[Par-reg] Parshat Beshalach - shiur #2

[Menachem Leibtag]

********************************************************
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     THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
          In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
     Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
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*****

                    PARSHAT BESHALACH
 
             "AMALEK - - V'LO YA'RAY ELOKIM"
 
     Many nations have attacked and oppressed 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'?
     To answer this question, we examine some very
interesting
details in the Torah's description of this event (that
are
often overlooked) in attempt to determine if Amalek is
something 'genetic' or 'generic'.

INTRODUCTION
  The details of Amalek's attack on Israel in Parshat
Besalach
are quite scant.  However, by considering when this
battle
takes place, as well as the parallel source in Sefer
Devarim,
a more complete picture emerges - that can help us
understand
why Amalek remains Israel's 'eternal' enemy.
  We begin our study with a discussion of 'who is where'
when
Amalek first attacks.

WHO'S IN REFIDIM?
     Note how the Torah begins the story of Amalek,
immediately after the story of "massa u'meriva":
     "And Amalek came, and attacked Israel at
REFIDIM..."
                         (see Shmot 17:8, after 17:1-7)
     From this pasuk alone, it would seem as though ALL
of
Bnei Yisrael are encamped in Refidim when Amalek
attacked.
However, when we consider what took place during the
previous
event (i.e. the story of "massa u'meriva"), a very
different
picture emerges.  Let's review those events:
  "And Bnei Yisrael traveled from MIDBAR SIN... and
encamped
  in REFIDIM, and there was no water for the people to
  drink... and they quarreled with Moshe..." (17:1-3)

     To solve this water shortage, God instructs Moshe
to take
his staff hit the rock etc.  However, recall where that
rock
is located:
  "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)

     The rock that Moshe hits is NOT in Refidim -
rather, it
is located at Har Sinai!  Therefore, to drink this
water, the
entire nation will now need to travel from Refidim to
Har
Sinai (as we discussed in our first shiur on Parshat
Beshalach).
     Imagine the resulting situation: The entire nation,
who
had suffered several days of life-threatening thirst in
a hot
desert, must now first quench its immediate thirst, and
then
move its camp to the new water source at Har Sinai.
Those who
still had strength probably went first to the water
source to
bring supplies back to those who were too weak to
travel.
  One could also assume that this journey was not very
organized, with the stronger men advancing ahead to set
up the
new campsite, 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 REFIDIM..." (see
17:8).
But who is in Refidim?  - Only a remnant of the camp -
the
weak and the tired - most probably, primarily 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 Devarim, 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 traveling] and cut down ALL THE
STRAGGLERS IN
  YOUR REAR, while you were FAMISHED & WEARY..."    (see
  Devarim 25:17-18)

     Amalek capitalizes on Bnei Yisrael's disadvantage.
[They
break the laws of the 'Geneva Convention.']  Even in war
there
are accepted norms of conduct; men fight men, armies
engage
armies. Amalek's attack is outright unethical, even by
wartime
standards.
     [See Rashi & Ibn Ezra on "ayeif v'yagaya" on
Devarim
25:18.]

YIRAT ELOKIM
     Further support of this interpretation may be drawn
from
the conclusion of the pasuk cited earlier from Sefer
Devarim:
  "...v'LO YA'RAY ELOKIM - and he (Amalek) did not fear
God."
        (Devarim 25:18, see Rashi & Ibn Ezra in contrast
to
Chizkuni)

     This phrase - YA'RAY ELOKIM - in the context of
unethical
(or immoral) behavior is found numerous times in
Chumash. For
example, Avraham offers Avimelech the following
explanation
for lying about his wife:
  "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
one
who would kill a visitor in order to take his wife.
[Quite
unethical according to even the lowest moral standards.]

     Similarly, Yosef - pretending to be an Egyptian
official
- tells the brothers that he will release them from
jail,
allowing them a chance to prove that they are not spies.
He
prefaces his decision to his brothers with the phrase:
"... ET
HA'ELOKIM ANI YA'RAY..." (see Breishit 42:15-18).  From
this
conversation, we see once again how the phrase "yirat
Elokim"
in the Bible seems to be 'internationally' understood as
a
description of ethical behavior.
     We find yet another example at the beginning of
Sefer
Shmot, as the Torah describes how the midwives 'feared
Elokim'
by not obeying Pharaoh's command to kill the male
babies:
"v'ti'rena ha'myaldot et ha'Elokim..."  (see Shmot
1:21).
  [Note as well Yitro's comment in Shmot 18:21,
suggesting to
  appoint judges who are "yirei Elokim", among a list of
other
  'ethical' characteristics. / See also our TSC shiur on
the
  Akeyda. (www.tanach.org/breishit/vayera.doc), which
  discusses this phrase in greater detail.]

     All of these examples support our interpretation of
the
phrase "v'lo yarey Elokim" by Amalek - as reflective of
their
unethical behavior - waging war on the weak and
unprotected.

     Based on this analysis, we conclude that Torah may
have
singled out Amalek as Israel's 'arch enemy' not merely
because
they were the first nation to attack Israel, but rather
due to
the unethical nature of that attack.
     In this sense, one could suggest that "zecher
Amalek" -
the remembrance of Amalek - could be understood as a
'generic'
term describing any aggressive nation that would act in
a
similar unethical manner, and not necessarily a
'genetic'
term, describing any family descendent of those people
who
attacked Israel at Refidim.
     Let's attempt to support this conclusion, and its
underlying logic.

AMALEK IN THE BIBLE
     The commandment to remember what Amalek did (see
both
Shmot 17:16 and Devarim 25:17) seems to apply to every
generation, even after the original ('genetic') Amalek
is
wiped out.  The eternal nature of this law - to
'remember
Amalek' - suggests that Amalek may also represent any
similar
('generic') type of enemy that may emerge in future
generations.
  To support this understanding, note how Amalek emerges
in
mass numbers during the time of David (see Shmuel Aleph
27:7-9
and 30:1-3!), only a short time after they were 'totally
wiped
out' by Shaul (ibid. chapter 15).
  Note as well how Amalek attacked the 'women and
children' of
David's camp in Tziklag, taking them captive - at the
same
time when David and his men had left on a mission.  [It
is
recommended that you read that entire account (see
30:1-19).]
Here, we find not only the name Amalek, but a very
similar
manner of ('unethical') warfare.
  In fact, if one follows Amalek's whereabouts in
Chumash - we
find them all over:
  * In the western Sinai desert -
     when Bnei Yisrael leave Egypt (Parshat Beshalach).
  * in the northen Negev (near Kadesh Barnea)
     when the spies return (in Parshat Shlach / see
14:25).
  * east of the Dead Sea (in Jordan),
    when Bilam 'blesses' them in Parshat Balak (see
24:20).

     Then, in Sefer Shoftim, we find them joining in
battle
against Israel, no matter who the primary enemy was:
     * joining the Moabites in battle in the time Ehud
               (see Shoftim 3:13)
     * attacking in the area of Efraim in the time of
Devora)
               (see Shoftim 5:14, precise context
unclear)
     * attacking Emek Yizrael, joining Midyan, in the
time of
Gidon
               (see Shoftim 6:3 & 6:33)
    [Not to mention the battles of Shaul and David
against
    Amalek, as mentioned above.]
    
  Yet in all of these battles, we never find Amalek
living in
any specific land, rather a nomadic tribe - roaming the
desert, looking for easy prey.  Furthermore, we never
find a
mention of their god.  Even when Sefer Shoftim mentions
the
gods of the other nations that Bnei Yisrael worshiped,
we find
the gods of Aram, Tzidon, Edom, Moav, Amon, and
Phlishtim (see
Shoftim 10:6), we never find even a mention of the god
of
Amalek.
     Amalek emerges as a nation with no god, and no
land.
Their primary goal appears to be the denial of Israel's
right
to exist.  At any time of Israel's weakness, they swoop
in and
attack.
     Another proof that Amalek must be destroyed because
of
their deeds, and not only because of their 'genes' is
found in
Sefer Shmuel when God commands Shaul to destroy them.
Note
how Shmuel describes Amalek (at that time) as a nation
who had
sinned against God (see Shmuel Aleph 15:18).
     Furthermore, from the commandment not to take any
booty
from that battle (see again 15:18 and context of that
entire
chapter), we find a parallel to Avraham's attitude to
the city
of Sedom.  Recall from Breishit 14:22-23, how Avraham
shunned
the very thought of taking anything that once belonged
to
Sedom - the city of iniquity.
     Therefore, it is not incidental that it becomes the
mitzvah of the King of Israel to defeat Amalek (see I
Shmuel
15:1-2 and Rambam Hilchot Melachim 1:1).  Recall how the
king
of Israel should be known for his ability to establish a
nation characterized by acts of "tzedaka & mishpat" -
see
Shmuel Bet 8:15, Melachim Aleph 10:9, and Yirmiyahu
22:1-5,13-
16 & 23:5-8.  From that perspective, it also becomes his
responsibility (when capable of doing so) to pursue
nations
such as Amalek, who wage war in unethical ways - taking
advantage of the weak and helpless.
  [Note as well at the end of Parshat Ki-teyze,
immediately
  before the mitzvah to 'remember Amalek', we find a set
of
  laws that emphasize the enforcement of "tzedek
u'mishpat" -
  see Devarim 25:13-16).]
  
  In summary, there definitely appears to be something
'genetic' about Amalek, at least in Am Yisrael's first
encounter with that nation.  However, the unethical
nature of
that attack, and the Torah's immediate command to
remember
that event for all generations, suggests a 'generic'
understanding as well, for by remembering what Amalek
had done
wrong - Am Yisrael is encouraged to remember their own
national goal - to do what is 'right and just'.
  
                                  shabbat shalom,
                                  menachem
FOR FURTHER IYUN
=================

PRO'S & CON'S
     There are certain pro's & con's that come with this
'generic' understanding of Amalek. The obvious
advantage, is
that it would solve the 'ethical' problem of how and why
would
God command us to kill any descendant of that nation,
even if
those later generations did nothing wrong.  After all,
Chumash
itself teaches us that: " parents should die for the
sins of
their children, nor children for the sins of their
parents,
each man is responsible for his own sin" (Devarim
24:16).
     The obvious disadvantage is that the simple pshat
of the
psukim suggests that this commandment applies
specifically to
the people Amalek, the descendants of Esav's grandson
(see
Breishit 36:12).  Furthermore, this nation appears again
several times in Tanach, which supports the 'genetic'
interpretation.  For example, in Bilam's blessings, he
sees
Amalek, in a manner very similar to how he sees Israel,
and
the Kenites etc. (see Bamidbar 24:20-22).  Later on, the
books
of Shoftim and Shmuel, the nation of Amalek appears
numerous
times, and appears to a nation like any other in the
Bible.
     Therefore, in our shiur, we have tried to find the
'middle ground'.

THE COUNTER ATTACK
     This interpretation also explains an enigmatic
detail in
the Torah's description of the counterattack, as
presented in
Parshat Beshalach.  When Moshe hears of Amalek's attack,
he
instructs Yehoshua to launch a counteroffensive - machar
- on
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!)
 
 Should not Yehoshua engage Amalek immediately? Why wait
for another day of hostilities to pass before mobilizing
the
nation's defense? According to our explanation, the
leaders
(Moshe & the elders) and most of the men are already at
Har
Sinai. It will therefore take a full day for Yehoshua to
organize the troops and march them back towards Refidim.

THE WATER AT SINAI
     The Moshav Zekeinim (Ba'alei Tosfot on the Torah)
cites
the question as to how the water-producing rock in
Chorev
(Sinai) gave water to Bnei Yisrael in Refidim.  However,
the
Ramban (17:5) claims, as we mentioned in the shiur, that
the
gushing water formed several rivers and streams that
flowed to
Refidim.
     As for the significance of the water flowing
specifically
from Har Sinai - this point is developed at length by
the
Abarbanel, in his commentary to this parsha.  He writes
that
as water symbolizes Torah, Hashem had intended all along
to
provide the nation's water needs from Sinai, the site of
the
giving of the Torah.  Refidim was to have been a brief,
preparatory stopover before the nation's arrival at
Sinai.
  The Abarbanel adds that for this reason Hashem ordered
Moshe
to bring the elders along with him to Sinai.  The
presentation
of water was to correspond to the presentation of the
Torah,
which also required the presence of the zekeinim (Shmot
24:9).
The Abarbanel also notes that the Beit Hamikdash, which,
like
Har Sinai, is the place where Torah is given ("ki
mi'Tzion
tetze Torah" - Yeshayahu 2:3; Michah 4:2), is also
destined to
serve as a source of water - Yoel 4:18; Zecharya 14:8.
  
SPOILING HAR SINAI
     Up until this point we have discussed the
particularly
unethical nature of Amalek's attack. Yet, the eternal
mitzvah
to 'erase the memory of Amalek' for all generations may
also
suggest a spiritual theme.  Recall from Part I that the
entire
journey from Egypt to Har Sinai served as a 'training
mission'
of sorts to spiritually prepare Bnei Yisrael for Matan
Torah.
At Refidim, the 'stage has been set' for Matan Torah -
but
Amalek's attack 'spoils' this encounter. [See Shir
Ha'shirim
1:4.] In effect, 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, external, human forces
of
evil, 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 l'HASHEM b'AMALEK, m'dor dor."
(17:16)


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