on Tap ! http://rabbiseinfeld.blogspot.com/ 2008/03/finding -amalek.html

Genesis 36: And dwelt in the mountain-land of Seir--Esau is 8 ח וַיֵּשֶׁ בעֵּשָׂ ובְּהַר שֵּעִ יר, ועֵּשָׂ הּוא . אֱדֹום. And these are the generations of Esau the father of a 9 ט וְּאֵּלֶׁה תֹּלְּ דֹות עֵּשָׂ ו, יאֲבִ אֱ דֹום, .the Edomites in the mountain-land of Seir בְּהַ ר, שֵּעִ יר.

These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of 15 טו אֵּלֶׁה, ַאלּופֵּיבְּנֵּי-עֵּשָׂ ו: בְּנֵּי the first-born of Esau: the chief of Teman, the אֱלִיפַז, בְּ כֹור עֵּשָׂ ו--ַאלּוף תֵּ ימָׂ ן ,chief of Omar, the chief of Zepho, the chief of Kenaz ַאלּוף אֹומָׂ ר, ַאלּוף צְּ פֹוַאלּוף קְּנַז. the chief of Korah, the chief of Gatam, the chief of 16 טז ַאלּוף קֹּרַ -ח ַאלּוף גַעְּתָׂ ם, Amalek. These are the chiefs that came of Eliphaz in ַאלּוף עֲמָׂלֵּק; אֵּלֶׁה ַאלּופֵּי אֱלִיפַ ז .the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah בְּאֶׁרֶׁץ אֱדֹום, אֵּלֶׁה בְּנֵּיעָׂדָׂ ה.

When Esau was getting old, he called in his grandson Amalek and said: "I tried to kill Jacob but was unable. Now I am entrusting you and your descendents with the important mission of annihilating Jacob's descendents -- the Jewish people. Carry out this deed for me. Be relentless and do not show mercy." (Midrashim Da’at and Hadar, summarised from Legends of the Jews volume 6 – Louis Ginzburg p.23)

Exodus 17: Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in 8 ח וַיָׂבֹּא, עֲמָׂלֵּק; וַיִלָׂחֶׁ ם עִ ם- .Rephidim יִשְּרָׂאֵּ ל, בִרְּפִידִ ם. ,And Moses said unto Joshua: 'Choose us out men 9 ט וַיֹּאמֶׁר המֹּשֶׁ אֶׁ ל- יְּהֹושֻׁעַבְּחַ ר- and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand לָׂנּו אֲנָׂשִ ים, וְּצֵּ אהִלָׂחֵּ םבַעֲמָׂלֵּק; '.on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand מָׂחָׂ ר, יָאנֹּכִ נִצָׂ ב עַ ל-רֹּאש הַגִבְּעָׂה, ּומַטֵּ ההָׂאֱלֹּהִ ים, בְּיָׂדִ י. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought 10 י וַיַעַש יְּהֹושֻׁעַ , כַאֲשֶׁר ָאמַ ר-לֹו with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to מֹּשֶׁ ה--לְּהִלָׂחֵּ ם, בַעֲמָׂלֵּק; ּומֹּשֶׁ ה .the top of the hill ַאהֲרֹּן וְּחּור, עָׂלּורֹּאש הַגִבְּעָׂה. ,And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand 11 יא וְּהָׂיָׂה, רכַאֲשֶׁ יָׂרִ ים מֹּשֶׁ ה יָׂדֹו- ,that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand -וְּ רגָׂבַ יִשְּרָׂאֵּ ל; וְּכַאֲשֶׁ ר יָׂנִיחַ יָׂדֹו, .Amalek prevailed וְּגָׂבַ רעֲמָׂלֵּק. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a 12 יב וִידֵּי מֹּשֶׁהכְּבֵּדִ ים, וַיִקְּ חּו-אֶׁבֶׁ ן stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and וַיָׂשִ ימּו תַחְּתָׂ יו בוַיֵּשֶׁ עָׂלֶׁיהָׂ ; Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one וְַּאהֲרֹּן וְּחּור תָׂמְּ כּובְּיָׂדָׂ יו, מִזֶׁה

1 side, and the other on the other side; and his hands אֶׁחָׂ ד ּומִזֶׁהאֶׁחָׂ ד, וַיְּהִ ייָׂדָׂ יו .were steady until the going down of the sun אֱמּונָׂה, עַד-בֹּא הַשָׂמֶׁ ש. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people 13 יג וַיַחֲלֹּש יְּהֹושֻׁעַאֶׁ ת-עֲמָׂלֵּק {with the edge of the sword. {P וְּאֶׁ ת-עַּמֹו, לְּפִ י-חָׂרֶׁ ב. }פ{ And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Write this for a 14 יד וַיֹּאמֶׁ ר יְּהוָׂה אֶׁ ל-מֹּשֶׁ ה, כְּ תֹּב memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of זֹּאת זִכָׂ רֹון בַסֵּפֶׁר, וְּשִ ים, בְּ ָאזְּנֵּי Joshua: for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of יְּהֹושֻׁעַ : כִ י מָׂ - חֹּהאֶׁמְּחֶׁה אֶׁ ת-זֵּכֶׁ ר עֲמָׂלֵּק, מִתַחַ תהַשָׂמָׂיִם. Amalek from under heaven.' And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it 15 טו וַיִבֶׁ ןמֹּשֶׁ ה, מִזְּבֵּחַ ; וַיִקְּרָׂ א .Adonai-nissi שְּ מֹו, יְּהוָׂה נִסִ י. And he said: 'The hand upon the throne of the 16 טז וַ יֹּאמֶׁ ר, כִ י-יָׂד עַל-כֵּ סיָּׂה, LORD: the LORD will have war with Amalek from המִלְּחָׂמָׂ לַיהוָׂה, בַעֲמָׂלֵּק--מִ דֹּר, {generation to generation.' {P דֹּר. }פ{

Deuternomy 25 (NB. Read in shul shabbat before Purim; Shabbat Zachor): Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as 17 יז זָׂכֹור, אֵּת אֲשֶׁ ר-עָׂשָׂ הלְּךָׂ ;ye came forth out of Egypt עֲמָׂלֵּק, בַדֶׁרֶׁךְּ , בְּצֵּאתְּכֶׁ ם מִּמִצְּרָׂיִם. how he met thee by the way, and smote the 18 יח אֲשֶׁר קָׂרְּךָׂבַדֶׁרֶׁךְּ , וַיְּזַנֵּבבְּךָׂ ,hindmost of thee, all that were enfeebled in thy rear כָׂ ל-הַנֶׁחֱשָׂלִ ים ַאחֲרֶׁ יךָׂ --וְַּאתָׂ ה, .when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God עָׂיֵּף וְּיָׂגֵּעַ ; וְּלֹּא יָׂרֵּ א, אֱלֹּהִ ים. Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath 19 יט וְּהָׂיָׂה בְּהָׂנִיחַ יְּהוָׂה אֱ לֹּהֶׁ יךָׂ לְּךָׂ given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in מִכָׂ ל- אֹּיְּבֶׁיךָׂמִסָׂבִ יב, ץבָָׂארֶׁ אֲשֶׁ ר the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an יְּהוָׂה-אֱלֹּהֶׁיךָׂ נֹּתֵּ ן לְּךָׂ נַחֲלָׂה לְּרִשְּתָׂ ּה--תִמְּחֶׁה אֶׁ ת-זֵּכֶׁ רעֲמָׂלֵּק, inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the מִתַחַ תהַשָׂמָׂיִם; לֹּא, תִשְּכָׂ ח. remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt }פ{ not forget. {P}

What would Amalek do? They would send people into battle on their birthday; saying: not quickly will a person fall on his birthday [the constellations are advantageously aligned on a person's birthday]. What did Moses do? He shuffled the constellations. (Jerusalem Talmud, tractate Rosh Hashanah 3:8)

1 15: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I remember that 2 ב כֹּה ָאמַ ר, יְּהוָׂה צְּבָׂ אֹות, which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against פָׂקַדְּתִ י, אֵּת אֲשֶׁ ר-עָׂשָׂ העֲמָׂלֵּק .him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt לְּיִשְּרָׂאֵּ ל--אֲשֶׁ ר-שָׂם לֹו בַדֶׁרֶׁךְּ , בַעֲלֹּתֹו מִּמִצְּרָׂיִם. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all 3 ג עַתָׂה לֵּךְּ וְּהִכִיתָׂה אֶׁ ת-עֲמָׂלֵּק, that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man םוְּהַחֲרַמְּתֶׁ אֶׁ ת-כָׂ ל-אֲשֶׁ ר-לֹו, וְּלֹּא and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel תַחְּ מֹּל, עָׂלָׂיו; וְּהֵּמַתָׂה מֵּאִ יש עַ ד- אִשָׂ ה, מֵּ עֹּלֵּל וְּעַד-יֹונֵּק, מִ שֹור {and ass.' {S וְּעַד-שֶׁ ה, למִגָׂמָׂ וְּעַד-חֲמֹור. }ס{

2 And summoned the people, and numbered them 4 ד וַיְּשַּמַעשָׂ אּול, אֶׁ ת-הָׂעָׂם, in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten וַיִפְּקְּדֵּםבַטְּלָׂאִ ים, מָׂ אתַיִםאֶׁלֶׁף .thousand men of Judah רַגְּלִ י; וַעֲשֶׁרֶׁת אֲלָׂ פִ ים, אֶׁ ת-אִ יש יְּהּודָׂ ה. And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and lay in wait 5 ה וַיָׂבֹּא שָׂ אּול, עַד עִ -יר עֲמָׂלֵּ ק; .in the valley וַיָׂרֶׁ ב, בַנָׂחַ ל. And Saul said unto the Kenites: 'Go, depart, get you 6 ו וַיֹּאמֶׁר שָׂ אּול אֶׁ ל-הַקֵּ ינִילְּ כּו down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you סֻׁרּו רְּ דּו מִ תֹוךְּ עֲמָׂלֵּקִ י, פֶׁן-אֹּסִפְּךָׂ with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children עִ ּמֹו, וְַּאתָׂ העָׂשִיתָׂ החֶׁסֶׁ ד עִ ם-כָׂ ל- בְּנֵּי יִשְּרָׂאֵּ ל, בַעֲלֹותָׂם מִּמִצְּרָׂיִם; of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.' So the רוַיָׂסַ קֵּ ינִי, מִ תֹוךְּ עֲמָׂלֵּק. Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as 7 ז וַיַךְּ שָׂ אּול, אֶׁ ת-עֲמָׂלֵּק, מֵּחֲוִילָׂה .thou goest to Shur, that is in front of Egypt בֹואֲךָׂ שּור, אֲשֶׁ ר עַל- פְּנֵּימִצְּרָׂיִם. ,And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive 8 ח וַיִתְּפֹּש אֶׁ ת-אֲגַג מֶׁלֶׁךְּ -עֲמָׂלֵּק, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of חָׂ י; וְּאֶׁ ת-כָׂ ל-הָׂעָׂם, הֶׁחֱרִ ים לְּפִ י- .the sword חָׂרֶׁ ב. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of 9 ט וַיַחְּ מֹּלשָׂ אּול וְּהָׂעָׂם עַל-אֲגָׂג, the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the וְּעַל- במֵּיטַ הַ צֹּאן וְּהַבָׂקָׂ ר second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and וְּהַּמִשְּ נִים וְּעַ ל-הַכָׂרִ ים וְּעַ ל-כָׂ ל- הַ טֹוב, וְּלֹּא ָאבּו, הַחֲרִ ימָׂ ם; וְּכָׂ ל- would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that ההַּמְּלָׂאכָׂ נְּמִבְּזָׂה וְּנָׂמֵּ ס, אֹּתָׂ ּה was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed הֶׁחֱרִ ימּו. }פ{ utterly. {P}

Then said Samuel: 'Bring ye hither to me Agag the 32 לב וַיֹּאמֶׁר שְּ מּואֵּ ל, הַגִ ישּו אֵּלַי king of the Amalekites.' And Agag came unto him in אֶׁ ת אֲגַג- מֶׁלֶׁךְּ עֲמָׂלֵּק, וַיֵּלֶׁךְּ אֵּלָׂיו, chains. And Agag said: 'Surely the bitterness of death אֲגַג מַעֲדַ נֹּת; וַיֹּאמֶׁר אֲגָׂג, ָאכֵּן סָׂ ר מַ ר-הַּמָׂוֶׁת. }ס{ is at hand.' {S} And Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women 33 לג וַיֹּאמֶׁר שְּ מּואֵּ ל--כַאֲשֶׁר שִכְּ לָׂה childless, so shall thy mother be childless among נָׂשִ יםחַרְּבֶׁךָׂ , כֵּ ן-תִשְּכַל מִנָׂשִ ים women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the אִּמֶׁ ךָׂ ; וַיְּשַסֵּף שְּ מּואֵּל אֶׁ ת-אֲגָׂג לִפְּנֵּייְּהוָׂה, בַגִלְּגָׂל. }ס{ LORD in . {S} Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to 34 לד וַיֵּלֶׁךְּ שְּ מּואֵּ ל, הָׂרָׂמָׂתָׂ ה; .his house to Gibeath-shaul וְּשָׂ אּול עָׂלָׂה אֶׁ ל-בֵּ יתֹו, גִבְּעַת שָׂ אּול. And Samuel never beheld Saul again until the day 35 לה וְּלֹּא יָׂסַף -שְּ מּואֵּ ל לִרְּ אֹות אֶׁ ת- of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul; and the שָׂ אּול, עַד-יֹום מֹותֹו, כִ י-הִתְַּאבֵּ ל LORD repented that He had made Saul king over שְּ מּואֵּ ל, אֶׁ ל-שָׂ אּול; וַ יהוָׂה נִחָׂ ם, כִ י- הִמְּלִיךְּאֶׁ ת-שָׂ אּול עַל-יִשְּרָׂאֵּ ל. .Israel }פ{

Esther 3: After these things did king Ahasuerus promote 1 א ַאחַ ר הַדְּבָׂרִ ים הָׂאֵּ לֶׁה, גִדַ ל the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ אֲחַשְּוֵּרֹוש אֶׁ ת-הָׂמָׂן בֶׁ ן-

3 advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes הַּמְּדָׂתָׂ אהָׂאֲגָׂגִ י--וַיְּנַשְּאֵּ הּו; וַיָׂשֶׁ ם, .that were with him אֶׁ ת-כִסְּ אֹו, מֵּעַל, כָׂ ל-הַשָׂרִ ים אֲשֶׁ ר אִ תֹו.

Then were the king's scribes called in the first 12 יב וַיִקָׂרְּאּו סֹּפְּרֵּ י הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּבַ חֹּדֶׁ ש month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was הָׂרִ אשֹון, בִשְּלֹושָׂ ה רעָׂשָׂ יֹום בֹו, written, according to all that Haman commanded, unto וַיִכָׂתֵּבכְּכָׂ ל-אֲשֶׁ ר-צִּוָׂה ןהָׂמָׂ אֶׁ ל אֲחַשְּדַרְּפְּנֵּי-הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ וְּאֶׁ ל-הַפַחֹות the king's satraps, and to the governors that were over אֲשֶׁ ר עַ ל מְּדִ - ינָׂהּומְּדִ ינָׂהוְּאֶׁ ל-שָׂרֵּ י every province, and to the princes of every people; to עַםוָׂעָׂם, מְּדִ ינָׂהּומְּדִ ינָׂה כִכְּתָׂבָׂ ּה every province according to the writing thereof, and to וְּעַם וָׂעָׂם כִלְּ שֹונֹו: בְּשֵּ םהַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ every people after their language; in the name of king אֲחַשְּוֵּרֹּש נִכְּתָׂ ב, וְּנֶׁחְּתָׂם בְּטַבַעַת Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ . king's ring. And letters were sent by posts into all the king's 13 יג וְּנִשְּ לֹוחַ סְּפָׂרִ ים בְּיַדהָׂרָׂצִ ים, provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all אֶׁ ל-כָׂ ל מְּדִ -ינֹות הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ --לְּהַשְּמִ יד Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in לַהֲרֹּג ּולְַּאבֵּד אֶׁ ת-כָׂ ל-הַיְּהּודִ ים מִנַעַר וְּעַד- זָׂקֵּןטַ ף וְּנָׂשִים בְּ יֹום one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth אֶׁחָׂ ד, הבִשְּלֹושָׂ רעָׂשָׂ לְּחֹּדֶׁ ש שְּנֵּים- month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil רעָׂשָׂ הּוא-חֹּדֶׁש אֲדָׂ ר; ּושְּלָׂלָׂם, .of them for a prey לָׂבֹוז. The copy of the writing, to be given out for a decree 14 יד פַתְּשֶׁגֶׁןהַכְּתָׂ ב, לְּהִנָׂתֵּן דָׂ ת in every province, was to be published unto all בְּכָׂ ל-מְּדִ ינָׂה ּומְּדִ ינָׂה, גָׂלּוי, לְּכָׂ ל- .peoples, that they should be ready against that day הָׂעַּמִ ים--לִהְּ יֹות עֲתִדִ ים, לַיֹום הַזֶׁה.

Gustave Doré, The Death of Agag. "Agag" may have been the hereditary name of the Amalekite kings. The one depicted was killed by Samuel (1 Samuel 15). (Wikipedia)

4 Esther 9: Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on 1 א ּובִשְּנֵּים רעָׂשָׂ שחֹּדֶׁ הּוא- the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's חֹּדֶׁש אֲדָׂ ר, בִשְּ לֹושָׂ העָׂשָׂ ר יֹום commandment and his decree drew near to be put in בֹו, ראֲשֶׁ הִגִיעַדְּבַ ר-הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ וְּדָׂ תֹו, לְּהֵּעָׂשֹות: בַ יֹום, אֲשֶׁ ר execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped שִבְּ רּו יאֹּיְּבֵּ הַיְּהּודִ ים לִשְּ לֹוט to have rule over them; whereas it was turned to the בָׂהֶׁ ם, וְּנַהֲפֹוךְּ הּוא, ראֲשֶׁ יִשְּ לְּ טּו contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated הַיְּהּודִ ים הֵּּמָׂה בְּ שֹּנְּאֵּיהֶׁ ם. them; the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities 2 ב נִקְּהֲלּו הַיְּהּודִים בְּעָׂרֵּיהֶׁ ם, throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to בְּכָׂ ל-מְּדִ ינֹות הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ אֲחַשְּוֵּרֹוש, lay hand on such as sought their hurt; and no man could לִשְּ לֹּחַ יָׂד, יבִמְּבַקְּשֵּ רָׂעָׂתָׂ ם; וְּאִ יש לֹּא- דעָׂמַ לִפְּנֵּיהֶׁ ם, כִ י-נָׂפַל withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen upon all פַחְּדָׂ ם עַל-כָׂ ל-הָׂעַּמִ ים. the peoples. ,And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps 3 ג וְּכָׂ ל- ישָׂרֵּ הַּמְּדִ ינֹות ,and the governors, and they that did the king's business וְּהָׂאֲחַשְּדַרְּפְּנִים וְּהַפַחֹות, וְּעֹּשֵּ י helped the Jews; because the fear of was fallen הַּמְּלָׂאכָׂה אֲשֶׁ רלַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ -- מְּנַשְּאִ ים, אֶׁ ת-הַיְּהּודִ ים: כִ י- .upon them נָׂפַל פַחַ ד-מָׂרְּדֳּכַ י, עֲלֵּיהֶׁ ם. For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his 4 ד כִ י- גָׂדֹולמָׂרְּדֳּכַי בְּ בֵּ ית הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ , fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the וְּשָׂמְּ עֹוהֹולֵּךְּ בְּכָׂ ל-הַּמְּדִ ינֹות: .man Mordecai waxed greater and greater כִ י- הָׂאִישמָׂרְּדֳּכַ י, הֹולֵּךְּ וְּגָׂדֹול. And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of 5 ה וַיַכּו הַיְּהּודִים בְּכָׂ ל-אֹּיְּבֵּ יהֶׁ ם, the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did מַכַ ת חֶׁרֶׁב -וְּהֶׁרֶׁ גוְַּאבְּדָׂ ן; וַיַעֲשּו .what they would unto them that hated them בְּ שֹּנְּאֵּיהֶׁ ם, כִרְּ צֹונָׂם. And in Shushan the castle the Jews slew and destroyed 6 ו ןּובְּשּושַ הַבִירָׂ ה, הָׂרְּ גּו […] {five hundred men. {S הַיְּהּודִ יםוְַּאבֵּ ד-- חֲמֵּשמֵּ אֹות, }ר{ אִ יש. }ס{ the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha [an 10 י עֲשֶׁרֶׁ ת }ר{ בְּנֵּי ןהָׂמָׂ בֶׁ ן- Agagite], the Jews' enemy, slew they; but on the spoil הַּמְּדָׂתָׂ א, צֹּרֵּ רהַיְּהּודִ ים--הָׂ רָׂ גּו; .they laid not their hand ּובַבִזָׂה- לֹּא- שָׂלְּ חּו, אֶׁ ת-יָׂדָׂ ם. On that day the number of those that were slain in 11 יא בַ יֹום הַ הּוא, בָׂא מִסְּפַר .Shushan the castle was brought before the king הַהֲרּוגִים ןבְּשּושַ הַבִ ירָׂ ה--לִפְּנֵּי הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ . And the king said unto Esther the queen: 'The Jews 12 יב וַיֹּאמֶׁ ר הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ לְּאֶׁסְּתֵּ ר have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan הַּמַלְּכָׂ ה, בְּ שּושַ ן הַבִירָׂ ההָׂרְּ גּו the castle, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have הַיְּהּודִ ים וְַּאבֵּ ד חֲמֵּשמֵּ אֹות אִיש וְּאֵּ ת עֲשֶׁרֶׁתבְּנֵּי-הָׂמָׂ ן-- they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now בִשְָּאר מְּדִ ינֹות הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ , מֶׁ העָׂ שּו; whatever thy petition, it shall be granted thee; and ּומַ ה- שְּאֵּלָׂתֵּךְּ וְּיִנָׂתֵּ ןלָׂךְּ , ּומַ ה- '.whatever thy request further, it shall be done בַקָׂשָׂתֵּךְּ עֹוד וְּתֵּעָׂש. Then said Esther: 'If it please the king, let it be 13 יג וַתֹּאמֶׁר אֶׁסְּתֵּ ר, אִ ם-עַל- granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ טֹוב--יִנָׂתֵּ ן גַם-מָׂחָׂ ר also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's לַיְּהּודִים אֲשֶׁרבְּ שּושָׂ ן, לַעֲשֹות תכְּדָׂ הַ יֹום; וְּאֵּ תעֲשֶׁרֶׁ תבְּנֵּי- '.ten sons be hanged upon the gallows הָׂמָׂ ן, יִתְּ לּו עַל-הָׂעֵּץ. And the king commanded it so to be done; and a 14 יד וַיֹּאמֶׁר הַּמֶׁלֶׁךְּ לְּהֵּעָׂשֹות כֵּ ן,

5 decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged וַתִנָׂתֵּן דָׂת בְּ שּושָׂ ן; וְּאֵּ תעֲשֶׁרֶׁ ת .Haman's ten sons בְּנֵּי-הָׂמָׂ ן, תָׂ לּו. And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered 15 טו וַיִקָׂהֲלּו היהודיים themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the )הַיְּהּודִ ים( אֲשֶׁ ר-בְּשּושָׂ ן, גַם ;month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan בְּיֹום ַארְּבָׂעָׂה רעָׂשָׂ לְּחֹּדֶׁ ש אֲדָׂ ר, וַיַהַרְּ גּו בְּ שּושָׂ ן, שְּלֹּש מֵּ אֹות .but on the spoil they laid not their hand אִ יש; ּובַבִזָׂה- לֹּא- שָׂלְּ חּו, אֶׁ ת- יָׂדָׂ ם.

Chapter 9 portrays scenes of violence and revenge on a massive scale in the form of the massacre by the Jews of over 75,000 non-Jews. To make matters worse, the massacre is replayed a second time. This then becomes an occasion for celebration and merrymaking for all Jews everywhere. It is no wonder that this chapter did not resonate well with later readers, especially Christians, and many Jews, too, are uncomfortable with what they see as heartless and bloodthirsty Jewish revenge. That the massacre is not an act of revenge but is an act of self-defense taken by Jews against their enemies, explicitly stated in 9:2, does not lay their discomfort to rest. A better way to relate to the events of chapter 9 is to see them as part of the carnivalesque farce that permeates the whole book and defi nes its genre.1 Scenes of tumultuous riots and violent mock-destruction are completely at home in farcical and carnivalesque works; in fact, they are their hallmarks. Chapter 9 is the climax of the carnivalesque, the peak of disorder. Exaggeration and irrationality reach new heights, even for this book. But it is all in fun; nothing here is real. It is emotional release at its wildest. Our reaction to the carnivalesque is a learned reaction. Children are often afraid of clowns and masquerades until they learn to laugh at them. There is, indeed, something dark and scary about the carnivalesque, just barely masked by the fun that surrounds it. The actions of carnival are playfully grotesque acts that would never be condoned in real life. It is in this context of carnivalesque violence that we should understand chapter 9. The JPS Commentary – Esther – Adele Berlin

King Solomon wrote “There is nothing new under the sun” and Cole Porter reminded us that “Everything old is new again!” ….the pattern continues! Two generations ago it was Hitler with his “final solution” to exterminate the Jews and right now a Persian leader, named Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is hatching a plot to, in his own words: “Wipe Israel off the map.” In the very near future the Amalakites will strike at Israel again. They will try to utterly destroy God’s people. But you can be assured that God will miraculously and supernaturally intervene. God has used military might in the past, Joshua’s army over 3000 years ago, the 82nd Airborne 65 years ago and the IDF in ’48, ’67, and ’72. There were kings and leaders who obeyed God and were used as instruments of deliverance for Israel, and others who, for political expediency like Saul, refused to obey, and failed. God even used a young girl named Esther to stop the evil plot. What will he use now? Who will he raise up today? That remains to be seen, but you can be sure that God will accomplish it! And next week, next month, next year, when you see it unfold on CNN and FOXnews remember all this history. Remember God told us what would happen before it took place. ..and now you know…. The rest of the story! http://davidacrisp.blogspot.com/2010/02/amalek-agag-and- ahmadinejad.html http://bravenewlan d.blogspot.com/201 1/03/purim-and- difference- between-truth- and.html 6