Parashat Beshallaḥ (Ex. 13:17-17:16) פָּרָשַׁת בְּשַׁלַּח
INTRODUCTION:
Parashat Beshallaḥ (Ex. 13:17-17:16) contains the following sidrot:
Fifty-Sixth Sidra՚ (continued from the previous parasha), the Exodus from Egypt, and the Egyptians pursue;
Fifty-Seventh Sidra՚, crossing the Sea of reeds, a song to YHWH, Marah, and Elim and Sin;
Fifty-Eighth Sidra՚, the manna and quail, and the Shabbath introduced;
Fifty-Ninth Sidra՚, the Shabbath, the manna described, water from the rock, and the Amalekites.
SYNOPSIS:
Fifty-Sixth Sidra՚ (Ex. 13:17-14:14 continued from the previous parasha): The Exodus from Egypt, and the Egyptians pursue.
Parashat Beshallaḥ opens with the words, "And it was when Pharaoh had sent free the people, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it is near; for God said lest the people be sorry when they see war and return to Egypt. So God led the people round by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds" (Ex. 13:17-18). The way of the land of the Philistines was a major trade route that ran along the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula which connects Egypt with Canaan and thus the rest of the ancient Near-East. The route was protected by garrisons of Philistines who were under the service of Pharaoh. As you may recall from parashat Wayyigash, Joseph made the Children of Israel swear that when their descendants leave Egypt they are to take his bones with them; Moses made sure that the vow was fulfilled. The people move on from Sukkoth, and encamp at Etham by the edge of the wilderness. We are not informed as to how long the journey from Sukkoth to Etham took, nor are we told how long the people encamped at Etham. The Torah tells us that YHWH went before the people, "by day in a column of cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a column of fire to give light to them" (Ex. 13:21). YHWH commands Moses to tell the Children of Israel to turn back and encamp by the sea in front of Pi Haḥiroth. The Torah informs us that this is between Migdol (tower) and the sea, in front of Baՙal-Ṣefon (master of the north, possibly a temple to the Canaanite god Baՙal); this is the area around the Bitter Lakes north of Suez. YHWH makes the people turn back upon themselves in order that Pharaoh will think that they have become confused not knowing which direction to take and with pursue them; and YHWH will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army.
Pharaoh regrets having freed the people, so he has his chariot harnessed, his troops mustered, and takes six hundred selected chariots - an Egyptian chariot consisted of a team of three - to pursue the Children of Israel. The Egyptian chariots, cavalry, and infantry catch up to the Children of Israel who are encamped near the sea, by Pi Haḥiroth in front of Baՙal-Ṣefon. The Children of Israel notice the Egyptians approaching and become very afraid, crying out to YHWH. The people turn on Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt, you have taken us to die in the wilderness; what is this you have done to us, for taking us out from Egypt. ...for it is better for us serving Egypt, from our dying in the wilderness" (Ex. 14:11,12); these same words will be spoken against Moses and YHWH on future occasions. Moses tells the people not to fear and see the salvation of YHWH.
Fifty-Seventh Sidra՚ (Ex. 14:15-16:3): Crossing the Sea of Reeds, a song to YHWH, Marah, and Elim and Sin.
The people are poised at the shore of the Sea of Reeds fearful of the advancing Egyptian army, when YHWH says to Moses, "Why do you cry to me; speak to the Children of Israel and they shall march (forward)" (Ex. 14:15). From this verse it would seem that Moses still does not truly comprehend the depth of his relationship with YHWH, all Moses and the people need to do is literally take the first step and YHWH will do the rest. The motto from the time of Abraham "Trust in YHWH" is once again being brought to the fore, as it is today. YHWH tells Moses to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea and it will split, enabling the Children of Israel to cross on dry land. Meanwhile, the angel of God who was stationed before the people now moves behind them as does the column of the cloud. The cloud lights up the night, and neither side could approach the other all through the night. YHWH causes a fierce east wind to blow all night long, which causes the waters to split revealing dry land. At daybreak the Children of Israel cross upon the dry land, and the Torah tells us, "and the waters a wall for them, on their right and on their left" (Ex. 14:22). The Egyptian army follows after them in hot pursuit, however, "YHWH looked out to the camp of Egypt, in the column of fire and of the cloud; and threw into panic, the camp of Egypt. And He removed the wheels of their chariots, and made them drive with heaviness" (Ex. 14:24-25). The Egyptians try and flee from before Israel, but YHWH tells Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and the waters will return upon Egyptians. Moses does so, and at the turn of morning the sea returns to its original place, covering the fleeing Egyptian army. The Torah tells us, "not even one of them remained" (Ex.14:28), however we are not told whether Pharaoh perished or not. "And Israel saw the great hand which YHWH did on Egypt, and the people revered YHWH; and they trusted in YHWH, and in Moses His servant." (Ex. 14:31)
Moses and the Children of Israel now sing a beautiful song to YHWH in praise of His triumph. This song is probably the oldest piece of poetry in the entire Miqra (Hebrew Bible). "And Miriam the prophetess Aaron's sister took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her, with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam chorused them; sing to YHWH for He has triumphantly exalted, horse and its rider he has cast into the sea" (Ex. 15:20-21); this is the first time that the name of Moses and Aaron's sister is mentioned.
Israel moves on from the Sea of Reeds to the Wilderness of Shur and travels through the wilderness for three days, with no water to be found. They reach an oasis called Marah (מָרָה from מָר - bitter) but its waters are bitter and undrinkable. The people murmur against Moses complaining that there is nothing to drink. Moses cries out to YHWH, and YHWH shows him a tree or a piece of wood (Hebrew can mean either) which Moses throws into the water and it became sweet. "There He placed on him law and judgment and there He tested them. And He said if you will hearken hearken to the voice of YHWH your God and will do what is upright in His eyes, and you listen to His commandments, and you keep all His laws; all the sickness which I placed on Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am YHWH your healer". (Ex. 15:25-26)
The people come to Elim which has twelve springs of water and seventy palms, and there they encamp by the water. They move on from Elim, and on the fifteenth day of the second month after they left Egypt "all the community of the Children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin" (Ex. 16:1), which is between Elim and Sinai. There all the community once again murmur against Moses and Aaron. The Children of Israel complain that they should have died by the hand of YHWH in the land of Egypt since there they had plenty of meat and bread to eat, not here in the wilderness where there is no food. We know from ancient Egyptian records that the Egyptians fed their slaves very well; well nourished slaves perform better than undernourished ones.
Fifty-Eighth Sidra՚ (Ex. 16:4-27): The manna and quail, and the Shabbath introduced.
YHWH obviously hears the Children of Israel complaining for He tells Moses that He will cause food to rain down food from the heavens. The food will rain down every day, but on the sixth a double portion will fall. YHWH wants to test the Children of Israel for it is written, "in order that I may test them whether they will walk according to My Torah or not" (Ex. 16:4). YHWH will send food in the evening and morning, but Moses is angry with the people since in truth their murmuring is not against Moses and Aaron, but against YHWH. Moses requests Aaron to tell all the community of the Children of Israel to come before YHWH. The entire community of the Children of Israel assemble and are facing the wilderness, and while Aaron is speaking to them, "behold the Glory of YHWH, appeared in the cloud" (Ex. 16:10). That evening a flock of quails came up and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp, and when the dew evaporated there was left on the surface of the wilderness a fine scaly substance like fine frost. "And when the Children of Israel saw it they said each man to his brother what is it (מָן הוּא), because they did not know what it was (מַה הוּא); and Moses said to them, this is the bread, that YHWH has given to you for eating" (Ex. 16:15). Moses tells the people that YHWH has commanded them to glean the manna according to the amount that each person per family can eat, which is fixed at an ՙomer (between 2.2 - 4.5 litres). When the Children of Israel glean the manna, no matter how much or how little an individual gleans, they always ended up with exactly an ՙomer and any manna remaining melted in the sun. Moses tells them that they are not to leave any of the manna for the morning, but some of the people do not listen and leave some of it for the morning. In the morning the manna was covered with worms and it stank. Moses becomes furious with them.
On the sixth day of the week the people glean two ՙomers worth of manna as they had been commanded, and the chieftains of the community went and told Moses. Moses tells them, "this is what YHWH spoke about, tomorrow is a ceasing (שַׁבָּתוֹן) a holy Shabbath (שַׁבָּת) to YHWH; whatever you shall bake ̶ bake and whatever you shall cook ̶ cook, and all the surplus, set aside for yourselves for safekeeping until the morning" (Ex. 16:23); this is the first time that the keeping of the Shabbath is ordained. The people did as Moses told them and put some of it aside for the morning, and in the morning the manna was not covered with worms nor did it stink. Moses tells the people, "eat it today, for today is a Shabbath to YHWH; today, you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall glean it; and on the seventh day a Shabbath there will not be any on it" (Ex. 16:25-26). Nevertheless, some of the people didn't listen and went out on the Shabbath to glean but there was not any.
Fifty-Ninth Sidra՚ (Ex. 16:28-17:16): The Shabbath, the manna described, water from the rock, and the Amalekites
"And YHWH said to Moses; how long will you refuse, to keep My commandments and My instructions. See that YHWH has given to you the Shabbath, therefore He gives to you on the sixth day bread for two days; stay each man where he is no man shall leave from his place on the seventh day. And the people ceased on the seventh day." (Ex. 16:25-30)
The Torah informs us that the House of Israel (first time that this term is used) called the bread from heaven manna (מָן) and it was like whitish coriander seed tasting like honey wafers. An ՙomer of the manna is set aside in a jar for future generations so that they will be able to see with what YHWH fed their ancestors while they were in the wilderness. We are informed that latter Aaron placed the jar containing the manna before the Testimony (i.e. the Ark of the Covenant), and that the Children of Israel ate the manna for the forty years until they came to the edge of the land of Canaan. We are also informed that an ՙomer is a tenth of an ՚efa.
All the community of the Children of Israel move on from the Wilderness of Sin and encamp at Rephidim, but there was no water to drink. The people quarrel with Moses about this as they did before, accusing him of bring them out of Egypt so as to die from thirst. Moses says to them, "why do you test YHWH" (Ex. 17:3). Moses cries to YHWH wanting to know what to do with the people for they are almost ready to stone him. YHWH tells Moses to pass before the people and to take some of the Elders of Israel with him. He is to strike the rock that is there with his staff and water will come out of it for the people to drink. Moses names the place Massah and Merivah (מַסָּה וּמְרִיבָה - Testing and Quarrelling) for they said, "Is YHWH among us or not" (Ex. 17:7).
While Israel is at Rephidim they are attacked by the Amalekites; an Edomite tribe. Moses tells Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - YHWH is salvation; this is the first time we meet Joshua) to hand pick from the people a fighting force, and tomorrow Moses will station himself on the top of the hill with his staff in hand, while Joshua launches a counter offensive against the Amalekites. Joshua attacks the Amalekites while Moses, Aaron and Ḥur go up to the top of the hill. Moses raises his arms in the air, and whenever his arms are raised the battle goes in the favour of Israel, but if his arms will fall the Amalekites will prevail. As the day progressed Moses' arms grow heavy, so they take a stone and place it under him so he can sit down, and Aaron and Ḥur support his arms until sunset. Israel prevails and the Amalekites are defeated. YHWH then commands Moses, "Write this remembrance in a book, and place it in the ears of Joshua; for I will wipe out - wipe out the memory of Amalek, from under the heavens" (Ex. 17:14). Moses builds an alter and calls it name: YHWH is My Banner, "And he said for the Hand on Yah's throne (i.e. YHWH has sworn by His throne), war for YHWH against Amalek; from generation to generation" (Ex. 17:16)
THE AUTHOR’S THOUGHTS:
Moses is commanded by YHWH, "Write this remembrance in a book, and place it in the ears of Joshua; for I will wipe out - wipe out the memory of Amalek, from under the heavens" (Ex. 17:14). YHWH will wipe out the memory of Amalek just because they attacked Israel?! Surely not! Where is the justice? Egypt enslaved us with bitter servitude, but YHWH didn't say that He will wipe out the memory of Egypt. Yes, Amalek's attack was a declaration of war; but does declaring war on Israel warrant such a drastic decree from YHWH? Probably not, for there are commandments in the Torah concerning war, nor is it a matter of "you cannot declare war on me, but I can declare war on you". War is a reality of this world - come the Messianic Era there will be no more war - but for the time being this is the world we live in whether we like it or not. However, when Amalek attacked without warning and without provocation we were a fledgling nation entering the stage of world history, and in the eyes of Amalek, we were vulnerable. This understanding is confirmed later on in the Torah for it is written, "Remember, what Amalek did to you; on the way at your going out from Egypt. That he encountered you on the way and attacked your tail all the worn out ones behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he did not revere God." (Deut. 25:17-18). In their war against Israel, Amalek showed neither chivalry nor bravery in the way they conducted war, but did show a complete lack of mercy by knowingly attacking the weak and defenceless.
Parashat Beshallaḥ (Ex. 13:17-17:16) contains the following sidrot:
Fifty-Sixth Sidra՚ (continued from the previous parasha), the Exodus from Egypt, and the Egyptians pursue;
Fifty-Seventh Sidra՚, crossing the Sea of reeds, a song to YHWH, Marah, and Elim and Sin;
Fifty-Eighth Sidra՚, the manna and quail, and the Shabbath introduced;
Fifty-Ninth Sidra՚, the Shabbath, the manna described, water from the rock, and the Amalekites.
SYNOPSIS:
Fifty-Sixth Sidra՚ (Ex. 13:17-14:14 continued from the previous parasha): The Exodus from Egypt, and the Egyptians pursue.
Parashat Beshallaḥ opens with the words, "And it was when Pharaoh had sent free the people, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it is near; for God said lest the people be sorry when they see war and return to Egypt. So God led the people round by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds" (Ex. 13:17-18). The way of the land of the Philistines was a major trade route that ran along the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula which connects Egypt with Canaan and thus the rest of the ancient Near-East. The route was protected by garrisons of Philistines who were under the service of Pharaoh. As you may recall from parashat Wayyigash, Joseph made the Children of Israel swear that when their descendants leave Egypt they are to take his bones with them; Moses made sure that the vow was fulfilled. The people move on from Sukkoth, and encamp at Etham by the edge of the wilderness. We are not informed as to how long the journey from Sukkoth to Etham took, nor are we told how long the people encamped at Etham. The Torah tells us that YHWH went before the people, "by day in a column of cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a column of fire to give light to them" (Ex. 13:21). YHWH commands Moses to tell the Children of Israel to turn back and encamp by the sea in front of Pi Haḥiroth. The Torah informs us that this is between Migdol (tower) and the sea, in front of Baՙal-Ṣefon (master of the north, possibly a temple to the Canaanite god Baՙal); this is the area around the Bitter Lakes north of Suez. YHWH makes the people turn back upon themselves in order that Pharaoh will think that they have become confused not knowing which direction to take and with pursue them; and YHWH will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army.
Pharaoh regrets having freed the people, so he has his chariot harnessed, his troops mustered, and takes six hundred selected chariots - an Egyptian chariot consisted of a team of three - to pursue the Children of Israel. The Egyptian chariots, cavalry, and infantry catch up to the Children of Israel who are encamped near the sea, by Pi Haḥiroth in front of Baՙal-Ṣefon. The Children of Israel notice the Egyptians approaching and become very afraid, crying out to YHWH. The people turn on Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt, you have taken us to die in the wilderness; what is this you have done to us, for taking us out from Egypt. ...for it is better for us serving Egypt, from our dying in the wilderness" (Ex. 14:11,12); these same words will be spoken against Moses and YHWH on future occasions. Moses tells the people not to fear and see the salvation of YHWH.
Fifty-Seventh Sidra՚ (Ex. 14:15-16:3): Crossing the Sea of Reeds, a song to YHWH, Marah, and Elim and Sin.
The people are poised at the shore of the Sea of Reeds fearful of the advancing Egyptian army, when YHWH says to Moses, "Why do you cry to me; speak to the Children of Israel and they shall march (forward)" (Ex. 14:15). From this verse it would seem that Moses still does not truly comprehend the depth of his relationship with YHWH, all Moses and the people need to do is literally take the first step and YHWH will do the rest. The motto from the time of Abraham "Trust in YHWH" is once again being brought to the fore, as it is today. YHWH tells Moses to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea and it will split, enabling the Children of Israel to cross on dry land. Meanwhile, the angel of God who was stationed before the people now moves behind them as does the column of the cloud. The cloud lights up the night, and neither side could approach the other all through the night. YHWH causes a fierce east wind to blow all night long, which causes the waters to split revealing dry land. At daybreak the Children of Israel cross upon the dry land, and the Torah tells us, "and the waters a wall for them, on their right and on their left" (Ex. 14:22). The Egyptian army follows after them in hot pursuit, however, "YHWH looked out to the camp of Egypt, in the column of fire and of the cloud; and threw into panic, the camp of Egypt. And He removed the wheels of their chariots, and made them drive with heaviness" (Ex. 14:24-25). The Egyptians try and flee from before Israel, but YHWH tells Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and the waters will return upon Egyptians. Moses does so, and at the turn of morning the sea returns to its original place, covering the fleeing Egyptian army. The Torah tells us, "not even one of them remained" (Ex.14:28), however we are not told whether Pharaoh perished or not. "And Israel saw the great hand which YHWH did on Egypt, and the people revered YHWH; and they trusted in YHWH, and in Moses His servant." (Ex. 14:31)
Moses and the Children of Israel now sing a beautiful song to YHWH in praise of His triumph. This song is probably the oldest piece of poetry in the entire Miqra (Hebrew Bible). "And Miriam the prophetess Aaron's sister took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her, with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam chorused them; sing to YHWH for He has triumphantly exalted, horse and its rider he has cast into the sea" (Ex. 15:20-21); this is the first time that the name of Moses and Aaron's sister is mentioned.
Israel moves on from the Sea of Reeds to the Wilderness of Shur and travels through the wilderness for three days, with no water to be found. They reach an oasis called Marah (מָרָה from מָר - bitter) but its waters are bitter and undrinkable. The people murmur against Moses complaining that there is nothing to drink. Moses cries out to YHWH, and YHWH shows him a tree or a piece of wood (Hebrew can mean either) which Moses throws into the water and it became sweet. "There He placed on him law and judgment and there He tested them. And He said if you will hearken hearken to the voice of YHWH your God and will do what is upright in His eyes, and you listen to His commandments, and you keep all His laws; all the sickness which I placed on Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am YHWH your healer". (Ex. 15:25-26)
The people come to Elim which has twelve springs of water and seventy palms, and there they encamp by the water. They move on from Elim, and on the fifteenth day of the second month after they left Egypt "all the community of the Children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin" (Ex. 16:1), which is between Elim and Sinai. There all the community once again murmur against Moses and Aaron. The Children of Israel complain that they should have died by the hand of YHWH in the land of Egypt since there they had plenty of meat and bread to eat, not here in the wilderness where there is no food. We know from ancient Egyptian records that the Egyptians fed their slaves very well; well nourished slaves perform better than undernourished ones.
Fifty-Eighth Sidra՚ (Ex. 16:4-27): The manna and quail, and the Shabbath introduced.
YHWH obviously hears the Children of Israel complaining for He tells Moses that He will cause food to rain down food from the heavens. The food will rain down every day, but on the sixth a double portion will fall. YHWH wants to test the Children of Israel for it is written, "in order that I may test them whether they will walk according to My Torah or not" (Ex. 16:4). YHWH will send food in the evening and morning, but Moses is angry with the people since in truth their murmuring is not against Moses and Aaron, but against YHWH. Moses requests Aaron to tell all the community of the Children of Israel to come before YHWH. The entire community of the Children of Israel assemble and are facing the wilderness, and while Aaron is speaking to them, "behold the Glory of YHWH, appeared in the cloud" (Ex. 16:10). That evening a flock of quails came up and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp, and when the dew evaporated there was left on the surface of the wilderness a fine scaly substance like fine frost. "And when the Children of Israel saw it they said each man to his brother what is it (מָן הוּא), because they did not know what it was (מַה הוּא); and Moses said to them, this is the bread, that YHWH has given to you for eating" (Ex. 16:15). Moses tells the people that YHWH has commanded them to glean the manna according to the amount that each person per family can eat, which is fixed at an ՙomer (between 2.2 - 4.5 litres). When the Children of Israel glean the manna, no matter how much or how little an individual gleans, they always ended up with exactly an ՙomer and any manna remaining melted in the sun. Moses tells them that they are not to leave any of the manna for the morning, but some of the people do not listen and leave some of it for the morning. In the morning the manna was covered with worms and it stank. Moses becomes furious with them.
On the sixth day of the week the people glean two ՙomers worth of manna as they had been commanded, and the chieftains of the community went and told Moses. Moses tells them, "this is what YHWH spoke about, tomorrow is a ceasing (שַׁבָּתוֹן) a holy Shabbath (שַׁבָּת) to YHWH; whatever you shall bake ̶ bake and whatever you shall cook ̶ cook, and all the surplus, set aside for yourselves for safekeeping until the morning" (Ex. 16:23); this is the first time that the keeping of the Shabbath is ordained. The people did as Moses told them and put some of it aside for the morning, and in the morning the manna was not covered with worms nor did it stink. Moses tells the people, "eat it today, for today is a Shabbath to YHWH; today, you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall glean it; and on the seventh day a Shabbath there will not be any on it" (Ex. 16:25-26). Nevertheless, some of the people didn't listen and went out on the Shabbath to glean but there was not any.
Fifty-Ninth Sidra՚ (Ex. 16:28-17:16): The Shabbath, the manna described, water from the rock, and the Amalekites
"And YHWH said to Moses; how long will you refuse, to keep My commandments and My instructions. See that YHWH has given to you the Shabbath, therefore He gives to you on the sixth day bread for two days; stay each man where he is no man shall leave from his place on the seventh day. And the people ceased on the seventh day." (Ex. 16:25-30)
The Torah informs us that the House of Israel (first time that this term is used) called the bread from heaven manna (מָן) and it was like whitish coriander seed tasting like honey wafers. An ՙomer of the manna is set aside in a jar for future generations so that they will be able to see with what YHWH fed their ancestors while they were in the wilderness. We are informed that latter Aaron placed the jar containing the manna before the Testimony (i.e. the Ark of the Covenant), and that the Children of Israel ate the manna for the forty years until they came to the edge of the land of Canaan. We are also informed that an ՙomer is a tenth of an ՚efa.
All the community of the Children of Israel move on from the Wilderness of Sin and encamp at Rephidim, but there was no water to drink. The people quarrel with Moses about this as they did before, accusing him of bring them out of Egypt so as to die from thirst. Moses says to them, "why do you test YHWH" (Ex. 17:3). Moses cries to YHWH wanting to know what to do with the people for they are almost ready to stone him. YHWH tells Moses to pass before the people and to take some of the Elders of Israel with him. He is to strike the rock that is there with his staff and water will come out of it for the people to drink. Moses names the place Massah and Merivah (מַסָּה וּמְרִיבָה - Testing and Quarrelling) for they said, "Is YHWH among us or not" (Ex. 17:7).
While Israel is at Rephidim they are attacked by the Amalekites; an Edomite tribe. Moses tells Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - YHWH is salvation; this is the first time we meet Joshua) to hand pick from the people a fighting force, and tomorrow Moses will station himself on the top of the hill with his staff in hand, while Joshua launches a counter offensive against the Amalekites. Joshua attacks the Amalekites while Moses, Aaron and Ḥur go up to the top of the hill. Moses raises his arms in the air, and whenever his arms are raised the battle goes in the favour of Israel, but if his arms will fall the Amalekites will prevail. As the day progressed Moses' arms grow heavy, so they take a stone and place it under him so he can sit down, and Aaron and Ḥur support his arms until sunset. Israel prevails and the Amalekites are defeated. YHWH then commands Moses, "Write this remembrance in a book, and place it in the ears of Joshua; for I will wipe out - wipe out the memory of Amalek, from under the heavens" (Ex. 17:14). Moses builds an alter and calls it name: YHWH is My Banner, "And he said for the Hand on Yah's throne (i.e. YHWH has sworn by His throne), war for YHWH against Amalek; from generation to generation" (Ex. 17:16)
THE AUTHOR’S THOUGHTS:
Moses is commanded by YHWH, "Write this remembrance in a book, and place it in the ears of Joshua; for I will wipe out - wipe out the memory of Amalek, from under the heavens" (Ex. 17:14). YHWH will wipe out the memory of Amalek just because they attacked Israel?! Surely not! Where is the justice? Egypt enslaved us with bitter servitude, but YHWH didn't say that He will wipe out the memory of Egypt. Yes, Amalek's attack was a declaration of war; but does declaring war on Israel warrant such a drastic decree from YHWH? Probably not, for there are commandments in the Torah concerning war, nor is it a matter of "you cannot declare war on me, but I can declare war on you". War is a reality of this world - come the Messianic Era there will be no more war - but for the time being this is the world we live in whether we like it or not. However, when Amalek attacked without warning and without provocation we were a fledgling nation entering the stage of world history, and in the eyes of Amalek, we were vulnerable. This understanding is confirmed later on in the Torah for it is written, "Remember, what Amalek did to you; on the way at your going out from Egypt. That he encountered you on the way and attacked your tail all the worn out ones behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he did not revere God." (Deut. 25:17-18). In their war against Israel, Amalek showed neither chivalry nor bravery in the way they conducted war, but did show a complete lack of mercy by knowingly attacking the weak and defenceless.
