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Megillat Esther: An Introduction
Insights To The Megilla
Audio Megilla ReadingDo You Believe In Miracles?
Faith & Commitment
The Hidden Nature Of G-d Jewish Unity
Women Heroines: Esther & Purim
Jews & Antisemitism Behind The Mask: Insights Into Purim
The Willing Suspension Of Disbelief
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin On Purim
Many nations have attacked Am Yisrael throughout its history, yet for some reason, Amalek is singled out as Israel's 'arch enemy'. What was so terrible about Amalek's attack that requires a battle for all generations? By carefully reading the Torah's description of this event, we are able to uncover some amazing details which will enhance our understanding of "Milchemet Amalek".
Who's In Rfidim?
"And Amalek came, and attacked Israel at RFIDIM..." (Shmot 17:8)
When we read these psukim, we assume that ALL of Bnei Yisrael are encamped in Rfidim when Amalek attacked. However, a careful reading of the previous 'parsha' - the story of MASSA U'MRIVA - suggests quite the opposite! When Amalek attacks, Bnei Yisrael appear to be 'on the road' - on their WAY from Rfidim TO HAR SINAI.
To prove this, we must review the story of MASA U'MRIVA, which begins with Bnei Yisrael's arrival at Rfidim: "And Bnei Yisrael travelled from MIDBAR SIN... and encamped it RFIDIM, and there was NO WATER for the people to drink... and they quarrelled with Moshe..." (17:1-3)
We all know how the story continues. God instructs Moshe to take his staff and STRIKE the ROCK. Water then gushes forth from the rock and Bnei Yisrael quench their thirst - end of story. Not so fast... There is a small detail in this story which is often overlooked. The rock which Moshe hits is NOT in Rfidim, RATHER, it is located at HAR SINAI! "God said to Moshe, PASS BEFORE the people, TAKE with you SOME OF THE ELDERS, and take the staff... I will be standing before you at the ROCK at CHOREV, strike the rock [there] and water will issue from it... (17:5-6)
In other words, God tells Moshe to go to CHOREV (=Har Sinai/ see 3:1,12), taking along a select group of national leaders to witness this miracle at the rock.
Now the Torah informs that Moshe performed this miracle before the eyes of these elders (17:6). However, there are NO details of precisely how Bnei Yisrael drank this water.
Considering that the rock is at Chorev and the people are at Rfidim, is it not likely that the elders carried back with them a sufficient supply of water to provide for the entire camp. More likely, the water gushing out from Har Chorev started a small river bed which meandered its way to Rfidim. That water quenched the people's thirst, but let's be realistic, if you had spent several days at Rfidim suffering from terrible thirst in a hot desert with no water to drink, and you saw a new river bed forming, you (and everyone else in your camp) would follow that river right to its source!
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Bnei Yisrael, upon seeing this water, immediately decided to move their camp from Rfidim directly to Har Sinai. One could also assume that this journey was not very organized. The stronger people most probably ran ahead to secure the water and set up the new camp site, while those who were 'weak and tired' lingered behind.
Amalek Attacks
It is precisely at this point when Amalek attacks!
-"Amalek came, and attacked Israel at RFIDIM..." (17:8), but who is in Rfidim? Only a remnant of the camp - the weak and the tired - the women and children. Agreed, our interpretation thus far has been based on conjecture and 'reading between the lines', however, in the parallel account of this story in Sefer Dvarim, we find precisely these missing details: "Remember what Amalek did to you BA'DERECH (on your journey) when you left Egypt - for he surprised you BA'DERECH [i.e. while you were travelling], and cut down ALL THE STRAGGLERS IN YOUR REAR, while you were FAMISHED & WEARY..." (25:17-18)
Attacking in this fashion, Amalek takes advantage of Am Yisrael's predicament. [They break the laws of the 'Geneva Conference'.] Even in war there are accepted norms of conduct; men fight men, armies engage armies. Amalek's attack is unethical.
Yirat Elokim
Further support of this interpretation is found in the conclusion of the pasuk which we quoted above from Sefer Dvarim:
"...v'LO YA'RAY ELOKIM - and he (Amalek) did not fear God" (Dvarim 25:18)
This phrase - YA'RAY ELOKIM - in the context of unethical (or immoral) behavior, is found numerous times in Chumash. For example, in Avraham's explanation to Avimelech why he lied to him about Sarah:
"And Avraham explained (to Avimelech), for I said (to myself) there is no YIRAT ELOKIM in this place, and therefore they will kill me... (to take my wife)" (Breishit 20:11)
In this context, a lack of YIRAT ELOKIM describes a person who would kill a visitor in order to take his wife. [Quite unethical according to most any standards.]
Similarly, Yosef's release of his imprisoned brothers is described as an act of YIRAT ELOKIM - ethical behavior:
"... ET ELOKIM ANI YA'RAY... [therefore] only one of you must remain in jail and the rest of you can bring food to your family and bring back your youngest brother [to prove that you are telling the truth]..." (See 42:15-18)
The Counter Attack
This interpretation also explains a strange detail in the Torah's description of the counter attack, as detailed in Parshat Bshalach. When Moshe hears of Amalek's attack, he instructs Yehoshua to launch a counter attack - MACHAR - the next day:
"Go fight Amalek... MACHAR - TOMORROW - I (Moshe) will be standing at the top of the hill with the MATEH ELOKIM..."
(17:9/ See Ibn Ezra - "givah"=Har Sinai!)
Shouldn't Yehoshua engage Amalek immediately? Based on our explanation, since the leaders (Moshe & the elders) and most of the men are already at Har Sinai, it will take a day for Yehoshua to organize the troops and march them back towards Rfidim.
Spoiling Har Sinai
Up until this point we have discussed the unethical nature of Amalek's attack. Yet, the eternal mitzvah to 'erase the memory of Amalek' for all generations suggests a spiritual theme as well.
Recall from last year's shiur, that the entire journey from Egypt to Har Sinai served as sort of a 'training mission' to spiritually prepare Bnei Yisrael for Matan Torah. As we explained above, in their first encounter, Bnei Yisrael perceive Har Sinai as a spring flowing with water, the source of their salvation from their terrible thirst. The 'stage has been set' for Matan Torah.
Amalek's attack almost 'spoils' this encounter. [See Shir Ha'shirim 1:4.] Amalek attempts to prevent Am Yisrael from achieving their Divine destiny. The nature of this struggle remains throughout our history. Even once Am Yisrael conquers its internal enemy and is finally prepared to follow God, forces of evil in mankind, unwilling to allow God's message to be heard, will always make one last attack.
Am Yisrael must remain prepared to fight this battle against Amalek for all generations:
"Ki yad al kes Kah, Milchama Hashem B'Amalek, m'dor dor." (17:16)
(Article written by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag and extracted from the Tanach Study Center.)
