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Exodus 17:16 - Eternal war against Amalek's evil

Exodus 17:16 - שמות 17:16

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי־יָד עַל־כֵּס יָהּ מִלְחָמָה לַיהוָה בַּעֲמָלֵק מִדֹּר דֹּר׃

English Translation

for he said, Because the Lord has sworn by his throne that the Lord will have war with ῾Amaleq from generation to generation.

Transliteration

Va'yomer ki-yad al-kes Yah milchama la'Adonai ba'Amalek mi'dor dor.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־יָד֙ עַל־כֵּ֣ס יָ֔הּ<sup class="footnote-marker">*</sup><i class="footnote">(בכתר ארם צובה היה כתוב כֵּ֣סְיָ֔הּ בתיבה אחת)</i> מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַיהֹוָ֖ה בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃ <span class="mam-spi-pe">{פ}</span><br>
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־יָד֙ עַל־כֵּ֣ס יָ֔הּ*(בכתר ארם צובה היה כתוב כֵּ֣סְיָ֔הּ בתיבה אחת) מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַיהֹוָ֖ה בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃ {פ}

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Parasha Commentary

Understanding the Verse

The verse (Shemot 17:16) states: "כִּי־יָד עַל־כֵּס יָהּ מִלְחָמָה לַיהוָה בַּעֲמָלֵק מִדֹּר דֹּר" ("for he said, Because the Lord has sworn by His throne that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation"). This declaration follows the battle between Israel and Amalek, where Moshe raised his hands in prayer, leading to Israel's victory.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi explains that "כֵּס" (throne) is written defectively (missing an alef) to signify that Hashem's throne is incomplete as long as Amalek exists. The name "יָהּ" (a shortened form of Hashem's name) is used here to indicate that His sovereignty is diminished until Amalek is eradicated. The war against Amalek is not merely physical but spiritual, representing the battle against evil and those who seek to undermine Hashem's presence in the world.

Rambam's Perspective

In Hilchot Melachim (5:1), the Rambam emphasizes the eternal obligation to remember and eradicate Amalek. He derives from this verse that the mitzvah to destroy Amalek applies in every generation, as long as their descendants exist. This is not merely a historical command but a continuous moral and spiritual imperative.

Midrashic Interpretation

The Midrash (Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 11) elaborates that Amalek's attack on Israel was an affront to Hashem's sovereignty, as they targeted the weak and weary after Yetziat Mitzrayim. The phrase "מִלְחָמָה לַיהוָה בַּעֲמָלֵק" ("war for Hashem against Amalek") teaches that this battle is not Israel's alone—it is Hashem's war, as Amalek opposes divine justice and morality.

Key Teachings from the Verse

  • Incomplete Throne: The defective spelling of "כֵּס" symbolizes that evil (embodied by Amalek) prevents the full revelation of Hashem's glory in the world.
  • Eternal Battle: The war against Amalek is perpetual, representing the ongoing struggle against forces that deny divine truth.
  • Divine Oath: Hashem's "oath" by His throne underscores the severity of Amalek's sin and the certainty of their eventual destruction.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Rosh Hashanah 32b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the significance of God's throne and His eternal war against Amalek.
📖 Megillah 18a
The verse is referenced in the context of the commandment to remember what Amalek did to Israel and the obligation to blot out the memory of Amalek.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does 'Because the Lord has sworn by his throne' mean in Exodus 17:16?
A: This phrase means that Hashem (God) has made an eternal oath, symbolized by His throne, to oppose Amalek in every generation. Rashi explains that the word 'kes' (throne) is written incompletely (כֵּס instead of כִּסֵּא) to show that Hashem's throne is not complete until Amalek is eradicated.
Q: Why does Hashem declare war against Amalek forever?
A: Amalek attacked the Israelites unprovoked when they were weak after leaving Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). The Midrash teaches that Amalek represents pure evil and doubt in Hashem's presence. Therefore, the Torah commands us to remember and oppose Amalek's ideology in every generation.
Q: How do we fulfill the mitzvah to fight Amalek today?
A: Since the nation of Amalek no longer exists, Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 5:4-5) explains that we fulfill this mitzvah by opposing those who embody Amalek's traits—cruelty, hatred of Jews, and denial of Hashem. We also read Parshat Zachor before Purim to remember this commandment.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 17:16?
A: The verse teaches that evil like Amalek's must be actively opposed, not ignored. The Talmud (Megillah 18a) connects this to Mordechai's stance against Haman (a descendant of Amalek). We learn that each generation must identify and resist forces that threaten morality and Jewish survival.