Amalek and its Allies in Palestine
The Israelites troubles with Amalek began when they
met in the Sinai Wilderness, over 40 years later as the Israelites
entered the Promised Land they once again met the Amalekites. Balaam,
the sorcerer, was called upon
by the King of Moab, to curse the Israelites approaching their kingdom.
But instead of cursing the Israelites, he blessed them with these words:
...."his ( Israel's ) seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall
be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted."( Numbers 24:7 )
Then Balaam turned and looked on Amalek saying: ....."Amalek the first
of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish forever." (
Numbers 24:20 ) The Amalekites, it seems were the ruling power in the
region, and the first of nations. Not a band of unimportant
robbers, as
historians believe. After being in Palestine over 40
years, the Amalekites, Ammonites, and Moabites joined together and
conquered the Israelites. The Israelites were freed from oppression by the judge
Ehud. 80 years later, the Israelites once again became oppressed
by Jabin and his General, Sisera, who had 900 chariots of iron at his
disposal. After 20 years of bondage, Israel was freed by
Barak and Deborah. The Canaanites owed
much of there success to their Amalekite allies who supported them from
a stronghold in Ephraim.
- Judges 5:14 Out of Ephraim was there a ( the Canaanite's )
root of them against ( Strongs# 4136 / meaning- before, from, over
against, with ) Amalek.
- Judges 12:15 Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the
Amalekites.
With the Amalekites as allies it is no wonder that the Canaanites and
the Midianites once again subjugated Israel, just 40 years later.
Right before the harvest time they would drive their cattle into
Palestine, and let their cattle graze off of the inhabitants grain
fields.
- Judges 6:3-6 And it was, when Israel had sown, that the
Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the
East......... And they incamped against them, and destroyed the
increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance
for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their
cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for
multitude.........and they entered into the land to destroy it.
Perhaps this is where the Amalekites (alias Hyksos) got the Egyptian name,
King-shepherds, for they did the same atrocities to the Egyptians.
- Ermitage Papyrus: The Amu ( Hyksos ) approached in their
might and their hearts raged against those who are gathering the
harvest, and they take away kine from the ploughing....... The land is
utterly perished, and nought remains.
The Israelites again freed temporarily from the yoke of the Amalekites
by Gideon, in a night suprise attack on their camp.
This see-saw of bondage-freedom-bondage...... lasted about 400 years,
until finally King Saul defeated the Amalekites in battle, and captured
their citadel guarding Egypt.He also captured the Amalekite king, whose
name was Agag the second such named Amalekite king. Agag or
Agog; this name seems remarkably similar to Apop I, the fourth Hyksos
king of Egypt. The difference is the 'g' ( gimel ) and the 'p' (
pei ), they are both written like the number 7, the only
difference being a change in the angle of the two lines. The Agag Saul
captured however, was 400 years later, and probably Apop II, the last
Hyksos king of Egyptian records.
The Egyptian records say someone else, a foreigner, captured the
main fort guarding Egypt thus corroborating the Biblical account .
Let's see what the Bible and Egyptian records
say about this attack.
- I Samuel 15: 2-3 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that
which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid in wait for him in the way,
when Israel came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly
destroy all that they have.
- I Samuel 15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in
the valley ( Strongs# 5158/ meaning- a narrow valley in which a brook
runs; shaft; stream )
- I Samuel 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until
thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
- Ahmose Inscription I followed the king on foot when he rode
abroad in his chariot. One besieged the city of Avaris. I showed valor
on foot before his majesty.....One fought on the the water in the canal
( river/shaft ) of Avaris......Then there was fighting in this place; I
again fought......One fought in this Egypt, south of this
city; then I brought away a living captive.........One captured
Avaris......One besieged Sharuhen for six years and took it.
The One mentioned so often in the Egyptian account was not an Egyptian,
because had it been an Egyptian his name would have been inscribed.
However, foreign kings were never commemorated in Egyptian writing. So
'One' was a foreigner and also the capturer of Avaris. Could 'One' have
been King Saul of the Biblical record? Nevertheless Balaam's prophesy came
true, and "Amalek, first of nations, perished forever."