Questions tagged [amalek]
Ancient adversary of Israel and enemy of God from the offspring of Edom. They are prophesied to meet eternal ruin and Israel is commanded to erase their memory from beneath the heavens.
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Who are the amalekites today? [duplicate]
I am wondering which nation are the amalekites today. I have heard that they are either Germany or Russia. I think Russia, but also others have said that amalek had assimilated into a few nations, ...
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Why was King Shaul commanded to kill all the animals of Amalek?
In the Haftorah for parshas Zochor we read that Hashem commanded King Shaul not only to destroy all the Amalekites, but also all their animals. Why was there a need to destroy also the animals?
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Why Can't Moshe's Hands Perform Miracles?
The Torah (Shemos 17) describes a battle between Israel and Amalek in Refidim, and says that when Moshe's hands were raised, the Israel would be winning, but when he lowered his hands Amalek would ...
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Who did Yehoshua weaken with the sword?
The verse says (Shemos 17:13): And Yehoshua weakened Amalek and his nation in accordance with the sword.
Who did he weaken exactly - what's the difference between Amalek and his nation? Or is there a ...
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Had B'nai Yisra'el not sent the spies, would they have had to fight against Amalek?
Rashi on Devarim 1:8 says that if it weren't for the sin with the spies, we would have never needed armaments.
Bamidbar 14:25 tells us that Amalek lived in the valleys, and Devarim 25:29 states that ...
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Treating with Amalek
The nation of Amalek sets itself apart as being eternally at war with Gd, (Ex. 17:16). We are commanded to eradicate the memory of Amalek from the world, (Deut 25:19). Yet Maimonides codifies an ...
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Why does Samuel turn to leave and then kill agag?
In Samuel I 15:27 Samuel turns to leave then Saul admits guilt, asks for forgiveness, and prostrates, and then Samuel summons Agag and kills him.
It seems that had Saul not stopped Samuel, he would ...
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What historical figures have been identified as 'Amalek?
Adolf Hitler is often said to have been from 'Amalek. I've even heard it said not only figuratively but literally (how one could know that is a mystery to me).
What other historical figures are ...
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Amalekim's disguise as Canaanites in Chukas
Rashi (in parshas Chukas perek 21 pasuk 1) says that Amalek attacked the Jews, and that the pasuk calls them Canaanites because the Amaleikim had learned the Canaanite language (so the Jews would pray ...
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Killing all of 'Amalek - Mitzvah or Reshuth?
This may be two questions that are closely related.
Would engaging in war with 'Amalek without a specific command (a la Shaul) be a Milhemeth Mitzvah or Milhemeth Reshuth?
Is killing all of 'Amalek (...
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The 500 men killed in Shushan, and the 500 Jews who killed Amaleki
Is there a source to connect (mystically, or otherwise) those enemies of the Jews (presumably Amaleki) killed in Megillas Esther 9:12 with the 500 men from the tribe of Shimon who killed out the ...
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How to reconcile? I must eradicate the memory of Amalek but I must help the ass of the one who hates me.
It’s Parshas Zochor (Dvarim 25) this Shabbos. “There is a mitzvah in the Torah to remember Amalek and his descendants and to orally recall their iniquity. We are to tell our children in each ...
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Why does Rashi say Yisro heard *two* things?
Shemot 18:1:
וישמע יתרו: מה שמועה שמע ובא, קריעת ים סוף ומלחמת עמלק
Now…Jethro…heard: What news did he hear that [made such an impression that] he came? The splitting of the Red Sea and the war with ...
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Dovid haMelech and Amalek
In Shmuel Alef chapter 15 Shaul HaMelech (King Saul) loses his kingship because in his battle against Amalek he failed to kill King Agag and saved livestock to offer as sacrifices.
Later we find ...
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