Deuteronomy 25:19, commentary and pictures

When rest from enemies was given in the land of inheritance, Israel was to wipe out the memory of Amalek and never forget the charge, because Amalek had waylaid them on the way from Egypt and struck the faint and weary stragglers in the rear without cause. Amalek did this in defiance of God, fearing Him not though knowing His power, mocking His works, lifting its hand against His throne and vowing to consume His people, and that willful assault on the defenseless sealed its doom after long delay. The destruction was to be utter with nothing spared for spoil or sacrifice, and Saul's sparing of Agag and the best cattle from pride and self-will proved disobedience and caused his rejection as unfit to rule. The command reveals Christ's tender care over His weakest children on the weary way, so that to take advantage of them in weakness is a crime He marks and judges as a stroke against His own hand of justice. The wrong was recorded by divine direction as a lasting remembrance, warning those with light and privilege never to war on worn and weary fellow workers in Amalek's spirit, lest they meet still greater displeasure.

Command and History

The command was to be carried out when the Lord had given Israel rest from all enemies round about in the land given as an inheritance to possess, that then Israel was to blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven and was not to forget it. It was delivered as a solemn charge just before Moses died, appointing Amalek to utter destruction many years before Saul, and it was afterward laid on Saul through Samuel to go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all and spare nothing. Execution of the sentence had been deferred for four hundred years, yet Amalek did not turn from sin, so the time had come for the long-delayed sentence to be executed by Saul.

The reason was what Amalek did by the way when Israel came up from Egypt, meeting Israel and laying wait in the way and striking the rear, all the faint and weary and feeble and defenseless who had fallen behind. It was an unprovoked assault, since Israel had done no injury or threat to provoke it. Amalek feared not God but chose defiance, though knowing God's character and sovereignty, while practicing debasing idolatry and being the first to make war on Israel in the wilderness. He mocked God's wonderful works done for Israel before the Egyptians, boasted that his wise men and magicians could do all those wonders, ridiculed the fear of surrounding nations, lifted his hand against God and His throne, swore by his gods to consume Israel so that none would escape and to plague them until not one was left, and boasted that Israel's God could not deliver them out of his hand. That willful sin had long called for vengeance while mercy still called to repentance, but falling on the wearied ranks sealed its doom and ended its probation.

The destruction was to be utter with nothing spared, devoted as enemies of God to blotting out from under heaven. It was not to enrich Israel or win glory for them, but to carry out God's word and judgment, that the very people Amalek had despised should be the means of its end, making clear to all nations the end of that proud and powerful people as a warning. Because God had cursed Amalek and its possessions, Israel was to keep nothing for itself and was not to keep the spoil to offer as sacrifice. Saul's campaign carried the edict out only in part, sparing Agag to heighten triumphal honor in imitation of the surrounding nations, and sparing the best sheep, oxen and cattle under the excuse of sacrifice while destroying only what was vile. Such partial obedience sprang from pride of heart, ambition, and determination to rule as an independent monarch rather than as God's vicegerent.

The command was Saul's final test as vicegerent of the Lord, and his presumptuous disregard of the will of God in only partly fulfilling it, turning back from following the Lord and not performing His commandments, showed his determination to rule independently and proved he could not be trusted with royal power. So while he marched home in the flush of victory the Lord denounced his course and rejected him.

Justice and Present Warning

The command springs from Christ's own tender care for Israel on the weary journey under His leading, even after they had grieved Him by departing from His counsel, when He saw their enemies taking advantage of their faint condition to injure them and bring suffering upon them. His care is over His weakest children, and His hand is a shield over all who love and fear Him. To strike them is to strike that hand which wields the sword of justice, for Amalek's hand was against the throne of God.

No cruelty or oppression against them goes unmarked in heaven. To take advantage of God's afflicted people in weakness and weariness, to annoy and perplex and discourage them, is a crime before God deserving utter destruction. Those who make war on worn and weary workers among His own people act in a spirit like Amalek's, and God witnesses their deeds and brings them to judgment in His continuing war against Amalek.

The history of Amalek's cruelty was recorded by divine direction and joined to the command to blot out Amalek's remembrance and not forget it, keeping the wrongdoing as a lasting remembrance and warning. Israel was not to forget the attack, but to remember it until, once given rest, the sentence was executed.

That curse and denunciation upon Amalek and heathen practices for attacking and overcoming the faint and feeble and weary behind Israel stands as a warning to those who profess to be God's children not to follow Amalek's practices. If heathen were denounced for attacking the faint and weary without fear of God, those who have had light and opportunities and privileges yet fail to show the Spirit of Christ toward their own brethren will receive even greater displeasure and condemnation. Those who claim to serve God must not attack their own worn and weary fellow workers, for they will answer to God.