Moses and Amalek

Sources

This is the meaning of the words :”When Moses lifted up his hand, Israel prevailed” (Ibid. 5, 11), namely Israel above. Therefore Moses did not participate in the war on earth, so that he might throw himself with greater zeal into the war in Heaven, and thus promote victory on earth.

Zohar, Beshalach 32:458

MISHNA: Incidental to the discussion of the required intent when sounding the shofar, the mishna cites the verse: “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17:11). It may be asked: Did the hands of Moses make war when he raised them or break war when he lowered them? Rather, the verse comes to tell you that as long as the Jewish people turned their eyes upward and subjected their hearts to their Father in Heaven, they prevailed, but if not…

Rosh Hashanah 29a:6

AND AARON AND HUR STAYED UP HIS HANDS, THE ONE ON THE ONE SIDE, AND THE OTHER ON THE OTHER SIDE: AND HIS HANDS WERE STEADY (emunah, lit. faith). This cannot be taken in the literal sense; what it means is that Aaron represented his “side” (the attribute of Grace), Hur his “side” (the attribute of Strength), and Moses’ hands between the two represented Faith.

Zohar, Beshalach 32:466

“Moses said to Joshua: Choose men for us and go out and wage war with Amalek; tomorrow I will be standing on top of the hill and the staff of God will be in my hand” (Exodus 17:9).
“Moses said to Joshua: Choose men for us.” Why to Joshua? Primarily, you expound that he was seeking to instruct him in war because he was destined to take Israel into the Land.
Another matter, why Joshua? He said to him: ‘It was by means of your grandfather that they descended to Egypt, go and engage in war with the one who attacked them in their ascent from Egypt…

Shemot Rabbah 26:3

AND MOSES SAID TO JOSHUA. It would appear from here that from the day he came before him, Moses called him Joshua, and so it is also written: And Joshua heard the noise of the people. Scripture which states in the case of the spies, And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua, must then be referring to the beginning, [when Joshua first came to minister before him]. The verse informs us that this Hoshea the son of Nun, who was chosen to be among the spies, is the same one that Moses called Joshua…

Ramban on Exodus 17:9:1

Relatedראו גם

Annihilating the Memory of Amalek

Moses and Joshua

Sheetsדפי מקורות

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