Esau, Amalek, Haman

"YHVH said to Moses: Write this remembrance in the book, that I will surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens." (Exodus 17:14)

"Remember what Amalek did to you as you were leaving Egypt. He happened upon you, and struck the weakest people trailing behind, when you were exhausted. And he did not fear YHVH." (Deut 25:17-18)

Amalek, the personification of evil, claims that YHVH does not exist and that everything happens by chance.
(Edited from Rabbi Simmons' article)

Who was Haman, and why must we blot out his name?

Haman was an Amalekite (a descendent of Agag, king of Amalek, Esther 3:1) and Amalek was a descendent of Esau. Amalek tried to destroy YHVH's people, Israel, the descendents of Jacob. In Exodus 17:8 we read how Amalek attacked Israel out of pure hatred and without cause. (Amalek lived in a distant land and was under no imminent threat.)

Haman's desire to wipe out the Jewish people was an expression of Amalek's long standing national tradition.

The conflict between Esau and Jacob is much deeper than just a "sibling rivalry". Amalek and Israel stand at two opposite ends of the moral and spiritual spectrum.

"Amalek did not fear YHVH." (Deut 25:18) His entire philosophy was that everything happens by chance, and that there is no design or providence in the world.

On the other hand, Jacob and his descendents the Jews followed YHVH, Torah and morality and believed the world has purpose and meaning, and every individual is created in the image of Elohim. This is the essence of what Isaiah describes as being a "light unto the nations." (Isa 42:6)

While Jacob believed that YHVH runs the world and there is an absolute standard of morality, Esau believed that life is random and morality is therefore subjective. Esau's hatred for the message of Torah actually formed the basis of all anti Semitism. Just as Israel stood for the principle of caring for the vulnerable and weak, Amalek opposed it, "attacking the weakest people trailing behind." (Deut 25:18)

We need to recognize the enemy and fight him, not because we enjoy war, but because part of being a "good and godly person" is to actively seek and destroy evil.

There are evil forces actively working to eliminate God consciousness from the world. To counter this evil, we must "erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens." (Ex 17:14) How do we do it? By calling it by what it is -- evil -- and dealing with it as bluntly as it would deal with us.

Amalek Today

We can gauge the extent of Amalek's encroachment in our own lives, by measuring our faith in God. One of Amalek's battle tactics is to create doubt about YHVH's presence in our lives and circumstances, in an attempt to confuse and ultimately destroy us.

The Torah says: "Amalek battled Israel in Refidim." (Ex 17:8). "Refidim" means "to loosen the grip". As long as Israel was diligent to follow YHVH, Amalek had no dominion over them. But as soon as they became lax, they encountered danger.

"When Moses raised his hand, Israel was stronger. And when Moses lowered his hand, Amalek was stronger." (Ex 17:11)

Moses' raised hands represent raising our eyes heavenward in a commitment to YHVH and Torah. When Moses' hands were lowered, (turning away from YHVH) Amalek automatically wins.

The way to counteract Amalek's influence in our life is simple: focus on YHVH and be spiritually strong. We cannot afford to become lax. The battle with Amalek is continuous and "in every generation." (Ex 17:16) It will not be over until the name of Amalek is blotted out entirely.

Let us renew our commitment to YHVH and the study Torah, as a way to battle the evil of Amalek.