How Joshua Weakened Amalek and the Four Names of the Lot

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 265:4

"And Joshua weakened Amalek" (Exodus 17:13). Rabbi Joshua says: he went down and cut off the heads of the mighty men with him who stood in the battle ranks. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in explains it as a notarikon [acronym-reading]: "and he was made to writhe, and he trembled, and he was broken." "Amalek" - according to its plain meaning. "And" - these are his wife and his sons. "His people" - these are the forces with him. And when it says "and," these are the forces with his sons. "With the edge of the sword." Rabbi [Judah] says: he did not disfigure them, but judged them with mercy. Rabbi Elazar says: "with the edge of the sword" - why is it said? We learn that this war was only by the mouth of the Almighty. Others say: this verse was fulfilled regarding them, "Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will make you blood, and blood shall pursue you" (Ezekiel 35:6). "And Joshua weakened." Our Rabbis say: he cast lots upon them, as you say, "they cast lots [chalashim] for the portions." Four names are given to the lot: chalash, pur, goral, chevel; and by all of them the sons of Esau were stricken. By chalash Amalek was stricken, as it is said, "And Joshua weakened [vayachalosh]." By goral and by pur Haman was stricken, as it is said, "he cast pur, that is, the lot" (Esther 3:7). By chevel the fourth kingdom is destined to be stricken, as it is said, "the pangs [chevlei] of a woman in labor shall come upon him" (Hosea 13:13).

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