I have spent most of the fall months of 07 working out the meanings of the descendent lineage of Abraham’s genealogical tree. – Especially, the Esau branch. My initial curiosity in this line was sparked by a study heshewethree was doing in 1^st Samuel in September and, a wondering on my part, what in the world Amalek had done that warranted such extreme ire on the part of our usually merciful God. (ref. 1^st Samuel 15:3).

As I worked out the meanings of each name logogramatically, a pattern began emerging from name to name that sent thrills up my spine. God was speaking to me from His word like never before.

It is my intention – Lord willing – to share this discovery. I have already started that sharing with the name Amalek in my last posting and will be working backwards up Abraham’s tree. But first I think it would be helpful to comprehend a commonly used phrase in a slightly different light.

Many times throughout the Biblical writings we see the phrase “and he begat sons and daughters. – Of late, I have come to regard this phrase a little differently.

After many years of digging into Old Testament writings and, attempting to find meanings for the many enigmatic names, I have come to regard this phrase as equating with the effect(s) and influence(s) of a cause.

As an example, instead of the reading "And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters" in Genesis 5:4 I now have a tendency to interpret this scripture, and others like it, as “…. and he begat many effects and influences throughout his remaining years".

If this theory has any validity at all, then each genealogical string in the Bible could have the propensity – and potential – of becoming a daisy chain of cause and effect. – In fact, the various glimpses I saw of this emerging pattern are the very star-bursts of understanding that sent those thrills up my spine.

Amalek

When viewed from a logogrammatic perspective, the Hebrew word qlme (Amalek) means “repetitive mundane-ness”. – In short, drudgery; boring; never-changing sameness; same-oh, same-oh.

I used to live in Mesa, Arizona where the sun shines, what at times seemed like, forever. There were two things we could always count on from April to October. – The sun was going to shine and it was going to be hot. I tell you this to make the point that even sunshiney, wished-for things get boring if there is no variety. – No change.

A tone with no vibrato is just a frequency without a song. – Boring.

A life without variety boils down to existing, merely to exist. – Boring.

A religion without variety (without change) can have no repentance and, consequently, no redemption. – Same-oh, same-oh in religious circles produce no spiraling, uplifting effect, only endless circles of busyness with no direction, purpose or salvation effect.

I see Amalek as a product of the Amalekites, rather than as the patriarch of that clan, as some do. – After all,, he is the great-grandson of Isaac; whose father, Abraham fought with the Amalekites even before Isaac was born. Genesis 14:7

The Amalekites appear to be more a state of persuasion, than a specific gene pool of peoples. – A lifestyle, perhaps or an advocate of some particular persuasion. In my view, the term atheism would fit into this classification process quite nicely. – Right along with words like Catholic or Keynesian or hippy or charismatic.

The Blue Letter Bible identifies the Amalekites as people of lapping. Doesn’t that mean they are all going around in repetitive circles?

It also identifies Amalek as dweller in a valley.

It sounds to me as though Amalek lived in a rut and all he and his cronies ever accomplished was running around in circles like a bunch of dogs chasing their tails.

The God of the Israelites dwells upon the mountain tops of all existence and He is desirous that all His people join Him amid such majesty. He desires to baptize each of us within His unlimited panoramas; encourage us with His never-ending horizons of hope. Here is where wisdom and hope abound – even find their birthing. Here is where the spirits that kindle exciting inspirations reside. Here life is always vitalized, never dull or forever mundane.

Scratching out an existence amid the rocks and rills of the mountain-top is never an easy task. It is here that the winds of adversity blow their strongest. It is here that the heat of the day never quite offsets the cold of the night. It is here that life finds its toughest adversary. But it is here – along side Christ and our Heavenly Father – that faith finds fertile ground and enduring strength. It is here that spirituality and inspiration thrive and flourish. It is here that God’s will is always accomplished.

Life is much easier down in the valleys where Amalek and the Amalekites dwell. It is more level there and easier to move about and its alluvial plains are usually rife with the riches of material abundance. Its streams abound with food and thirst-quenching drink. Life in the valley is addictively comfortable. –  So comfortable, no one who dwells there ever wants it to truly change.

They seem to enjoy this repetitive mundaneness of their lives, for they resist God’s inspiration at every turn. They complain about life in general, too. They murmur at how bored they are. They even pray that they might find some way to make their lives more exciting. Then, reject every answer that comes their way.

When Moses tried to introduce the Israelites to different ways of worshiping God, they balked, they murmured, they refused to hear Moses instructions. They lashed out at him wished that they had never left Egypt. There, at least they had some degree of comfort. In short, they rejected the guidance given to them through Moses who in turn, was inspired by God. They refused to change their ways.

Exodus 17:8 Then came Amalek and fought with Israel (Joshua) at Rephidim.

Rephidim is interesting in that it represents the idea of "the introduction and demonstration of different  ways."

            The way I read Exodus 17:8, when the Israelites came to Rephidim – in other words, up against testimonials and demonstrations trying to show them a better way – they rejected any idea that the way they had always done things could possibly be bettered. Obviously, they had no faith nor trust in the way God was trying to show them. They placed more trust in their own council than that of God’s spirit-led inspiration.

Joshua was sent to do battle with the Amalikites. Whenever Moses up on the mountaintop overseeing the battle, raised his arms to make contact with God, Joshua’s armies would prevail. But, whenever Moses lowered his arm – thus losing connection with God – the Amalekites would start winning.

            Jesus fought these same battles with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He tried introducing change to their traditional ways, they would not hear of it. They saw him as a threat and they crucified him.

How does God look upon those who dwell down in their comfortable little valleys of rut living? 1^st Samuel 15:3 gives us a clue when the Lord said onto Saul. ------ Now go and smite Amalek, ------- utterly destroy all that they are, ------ spare none of them; -------- slay the man and the woman, ------ the infant ------- the suckling,  ------ the ox ----- every sheep, camel and ass.

            God wants such behavior annihilated. – Yes, annihilated He doesn’t want any of it, not a shred, to remain as an obstacle to His Holy Spirit.

GJ

           First off, let me apologize to all you dear friends for not responding to your gracious enquiries of my well being over the last few months. – I should have.

           My sudden silence, at first, was brought about by a sudden shift of understanding with respect to my relationship with God’s truths. – Some of the truths that I had long considered solid and firm, suddenly turned to dust with new revelation and I watched them crumble before my eyes.

I used to work in the aerospace industry and at one time was very familiar with the function and use of gyroscopes in our nation’s guided missile and aircraft navigational systems. – They provided the reference platforms against which all peripheral data collected throughout the rest of the system was measured. – They provided the whole operating system with “orientation”.

With the system of my acquaintance, if the gyro lost it orientation, it would go into a state of what we called “chatter”. – i.e., it would frantically oscillate about seeking its foundation, and if not found, would continue to do so so violently that it would self-destruct if we didn’t shut down its power source.

I mention all of this because that is approximately the state I found myself in last fall when all of this started. – I temporarily lost a portion of my foundation – watched it melt away beneath my feet – and I suddenly found myself caught up in the grips of despair, confusion and wondering what next long understood truth was going to begin slipping through my fingers like beach sand.

Also, since Thanksgiving, I have not been feeling real well. – A Gastro/intestinal thing that seems to be somewhat better now.

I have not been lazy with my word study during these times, however, and have spent a great deal of time working on a name that sparked my curiosity during one of heshewethree’s 1^st Samuel studies last fall. – Amalek.

Hopefully, this study will be ready for posting soon.

GJ

There are three Hebrew words that have been translated as herb in the Old Testament. Deshe, chatsiyr & eseb. – All three are employed in Prov, 27:25 and a fair idea of the differences is evident there. Also, here is a comparative study I just completed of Gesenius, Strong’s and my own thoughts that I would like to share. – First Gesenius thoughts, emboldened, then Strong’s or my own in brackets and parenthesis, respectively.

asd = deshe = #1877 = first sprouts of the earth, tender grass [from 1876; a sprout; by analogy, grass:--tender grass, green, tender herb]. (That which springs forth every spring season. Usually a lighter green than the more mature plants). – (Young and tender).

ryux = chatsiyr = #2682 = grass ready for mowing [grass - from the greenness of a courtyard, a leek, hay, herb.] (That which is green and has grown sufficiently enough to be used for fodder, but not yet mature or with seed). – (Equating, I would suppose in extrapolation, with fresh understandings not yet fully comprehended. - Tender new understandings seen in the first light of a new day).

=

bse = eseb = #6212 = The most mature, (headed out, full of seed, ready for or nearing harvest time). [From an unused root meaning to glisten or be green; grass or any tender shoot:--grass, herb]. (That which glistens = reflective of God’s light. – Thus regeneratively productive).