ISRAEL’S ENEMIES – AMALEK

“Make me understand, so that I may cherish Your Torah, and I will keep it with all my heart. Lead me on the trail of Your commandments, for that is my desire.” Psalms 119:34-35

Shabbat Shalom All! As I put this short Op together, it is Shabbat, 8 November 2025. The war in Gaza continues its very unstable ceasefire, while the tensions in the north with Hezbollah rapidly escalates. Point is, the war is continuing even if the bullets and missiles have subsided for the moment.

All over the world, HaShem’s people who are striving to walk with and stay close to Him are continuing to be crushed. The enemies of Israel are like snakes, coming out of their dens seeking whom to devour! I won’t lie, it does appear to be a very disturbing time as the darkness encroaches the entire world!

Life is extremely tough right now! War, economics, health, etc, are all being shaken! Each of us is being challenged in ways we never thought we would have to face! We are being challenged in ways which is literally wearing us all out physically and spiritually! The number of our enemies is countless, not only do they want to extinguish our physical presence in this world, but more than this, they seek to destroy our spiritual walk with HaShem!

This is what I want to quickly discuss in this Op is how do we counter our enemies and how do we prevail? But first, always remember the following scriptures assuring us HaShem and His Word is unchanging and is set forever:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

The one book of the Tanakh which is my absolute favorite is Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) simply because it is about HaShem, Who even though is separated from His bride (Israel), still watches over her and protects her with the promise He WILL redeem her at the Final Redemption! May it be so very soon in our days!

The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book discusses an aspect of warfare which is very interesting as it is discussing the true struggle and what it actually is. It says “The Sages say that the Temple was called the House of David because he dedicated his life for it. David’s physical wars and tribulations were the worldly guise of a spiritual struggle. When a human enemy sets itself up as an enemy of the Jewish nation, or of so supreme figure as David who is the embodiment of the people, force of arms is the superficial aspect of the struggle. THE TRUE STRUGGLE IS SPIRITUAL. That is why our Sages speak constantly of the Angel of Esau, the Angel of Egypt, the Angle of the Sea, these spiritual forces of evil were attacking Israel’s spiritual will for good. If Israel’s spirit were defeated, its armies would collapse. If its spirit remained strong, its mortal enemies would be vanquished.”

Point is, when we are being attacked today, not only is the goal of our enemies to literally obliterate us off the face of the earth, but more importantly, to destroy our spiritual walk with HaShem and cut us off from Him! Keep this in mind as we proceed.

The commentary continues. “When Amalek attacked Israel soon after the Exodus, Joshua led Israel on the battlefield while Moses went up to the hilltop to pray. This is recorded in Exodus 17:11 which says ‘And it came to pass that when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.’ It was not Moses’ hands which prevailed or lost the battle. He raised his hands in prayer to inspire Israel’s eyes to rise to heaven and its hearts to be dedicated to its Father in Heaven. When he lowered his hands, Israel turned its attention from HaShem back to the human enemy. During those moments when they fought Amalek instead of fighting their own baseness, they were beaten back.”

“Jacob, too, was a great warrior on the battlefield with his sword and his bow. But there are other battlefields and other kinds of swords and bows than material ones. Shortly before his death, Jacob awarded Joseph the city of Shechem, quoting Genesis 48:22 ‘Which I took from the Emorites with my sword and my bow.’ After Simeon and Levi killed the male inhabitants of Shechem, the neighboring Emorites assembled to avenge the decimated city. Jacob donned his sword and bow to fight them off.”

“Targum (Writings in the Oral Torah) renders the words ‘Sword and bow’ as ‘With my prayers and supplications’. Some might see Jacob as the powerful warrior, the mighty man who could single handedly remove large stones that a group of shepherds could not budge per Genesis 29:7-10. Eye witnesses could report on his defense of Shechem with a flailing sword and powerful bow. But Jacob knew that his sword was lethal because BEHIND IT WAS A PRAYER; that his bow was invincible because behind it was a supplication. And he knew that just as a bow shoots more powerfully the tighter it is drawn, the greater the intensity of its devotion and concentration, the more a prayer can accomplish.”

So, consider the picture, we Israel is engaged in warfare against Amalek and Moses is praying. When his hands are lifted up in prayer towards HaShem, it inspires all of Israel to repent and draw closer to HaShem, thus Israel prevails. But, when Moses gets tired, worn out and his hands begin to lower, Israel begins to let go of HaShem and Amalek subsequently begins to prevail. Can you see the concept here? When we stay devoted and connected to HaShem in our prayers, Torah study, observances of His Shabbat and His Feasts, striving to stay close to Him according to His way, not our own, we will prevail over Amalek! Not because of who we are, no not a chance, but solely because of Who He is as our Great King!

Now on a side note, let me quickly interject what is so important to know about our enemy Amalek! Per Tractate Rosh HaShanah 29a from the Talmud Bavli it describes Amalek as the following: “The battle with Amalek was no ordinary war, and thus could not be waged by the usual miraculous means. In any other war, even if Israel had not been worthy, HaShem Himself would have fought for them in the merit of Moshe, the great sage of the generation. But the battle against Amalek is one that Israel must fight for itself!”

So, right off the bat we can see there is much more to Amalek than just some physical enemy which we have to contend with. The commentary continues and says “Amalek’s purpose and unique ability is to try by any means to turn Israel away from HaShem, to undermine their emunah (Faith) in HaShem, and to thereby achieve dominance over Israel. Since this is the nature of the war with Amalek, the only way Israel can triumph is to do the exact opposite, to double and redouble their emunah, and to return to HaShem with all their hearts and souls. This directly negates the power of Amalek, which dissipates like smoke in the wind.”

How many right now are tired, worn out and discouraged after the constant spiritual and even physical beatings which people are having to endure right now? It is Amalek once again attempting to get us to lower our arms and let go of HaShem, even when we are committed to Him, but we still find ourselves, unintentionally, due to circumstances having lowered our arms and let go and Amalek begins to prevail. So, how do we counter Amalek and keep our arms raised up? We pray like David did!!!

Remember from a previous Op I cited II Samuel 22? Read what David said in this chapter:

“David spoke to HaShem the words of this song on the day that HaShem delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Shaul. He said, ‘HaShem is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Rescuer, for me. The Elohim of my Rock in Whom I take shelter, my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold and my Refuge. My Savior, You save me from violence (The Hebrew word here for violence is Hamas! Consider what is currently going on in Israel today especially regarding Hamas/Gaza!!!!). With praises I call unto HaShem, and I am saved from my enemies. When the pains of death surrounded me and torrents of godless men would frighten me, the pains of the grave surrounded me, the snares of death confronted me, in my distress I would call upon HaShem, and to my Elohim I would call; and from His abode He heard my voice, and my cry was in His ears. Then the earth quaked and roared, the foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked when His wrath flared. Smoke rose up in His nostrils, a devouring fire from His mouth, flaming coals blazed forth from Him. He bent down the heavens and descended, with thick darkness beneath His feet.”

“He mounted a Keruv (Cherub) and flew, He appeared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness into shelters around Him, a sieve of water are the clouds of the heavens. From out of the brilliance that is before Him burned fiery coals. HaShem thundered from the heavens, the Most High gave forth His voice. He sent forth arrows and scattered them; lightning, and He terrified them. The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the earth were laid bare by the rebuke of HaShem, from the blowing of the breath of His nostrils. He sent from on high and took me, He drew me out of deep waters. He saved me from my mighty foe, and from my enemies, when they overpowered me. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but HaShem was support to me. He brought me out into a broad space; He released me, for He desired me. HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness; He repaid me befitting the cleanliness of my hands. For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and I have not departed wickedly from my Elohim. For all His judgments are before me; and I shall not remove His decrees from myself. I have been perfectly innocent with Him, and I was vigilant against my sin. HaShem repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to my purity before His eyes.”

“With the devout You deal devoutly, with the one who is strong in his wholeheartedness You act wholeheartedly. With the pure You act purely, and with the corrupt You act perversely. You save the humble people, while Your eyes are upon the haughty to lower them. For You are my lamp, HaShem; HaShem illuminates my darkness. For with You I smash a troop, with my Elohim I leap over a wall. The Elohim! His way is perfect; the promise of HaShem is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is Elohim besides HaShem, and who is a Rock besides our Elohim? The Elohim! My Fortress of strength; He cleared my way, with perfection. Who straightened my feet like the hinds, and stood me upon my heights. Who trained my hands for battle, so that a copper bow could be bent by my arms. You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your humility made me great.”

“You have widened my stride beneath me; and my ankles have not faltered. I pursued my foes and eradicated them, and returned not until they were destroyed. I destroyed them and struck them down so that they did not rise, and they fell beneath my feet. You girded me with strength for battle; You brought my adversaries to their knees beneath me. And my enemies you gave me in retreat; my antagonists, and I cut them down. They cried out, but there was no savior; they turned to HaShem, but He answered them not. I pulverized them like dust of the earth; like the mud in the streets I crushed them and trampled them. You rescued me from the strife of my people; You preserved me to be the head of nations; a people I did not know serves me. Foreigners lie to me; as soon as they hear, they will obey me. Foreigners become terrified from within their fortified enclosure.”

“HaShem lives! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted is Elohim Who grants me vengeance and subdues nations beneath me, and You extricate me from my enemies! You raised me above my adversaries; from the man of violence (Hamas) You rescue me. Therefore, I shall give thanks to You, HaShem, among the nations, and to Your Name I will sing. He is a tower of His king’s salvations, and does kindness to His anointed one, to David and his offspring, forever!”

David prays in Psalms 119, the longest chapter in the Tanakh comprised of 176 verses, in the first three verses: “Praiseworthy are those whose way is wholesome, who walk with the Torah of HaShem. Praiseworthy are those who cherish His testimonies, whole heartedly they seek Him. Indeed, they do no wrong, they walk in His ways!”

David says in Psalms 119:28 “My soul melts from sorrow, sustain me in accordance with Your word.” The Artscroll commentary on this verse says “David laments, ‘No year has passed without a calamity, no month has elapsed without news of fresh sorrow, no day has gone by without tragedy. While it is true, as noted above, that affliction can be beneficial, that is the case only if one utilizes his affliction to purify his baser instincts. Unrelieved and uncomprehended sorrow, however can sap a man’s resolve. Therefore, my soul melts away from sorrow. I am lost and bewildered, blinded by incessant tears. My entire world threatens to disintegrate around me; only Your encouraging word of reassurance can sustain me and strengthen my resolve to carry on.”

David is being crushed from not only the physical wars but also the spiritual wars which are having an effect in bringing him discouragement and figuratively his hands are lowering. But he reaffirms his faith in HaShem and he states in verses 30-32 “I have chosen the way of faith, I have submitted to Your judgments. I clung to Your testimonies, HaShem, put me not to shame. I will run on the way of Your commandments when You will broaden my understanding.”

David is about to end Psalms 119 and he sums it all up in verse 165 which says “There is abundant peace for the lovers of Your Torah, and there is no stumbling block for them.”

Consider the Psalm for today’s Torah portion ‘Vayera’ (Genesis 18:1-22:24) which is Psalms 11. It says “For the Conductor; of David. In HaShem I took refuge. How dare you say to me, ‘Flee, bird, to your mountain!’ For behold the wicked bend the bow, ready their arrow on the bowstring, to shoot under darkness at the upright of heart. You have torn down the foundations, what has the righteous man done? HaShem is in His Holy Temple, HaShem’s throne is in heaven, His eyes scrutinize, His pupils examine mankind. HaShem examines the righteous one, but the wicked and the lover of violence He despises. He will rain down upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone, a burning blast is their allotted portion. For HaShem is righteous, and He loves the righteous man. The upright will behold His face.”

My point for this short Op is now more than ever, we all have to be mindful of getting worn out and tired and as such letting our hands, figuratively lower and Amalek gains the upper hand. We have to, myself included, proclaim our devoted faith, trust and commitment to HaShem, our Great King, Whose Word is forever, unchanging and the only truth there is! Amalek is crafty and uses our own words and emotions against us to get us to lower our hands. We have to stay ever vigilant especially now in these days as the world collapses around us more and more. HaShem is faithful, good, kind, compassionate and ever watching over each of us and when we submit to Him and His Torah, it is us who prevails and His enemies who are scattered into oblivion!! May the Final Redemption be so very, very soon in our days!

Something to consider!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• Artscroll Shemos (Exodus) with the teachings of the Talmud
• Artscroll Tractate Rosh HaShannah from the Talmud Bavli
• Artscroll Tehillim (Psalms)
• Artscroll Shir HaShirim