Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Chris:

This is a linguistic answer.

The reason people were lagging was because they were thirsty and tired, so didn’t have the strength to fight back. In fact, the complaints to Moses about the lack of water could very well have been made even before all the stragglers got to the camp.

The language of Deuteronomy doesn’t insist that the attacks of the Amalekites happened before the main body of people had already reached Rephidim. The phrase “on the road” includes the time encamped.

Karl W. Randolph.

On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 3:57 AM, Chris Watts <dekruidnootjes AT eircom.net> wrote:

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



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