Remember Amalek and the Ashes of Abraham in Tanchuma

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Ki Teitzei 5:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"Remember what Amalek did to you" (Deuteronomy 25:17). Rabbi Tanhum bar Hanilai opened: "Your remembrances are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay" (Job 13:12). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: Those two remembrances that I have mentioned to you in the Torah (be careful concerning them): "You shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek" (Deuteronomy 25:19), [and "I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek" (Exodus 17:14) — be careful concerning them]. "Proverbs of ashes" (Job 13:12) — if you are worthy, you are the children of Abraham, who likened himself to ashes, as it is written, "And I am dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27). But if not, "defenses of clay" (Job 13:12) — prepare yourselves for the enslavement of Egypt, as it is written, "And they made their lives bitter... with hard labor, with clay and with bricks" (Exodus 1:14).

Themes

HumilityAbraham

Biblical References

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