The Secret War: Jews, Amalek, And The Battle For Truth
- Hidden Archivez
- Oct 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 21, 2024
The text at the side (in Dutch and Hebrew) is from Deuteronomy 25:17, 19 –
"Remember what Amalek has done to you ... do not forget."
Photo Cred: Jewish Telegraphic Agency
What Is Amalek?
The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, were an ancient biblical nation living near the land of Canaan. They were the first nation to attack the Jewish people after the Exodus from Egypt, and they are seen as the arch-enemy of the Jews.
(No archaeological evidence of the Amalekites exists that can be distinguished from their Edomite and other semitic counterparts. It is thus impossible to identify them historically outside of the biblical record, which is written by their mortal enemies, the very people who claim to have exterminated them at God's command.)
But what does this biblical concept truly represent?
The story of Amalek begins in the Book of Exodus (17:8-16), where the Amalekites, descendants of Esau's grandson Amalek, attack the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt.
After the Jewish people crossed the Red Sea, they encamped in Rephidim, a barren location in the Sinai Desert. The people thirsted for water, and God provided a miraculous well of water to accompany them on their journeys.
While the Jews were still at Rephidim, recuperating from their escape from Egypt, the nation of Amalek launched a vicious surprise attack on them though the Jews had no designs on Amalekite territory and were not even headed in that direction.
Moses commanded his disciple Joshua to take an elite troop of soldiers into battle the next day. Moses himself ascended a nearby mountain to pray for Gods salvation.
The Jews defeated Amalek in battle, killing their strongest warriors while allowing the others to return home.
Following the battle, God commanded Moses to record the story of Amalek’s treacherous attack for posterity, and to enjoin Moses’ future successor, Joshua, to remember the attack as well.
God promised to completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from the earth, and to wage an eternal war with Amalek in every generation. God swore that His name and throne would not be complete until Amalek was destroyed.
(Exodus 17:16)
"…the LORD will be at war against Amalek from generation to generation."
This declaration establishes Amalek as an eternal adversary of the Jewish people.
(A Jewish view on Amalek... I do NOT have these views)
However, this narrative has been exploited to justify violence and exclusion.
Nationalist Interpretations
Some Israeli interpretations of Amalek have:
Legitimized aggression:
1. Justification for military operations: Amalek is invoked to legitimize actions against perceived threats, perpetuating cycles of violence.
2. Targeted assassinations: Amalek's concept has been used to justify extrajudicial killings.
3. Disproportionate force: Amalek's narrative has been exploited to justify excessive military responses.
Fueled xenophobia:
1. Dehumanization: Amalek's label has been applied to Palestinians, Arabs, and other groups, denying their humanity.
2. Anti-Arab sentiment: Amalek has been used to fuel hatred and mistrust towards Arab citizens of Israel.
3. Islamophobia: Amalek's narrative has been linked to anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Distorted Jewish identity:
1. Us-vs-them mentality: Amalek's symbolism reinforces division and exclusivity.
2. Supremacism: Some interpretations posit Jewish superiority, undermining equality.
3. Fear-mongering: Amalek's narrative perpetuates fear, justifying extreme measures.
Harmful Consequences:
1. Escalating conflict: Amalek's narrative perpetuates violence.
2. Marginalizing minorities: Amalek's label targets vulnerable groups.
3. Damaging Israel's reputation: Amalek's interpretation harms Israel's global standing.
Critique of Modern Applications As an Israeli critic, I argue that:
Amalek has become a justification for occupation, oppression and genocide.
The concept perpetuates a victimhood narrative, obscuring Israel's role in perpetuating conflict.
Amalek has been used to demonize political opponents and dissenting voices.
Parts Cited From:
Who Were The Amalekites?
(A Jewish view on Amalek... I do NOT have these views)
To Wipe Out Amalek
The mitzvah to destroy Amalek implies that no trace of Amalek’s existence could be left
“Nothing,” explain the sages, “could serve as a reminder of Amalek’s name, not even an animal about which it could be said, ‘This animal belonged to Amalek.’”
(As has been shown in Palestine, killing women, children and all living livestock)
Saul was victorious against the Amalekites, but spared the choicest of their flocks and the Amalekite king, Agag.
When Samuel found out about Saul’s disobedience, Saul lost his right to kingship. Samuel then killed Agag himself.
However, before he was killed, Agag sired a child who would keep Amalek’s lineage alive. Some 500 years later, one of this child’s descendants was Haman the Agagite, of Purim fame.
Netanyahu Calls Palestinians Amalek
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israelis were united in their fight against Hamas, whom he described as an enemy of incomparable cruelty.
“They are committed to completely eliminating this evil from the world,” Netanyahu said in Hebrew.”
He then added:
“You must remember what Amalek has done to you, says our Holy Bible. And we do remember.”
There are more than 23,000 verses in the Old Testament. The ones Netanyahu turned to, as Israeli forces launched their ground invasion in Gaza, are among its most violent and have a long history of being used by Jews on the far right to justify killing Palestinians.
As others quickly pointed out, God commands King Saul in the first Book of Samuel to kill every person in Amalek, a rival nation to ancient Israel.
“This is what the Lord Almighty says,” the prophet Samuel tells Saul.
“I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Cited From:
Video Of Netanyahu Calling Palestinians Amalek
Critics Of Israel's View On Amalek
Academic Journals:
1. "The Amalek Syndrome: Reflections on Jewish Violence"
- Journal of Jewish Studies (2017)
2. "Amalek and the Occupation"
- Israel Studies (2015)
3. "The Use and Abuse of Amalek"
- Jewish Quarterly Review (2013)
Books:
1. "The Amalek Syndrome:
A Study in Jewish Violence" by David C. Jacobson (2017)
2. "Amalek: The Enemy in Jewish Memory"
by Yehiel Grenimann (2015)
3. "The Myth of Amalek"
by Zvi Leshem (2011)
News Articles and Opinion Pieces:
1. "The Amalek Complex"
- Haaretz (2020)
2. "Amalek and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict"
- The Forward (2019)
3. "The Dark Side of Amalek"
- The Jerusalem Post (2018)
Organizations:
1. +972 Magazine:
Critiques Israeli policies and societal issues.
2. B'Tselem:
Documents human rights abuses in occupied territories.
3. Breaking the Silence:
Testimonies from Israeli soldiers.
Rabbinic and Jewish Voices:
1. Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie:
Former President, Union for Reform Judaism.
2. Rabbi Brant Rosen:
Rabbi and social justice advocate.
3. Jewish Voice for Peace:
Organization promoting Jewish-Palestinian coexistence.