Pisqa’ 296502H:286-287; JN2:265-266. 1. “Remember” (Dt.25:17)— [let its story be always] in the mouth. “Do not forget” (Dt.25:19)— [let its lessons be always] in the mind. 2. And similarly He says: “The peoples heard and trembled” (Ex.15:14)503// Sifra, behuqotai, par.1;3.
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בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בִּשְׁעַת טֵרוּפְכֶם.
“On the way” (Dt.25:17)— at the moment of your utter confusion.
“How he attacked your rear, all the stumblers, from behind” (Dt.25:18)— this teaches that Amalek killed only those people who were drawn away from the ways of the All-Present, and stumbled from beneath of the wings of the Cloud of Glory.505Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, 1.
“And you were so tired out and weakened, and could not hold God in awe” (Dt.25:18)— according to the measure you measured out to Him, did He measure out to you! Just as you were tired and weak “and could not hold God in awe,” so, too, was Amalek tired and weak “and could not hold God in awe, [thus, in his weakness, he attacked the weakest of Israel].506Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, 1.
“In the Land which HASHEM your God has given you as a bequest to possess” (Dt.25:19)— that is, you will possess it by conquest.507Cf. Pisqa’ot 180.1, 297.1.
4. “Obliterate the memory of Amalek” (Dt.25:19). Now, elsewhere He says: “For I will totally obliterate the memory of Amalek” (Ex.17:14), And then He says: “I swear by the Throne of Yah! HASHEM will be at war with Amalek for all generations!” (Ex.17:16)— [there will always be a remnant of Amalek for Israel to battle until the messianic future].508Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, 2.
(דברים כה יז) זָכוֹר, בַּפֶּה, אַל תִּשְׁכָּח בַּלֵּב, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמות טו יד): ״שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן״.
Pisqa’ 296502H:286-287; JN2:265-266.
1. “Remember” (Dt.25:17)—
[let its story be always] in the mouth.
“Do not forget” (Dt.25:19)—
[let its lessons be always] in the mind.
2. And similarly He says:
“The peoples heard and trembled” (Ex.15:14)503// Sifra, behuqotai, par.1;3.
בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בִּשְׁעַת טֵרוּפְכֶם.
“On the way” (Dt.25:17)—
at the moment of your utter confusion.
בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם, בִּשְׁעַת גְּאֻלַּתְכֶם.
“During your leaving from Egypt” (Dt.25:17)—
at the moment of your liberation. 504Cf. Pisqa’ 250.1, 275.1.
(דברים כה יח) אֲשֶׁר קָרְךָ, אֵין קָרְךָ אֶלָּא שֶׁנִּזְדַּמֵּן לְךָ.
“Who encountered you” (Dt.25:18)—
encountered actually suggests that
Amalek happened upon you
[and took advantage of the situation].
וַיְזַנֵּב בְּךָ כָּל הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִים אַחֲרֶיךָ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה הוֹרֵג בָּהֶם אֶלָּא בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁנִּמְשְׁכוּ מִדַּרְכֵי מָקוֹם וְנֶחְשְׁלוּ מִתַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הֶעָנָן.
“How he attacked your rear, all the stumblers, from behind” (Dt.25:18)—
this teaches that Amalek killed only those
people who were drawn away
from the ways of the All-Present,
and stumbled from beneath
of the wings of the Cloud of Glory.505Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, 1.
וְאַתָּה עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ וְלֹא יָרֵא אֱלֹהִים, בַּמִּדָּה שֶׁמָּדַדְתָּ בָּהּ מָדְדוּ לְךָ: מָה אַתָּה עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ וְלֹא יָרֵא אֱלֹהִים, אַף הוּא עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ וְלֹא יָרֵא אֱלֹהִים.
“And you were so tired out and weakened,
and could not hold God in awe” (Dt.25:18)—
according to the measure
you measured out to Him,
did He measure out to you!
Just as you were tired and weak
“and could not hold God in awe,”
so, too, was Amalek tired and weak
“and could not hold God in awe,
[thus, in his weakness, he attacked
the weakest of Israel].506Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, 1.
(דברים כה יט) וְהָיָה בְּהָנִיחַ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ מִכָּל אֹיְבֶיךָ מִסָּבִיב, שֶׁלֹּא תֵאָגֵד עָלֶיךָ אֲגֻדָּה.
3. “Now, it shall be, when HASHEM your God grants you respite from your surrounding enemies” (Dt.25:19)—
when no troops join against you.
בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ נוֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ, מַה שֶּׁתִּירַשׁ תִּכְבֹּשׁ.
“In the Land which HASHEM your God has given you as a bequest to possess” (Dt.25:19)—
that is, you will possess it by conquest.507Cf. Pisqa’ot 180.1, 297.1.
תִּמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק, וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמות יז יד): ״כִּי מָחֹה אֶמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק״, וְאוֹמֵר (שם יז טז): ״כִּי יָד עַל כֵּס יָהּ מִלְחָמָה לַה׳ בַּעֲמָלֵק מִדֹּר דֹּר״.
4. “Obliterate the memory of Amalek” (Dt.25:19).
Now, elsewhere He says:
“For I will totally obliterate the memory of Amalek” (Ex.17:14),
And then He says:
“I swear by the Throne of Yah!
HASHEM will be at war with Amalek for all generations!” (Ex.17:16)—
[there will always be a remnant of Amalek for Israel to battle
until the messianic future].508Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, 2.