Four Who Received a Hint and the Blotting Out of Amalek

"Write this for a memorial in a book" (Exodus 17:14). "Write" means from what is written here. "This" refers to what is written here. "For a memorial" refers to what is written in Deuteronomy. "In a book" refers to what is written in the Prophets. "What is written in the Scroll" - so says Rabbi Yehoshua. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: "This" refers to what is written here and in Deuteronomy; "for a memorial" refers to what is written in the Prophets; "in a book" refers to what is written in the Scroll. "And rehearse it in the ears of Joshua" (Exodus 17:14) - on that very day Joshua was anointed; so says Rabbi Yehoshua. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: This is one of four who were given a hint; two took heed and two did not take heed. Moses was given a hint and did not take heed: "And rehearse it in the ears of Joshua" - meaning Joshua would bring Israel into the Land. In the end Moses stood and made all those requests and all those supplications, until it was said to him (Deuteronomy 3:26): "Enough! Speak no more of this matter." Jacob was given a hint and did not take heed, as it is said (Genesis 28:15): "Behold, I am with you and will keep you." In the end he was afraid, as it is said (Genesis 32:8): "And he was afraid and distressed." Is it possible that one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, assured in this way should be afraid? Rather, he said: Perhaps sin will be the cause. David was given a hint and took heed, as it is said (1 Samuel 17:36): "Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear." He said: What am I, that I have killed these three wild beasts? Rather, perhaps some matter is destined to befall Israel, and they are destined to be saved through me. Therefore it is said (1 Samuel 17:36): "And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them." Mordecai was given a hint and took heed, as it is said (Esther 2:11): "And every single day Mordecai walked before the court of the harem." He said: Is it possible that this pious woman should be married to this uncircumcised man? Rather, perhaps some matter is destined to befall Israel, and they are destined to be saved through her. Immediately, "the matter became known to Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther" (Esther 2:22). "For I will utterly blot out" (Exodus 17:14). "Blot out" in this world; "I will utterly blot out" in the world to come - him and all his family; so says Rabbi Yehoshua. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: "Amalek" - this refers to Agag. "The remembrance" - this refers to Haman. "Blot out" him and all his family; "I will utterly blot out" him and all that generation. "From under heaven" (Exodus 17:14). Rabbi Yehoshua says: That Amalek should have no offspring or grandchild, so that no one should say, "This camel belonged to Amalek; this ewe belonged to Amalek; this tree belonged to Amalek." Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: Because he came to destroy Israel from under the wings of heaven, Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the universe, this wicked one comes to destroy Your children from under heaven - the scroll of the Torah that You gave them, who will read in it? Rabbi Nathan says: Haman came only as a reminder for Israel, as it is said (Esther 9:28): "These days of Purim shall not pass away from among the Jews, nor shall the memory of them perish from their descendants."