fighting Amalek See Exodus 17] Amalek is one of the foreign peoples appearing in the Bible. However, the origin of this Amalekite tribe, which appears throughout the Bible, is not clear. ## Origin of Amalek Its first appearance is in the first inter-state war in Genesis 14. At that time, it was conquered by Elamite king Chedorlaomer.
Genesis 14:7The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim
그러나, 그로부터 한참 시간이 지난 뒤, 아브라함의 손자이자 이삭의 아들인 에서의 후손이 아말렉이 되었다는 기록이 나온다.
Genesis 36:12These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
Exodus 17:8Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.”
여기서 말하는 르비딤은 아라비아 반도 남서쪽에 위치한 지역이다.
Numbers 13:29Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let’s go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!”
Deuteronomy 25:18Therefore it shall be, when Yahweh your God has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky. You shall not forget.
사울왕 시대 아말렉과의 충돌
이렇듯 이스라엘 백성과 아말렉과의 적대관계는 계속되어, 사울왕에 의해 다시 한번 크게 점령을 당하게 된다. 이 때에 하나님은 사울왕에게 아말렉 사람을 하나도 남김없이 멸절시키라고 하였는데, 사울은 정작 아말렉 왕 아각을 살려두는 죄를 범하고 만다.
1 Samuel 15:7He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.1 Samuel 15:8But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, and of the fat calves, and the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.1 Samuel 15:9Then Yahweh’s word came to Samuel, saying,
1 Samuel 15:22For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.”1 Samuel 15:23Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.1 Samuel 15:24Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”1 Samuel 15:25Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”1 Samuel 15:26As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.1 Samuel 15:27Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.1 Samuel 15:28Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.”1 Samuel 15:29Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”1 Samuel 15:30So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh.1 Samuel 15:31Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag) the king of the Amalekites here to me!” Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”1 Samuel 15:32Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.1 Samuel 15:33Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
히스기야(유다왕) 시대 아말렉과의 충돌
그 뒤 히스기야(유다왕) 시절에는 시므온 지파가 아말렉의 남아있는 무리들을 멸절시켰다는 기록이 나온다.
1 Chronicles 4:42They struck the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.1 Chronicles 4:43They struck the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.
에스더(왕비) 시대 아말렉과의 충돌
시간이 흐른 뒤, 바사제국에 의해 다스림을 받던 시절, 멸절된 줄 알았던 아말렉 사람이 다시 등장하는데 그가 바로 아각사람 하만이다.
Esther 3:1All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage.
여기서 하만이 아각의 후손으로 기록된 것을 미뤄보아 이 자가 사울왕 시기의 아말렉 왕족 아각의 후손으로 추정할 수 있다.