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Deuteronomy 25:19 - Never forget Amalek's evil.

Deuteronomy 25:19 - דברים 25:19

Hebrew Text

וְהָיָה בְּהָנִיחַ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ מִכָּל־אֹיְבֶיךָ מִסָּבִיב בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה־אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ תִּמְחֶה אֶת־זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם לֹא תִּשְׁכָּח׃

English Translation

Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God has given thee rest from all thy enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God gives thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of ῾Amaleq from under heaven; thou shalt not forget.

Transliteration

Ve'haya behaniach Adonai Elohecha lecha mikol oyvecha misaviv ba'aretz asher Adonai Elohecha noten lecha nachala lirishtah timche et-zecher Amalek mitachat hashamayim lo tishkach.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ <small>׀</small> לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ <span class="mam-spi-pe">{פ}</span><br>
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ {פ}

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Parasha Commentary

The Command to Wipe Out Amalek

The verse (Devarim 25:19) commands the Jewish people to eradicate the memory of Amalek once they are settled securely in the Land of Israel. Rashi explains that this mitzvah is contingent upon the Jewish people first achieving menuchah (rest) from all their enemies, as the verse states: "when Hashem your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about." Only then does the obligation to destroy Amalek take full effect.

The Nature of Amalek’s Evil

Rambam (Maimonides) in Sefer HaMitzvot (Positive Commandment 188) lists the eradication of Amalek as one of the 613 mitzvot. The Midrash (Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 11) elaborates that Amalek represents the epitome of cruelty and defiance of Hashem, as they attacked the Jewish people unprovoked after the Exodus (Shemot 17:8-16). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 20b) emphasizes that this mitzvah applies even in future generations, as Amalek’s hatred is eternal.

Two Parts of the Mitzvah

  • Physical Destruction: The verse commands "blot out the remembrance of Amalek," which includes waging war against them (Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 5:5).
  • Spiritual Remembrance: The verse concludes, "you shall not forget," teaching that we must constantly recall Amalek’s evil (Chizkuni). This is fulfilled through the annual reading of Parshat Zachor before Purim.

Why "Under Heaven"?

The phrase "from under heaven" is interpreted by the Sifrei to mean that Amalek’s influence must be eradicated from the world entirely. The Kli Yakar adds that Amalek represents doubt (Amalek in gematria equals safek, doubt), and their ideology of denying Hashem’s providence must be eliminated.

Contemporary Implications

While the physical nation of Amalek may no longer be identifiable, the Vilna Gaon teaches that the spiritual battle against Amalek’s traits—cruelty and heresy—continues. The Chofetz Chaim (in Mishnah Berurah) stresses that remembering Amalek means opposing all forms of baseless hatred, which mirror Amalek’s attack on the Jewish people.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Megillah 18a
The verse is referenced in the discussion about the commandment to remember and blot out the memory of Amalek.
📖 Sanhedrin 20b
The verse is cited in the context of discussing the mitzvah to destroy Amalek and the timing of this commandment.
📖 Yoma 22b
The verse is mentioned in relation to the obligation to remember what Amalek did to Israel and the commandment to eradicate them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does the Torah command us to blot out the memory of Amalek?
A: The Torah commands us to erase the memory of Amalek because they attacked the Jewish people in a cowardly manner when we were weak after leaving Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). Amalek represents the archetype of evil and cruelty in the world, and we must oppose such ideologies. Rashi explains that this mitzvah applies even when Amalek no longer exists as a nation, as we must eradicate evil tendencies from ourselves and society.
Q: How do we fulfill the commandment to remember Amalek today?
A: We fulfill this commandment in several ways: 1) By reading the portion about Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) publicly each year before Purim (as Haman was a descendant of Amalek), 2) Through the mitzvah of Mechiyat Amalek (erasing Amalek's memory) which today means opposing evil ideologies, and 3) By remembering not to be complacent in fighting evil, as the verse says 'you shall not forget.' The Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 5:5) discusses these obligations.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the commandment about Amalek?
A: The commandment teaches us that we must actively oppose evil in the world and not remain passive. Just as Amalek attacked the weak, we must protect the vulnerable. The Midrash (Tanchuma Ki Teitzei 11) explains that Amalek represents doubt and coldness toward holiness - we must remove such attitudes from our lives. The verse's structure ('blot out... don't forget') teaches that remembering leads to action against evil.
Q: Why does the verse mention resting from enemies before commanding about Amalek?
A: Rashi explains that this teaches us the mitzvah to destroy Amalek only applies when the Jewish people are settled securely in their land with the Temple standing. The Sifrei (Devarim 296) adds that this shows we must first establish goodness before fighting evil. Today, when we lack the Temple, the mitzvah is fulfilled through remembering Amalek and opposing its evil ideology.
Q: What is the connection between Amalek and Purim?
A: Haman, the villain of the Purim story, was a descendant of Amalek (Esther 3:1). The Megillah describes how Mordechai (a Jew) would not bow to Haman (an Amalekite), showing the eternal conflict between good and evil. That's why we read the Amalek portion before Purim (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 685:7) and make noise when Haman's name is mentioned - to fulfill 'blot out the memory of Amalek.'