598. To wipe out the descendants of Amalek

Status: Inactive

"Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord 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 it." ~ Deut. 25:19

When Israel left Egypt during the time of the exodus, the people of Amalek refused to allow Israel to pass through.  They began to attack the Israelites "in a most cowardly way, killing first the feeble, the faint, and the weary at the rear of the marching nation.  For this lack of respect toward God, the Amalakiets were cursed by the Lord."[1]  Why did the Lord allow the Amalekites to commit such an act when he previously had saved them out of Egypt?  The answer is found in these verses here.

This was a commandment for Israel to wipe out the descendants of Amalek.  Based on references within the scriptures, this commandment appears to have been carried out as no known descendants of Amalek exist.  This was a specific commandment given by the Lord under a set of unique circumstances that are not applicable today.  This commandment was given through Moses as Israel established itself in the land of Canaan.  Justification for the use of this scriptures against other peoples is unwarranted.

[1] CES Old Testament Manual, see section 10-8.