Shemot Seventeen: Amalek

First the water was bitter. Then there wasn’t any food. Now, the Israelites are at Rephidim, and there isn’t any water for them to drink. They protest against Moses as a result, and he gets frustrated. “And Moses cried to God, saying: ‘What shall I do to this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Pass on before the people, and take with you the elders of Israel; and your rod, wherewith you smote the river, take in your hand and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you will smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.’ And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (Exodus 17:4-6).” This seems to be an intervention, and appears to have had more to do with the reputation that Moses had among the people than the water itself. By specifying that the elders saw when Moses struck the rock and brought forth water, Moses was able to reestablish his position of power and leadership in the eyes of the people.

The people have barely been satiated, and the next crisis occurs. “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim (Exodus 17:8).” Amalek, the enemy of Israel, the descendant of Esau, attacks the people in the wilderness. Moses appoints Joshua as the commander of the people, and he leads them in battle while Moses goes to the top of the hill. “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed (Exodus 17:11).” With Joshua fighting with his soldiers, Moses in this moment appears to be the metaphorical strength of the people. When his arms are up, they are inspired, and win. When they’re down, the people are disheartened.

And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven (Exodus 17:14).'” The Jewish people have the commandment to simultaneously remember what Amalek did to us, and to wipe out the memory of Amalek. In short, we remember to forget so that we don’t forget to remember. Amalek has become the total representation of evil in Jewish tradition. He has transformed from a person to a tribe to a concept. Every enemy of Israel becomes a spiritual descendent of Amalek. We encounter him in several other places in Tanakh, and sadly, encounter his offspring still today.