When Amalek Attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, the First Nation to

Mekhilta Tractate Amalek 1:18

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

"and go out and do battle with Amalek": R. Yehoshua says: Moses said to Joshua: Go out from under the cloud and do battle with Amalek.

Themes

Moses War Humor Joshua

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Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelRabbi Eliezer Hamodai Offered a Different Interpretation of Why MosesRabbi Eliezer Hamodai offered a different interpretation of why Moses told Joshua to "go out" and fight Amalek. And his version cuts deeper. According to Rabbi Ben SiraAccount of MosheYehoshua Ben Nun – Joshua, son of Nun – a figure who embodies that very idea. Ben Sira, in his wisdom, paints a vivid picture of Yehoshua. He calls him "a warri Book of JubileesWhen Sacred Days Blur Into the UncleanThe Book of Jubilees, a text not found in the Hebrew Bible but considered scripture by some, grapples with this very issue. It warns about a future where people Legends of the JewsWhat Does The Earth Stand On?I stumbled across a wild little story, and I just had to share it. It comes from Tree of Souls, Howard Schwartz's collection of Jewish folktales. It's a quick g Legends of the JewsTeachings of Moses and the SerpentAs retold by Ginzberg, Moses was the one who devised the plan to rid the city of the snakes. It all hinged on the clever use of. storks. Yes, you heard that rig Legends of the JewsJoshua Overcomes His Self-Doubt to Fight AmalekCan I really do this?" It's a universal struggle, and even Joshua, the future leader of Israel, felt it. Our story unfolds just after the miraculous crossing of