land shortly after the Exodus, annihilating the weak and weary found at the end of the Exodus grouping of people of 603,550. They were an ancient people mentioned several time in the Bible, almost always as hostile to Israel.
Amalekites behaved more like wolves would have, having no reason to attack such weak people. Were they possibly cannibalistic as well? Like wolves might have done? They may have been a more primitive group of people developmentally who were savage at this point in time, obviously people the Exodus wanted to avoid.
Notice the town of Sur, possible Amalekite land. Shur (Hebrew: שור, romanized: Šūr, sometimes rendered in translations as Sur) is a location mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible. James K. Hoffmeier believes that the 'way of Shur' was located along the Wadi Tumilat — an arable strip of land to the east of the Nile Delta, serving as the ancient transit route between Ancient Egypt and Canaan across the Sinai Peninsula.When Hagar ran away from Sarai (Abram's wife, her owner), "the Angel of the Lord found her ... by the well in the way to Shur" (Book of Genesis, Genesis 16:7, KJV). Shur is also mentioned in 1 Samuel 15:7 — "Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt." According to the Book of Exodus (Exodus 15:22–23), Marah is located in the "wilderness of Shur." Did the Amalekites prey on the people of Shur or was Shur their home base?
Where is Havilah? Havilah (Hebrew: חֲוִילָה Ḥăwīlāh) refers to both a land and people in several books of the Bible; the one mentioned in Genesis 2:10–11, while the other is mentioned in Genesis 10:7. In Genesis 2:10–11, it is associated with the Garden of Eden. Two individuals named Havilah are listed in the Table of Nations as descendants of Noah. The name also appears in Genesis 25:18, defining the territory of the Ishmaelites. Extra-biblical literature mentions Havilah as the source of precious jewels used by the Amorites. The exact location of Havilah is debated, with various scholars suggesting it may be in southwest Arabia or North Somalia.
Rephidim was a stop-over place for the Israelites, lying between the wilderness of Sin and the Sinai Desert (Num.33:14-15). While the people had made camp, Moses struck the rock there at Mt. Horeb, and a supply of drinking water was found. At Rephidim, the Israelites under Joshua repelled a surprise attack of the Amalekites (Exod.17). Rephidim's site is uncertain with some saying it was in the South of the Sinai peninsula, and others saying it was in the North. Mt. Horeb was at the foot of which Moses saw the burning bush (Exod. 3). In Deut., the name Horeb replaces SINAI, and the 2 mountains have become identified.
Amalekites were eventually defeated by the Israelite army under Joshua (Exod.7:8-13); Deut.25:17-19). Israel consequently regarded Amalek as an eternal foe, the extermination of which was a national mission (Exod.17: 13-16), incompletely carried out later by Saul (I Sam.15). That sounds pretty horrible to us today, more like Nazis against Jews. How could this have been?
During the period of the Judges later, (12th to 11th centuries BCE), Amalek penetrated Western Canaan at various points and their presence was a standing threat to the peace of the country.
In David's time, Amalek invaded southern Judea, burning the town of Ziklag. David fought and defeated them heavily, only 400 escaping (I Sam.30). Ziklag was an ancient city, there before Moses and the Exodus in the territory that Simeon would be given. In Saul's time (before David was king) Ziklag was held by the Philistines who handed it to David and it remained thereafter in the territory of Judah. (I Sam.27:6.).
In the reign of Hezekiah much later (720-690 BCE) the tribe of Simeon overwhelmed the Amalekites and settled in their territory.
The name of Amalek remained in rabbinic literature as a symbol of everlasting enmity to Israel, and Haman "the Agagite" (Est.3:1) is regarded as a descendant of Agag, king of Amalek. (1 Sam. 15:33).
Agag was captured in battle by King Saul of Israel who spared his life. The prophet, Samuel, regarded this as a transgression of the Divine command to wipe out the Amalekites and hewed Agag into pieces (1 Sam.15). I suppose it depends on which side one is one to regard what act is really disgusting and horrible. Samuel, a prophet, cut Agag into pieces! Our sensitivities have come a long way over 4,000 years! The Amalekites had been attacking the Israelites since the Exodus (of about 1579-1539 BCE) to king Saul (1000 BCE) or over a period of 580 years ) I would say that Samuel had had it! To him that would have been for forever!.
How the 12 tribes moved along on the Exodus is told in Bamidbar;
Bamidbar (Numbers) 10:11-28 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at HaShem’s command through Moses.
1. The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nachshon son of Amminadab was in command. 74,600
2.Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar,54,400
3.And Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. 57,400
Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out. The Gershonites were one of the four main divisions among the Levites in Biblical times. The Bible claims that the Gershonites were all descended from the eponymous Gershon a son of Levi. The Bible ascribes a specific religious function to the Gershonites, namely care of the curtains, hangings, and ropes of the sanctuary. This differentiation of religious activity between the Gershonites and other Levites, in particular the Aaronids, is found only in the Priestly Code.The Merarites were one of the four main divisions among the Levites in Biblical times. The Bible claims that the Merarites were all descended from the eponymous Merari, a son of Levi.
Notice that Levi, Jacob and Leah's 3rd son, is divided into the Cohens and the Levites. The Cohens are direct descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses (both Moses and Aaron being from Levi) and Levites are simply from the line of Levi. Cohens were given more responsibility. Levites lived with other tribes, teaching them their history and duties, because they were not to be awarded land.
4. The divisions of the camp of Reuben went next, under their standard. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command. 46,500
5. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, 59,300 Simeon lost the most people -37,100.
6.And Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. 45,650
Then the Kohathites (Kohens or Cohens, Levites, Israelites-religious duties) set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.
7. The divisions of the camp of Ephraim went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command. 40,500
8. Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, 32,200
9. And Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benyamin. 35,400
10. Finally, as the rear guard for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out, under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command. 62,700
11. Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher 41,500,
12. Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali 53,400. This was the marching order for the Israelite divisions as they set out. Naphtali had a loss of 8,000 people.
After the 40 years of travel from Egypt to Canaan, only Reuben, Simeon, Naphtali, Gad, and Ephraim showed losses of population 5/12 tribes.
Resource:
The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia
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