Deuteronomy 25:17-19

LESSON TWENTY Deuteronomy 25:17 to Deuteronomy 26:19

n. LAWS OF NATIONAL IMPORT (Deuteronomy 25:17 to Deuteronomy 26:19)

(1) THE PUNISHMENT OF AMALEK (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt; 18 how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when Jehovah thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 25:17-19

449.

Read Exodus 17:8-16 and Numbers 14:42-45 for further information on the treatment of Amalek.

450.

When was the sentence of Amalek executed?

451.

How sad to consider what could have been. What was the one most minus quality in Israel's character?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 25:17-19

17 Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you had come forth from Egypt;

18 How he did not fear God, but when you were faint and weary he attacked you along the way and cut off all the stragglers in your rear. [Exodus 17:14.]

19 Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess for an inheritance, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens; you must not forget it.

COMMENT 25:17-19

REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID (Deuteronomy 25:17)See Exodus 17:8-16. Without any provocation whatever, they attacked Israel's rear as they were journeying through the wilderness, but were defeated by Joshua at Rephidim. They seemed to have attacked merely through hopes of plunder. Note also the encounter at Hormah (Numbers 14:42-45) which ended in Israel's defeat.

Their manner of attack as described here, not only qualified them for immediate defeat; they must be exterminated as a tribe. And the prophecy of Balaam was,

Amalek was the first of the nations;

But his latter end shall come to destruction (Numbers 24:20).

His end, however, was not soon coming. The Amalekites were again and. again thorns in Israel's flesh. Saul smote many of them (1 Samuel 14:48; 1 Samuel 15:7) as did David (1 Samuel 27:8, 2 Samuel 8:11-12). Finally, after the time of Hezekiah (1 Chronicles 4:43) they are not a tribe of consequence.