Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Chris Watts <dekruidnootjes AT eircom.net>]

To begin with just a brief question, we're all familiar with the  
battle in Ex 17:8.  But in Deut 25:17 we note that Amalek was picking  
the Israelites off at the rear, the weakest, those that were lagging  
behind.  What I am curious about is this must have been happening  
before the major battle where Moshe organised His major assault while  
at Rephidim.  Is this true?  The only snag here is that the  
Israelites were complaining about a lack of water, if the Amalekites  
were already doing there hit and runs a few miles down the road on  
theose that were at the back of the long march then the Israelites  
would have told Moshe and they would have complained about this as  
well.  So this is my question mark, the idea that the Amalekites  
continued to haunt the Israelites after that major battle does not,  
at this moment, seem plausible.

Chris Watts
Ireland