Pharaoh King of Egypt (Part 3)

This article is a continuation from Pharaoh King of Egypt (Part 2), where I have shown from scripture and historical records the connection between the Pharaoh king of Egypt (Hyksos, Amalek) and Gog of Ezekiel 38 and 39. In this post, I would like to gather from scripture, the identity of Amalek, as well as to make a comparison between Pharaoh king of Egypt and Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. First of all, who is Amalek?

Genesis 36:12 "And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife."

The origin of Amalek was found in this verse, which tells us something about his genealogy. Amalek was born to Eliphaz and Timna, and Eliphaz was the son of Esau and Adah. The father of Amalek (Eliphaz), was a part Hittite whose mother (Adah) was a Canaanite according to Genesis 36:2. The mother of Amalek - Timna, was a Horite descended from Seir whose ancestry is unknown:

Genesis 36:20-22 "¶ These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, 21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna."

Therefore, Amalek was the 5th generation grandson of Abraham through the genetic line of Esau. While it is true Amalek's name designated his tribal descendants, it is also true that there was an "Amalek" that dates back before the time of Esau, and this was backed up by the account of Chedorlaomer and the kings in:

Genesis 14:7 "And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar."

Therefore Amalek had an ancient origin that precedes the time of Esau, but later Eliphaz (part Hittite) the son of Esau named his son “Amalek.” In this, perhaps the bible is showing us a close connection between the Hittites and ancient Amalek. Furthermore, the descendants of Esau through Amalek would be joined unto ancient Amalek in time to come, as we shall soon discover. In Genesis 14:7, however, this is where we know that the “country of the Amalekites” was in Kadesh.

Kadesh, the country of the ancient Amalekites was right in the vicinity of Mount Seir, and so Timna the Horite, the mother of Amalek, could be related to ancient Amalek or even an Amalekite herself. That explains why her son was named “Amalek.”

Numbers 33:36 "And they removed from Ezion–gaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh."

Another name for Kadesh is the “wilderness of Zin” according to this verse, and that would be the original country of the Amalekites in Genesis 14:7. They would have travelled south to Rephidim in Arabia where they met the children of Israel, and fought with them (Exodus 17:8), and there, they got to know what happened to Egypt. Also from the map, we could see that the Wilderness of Zin is actually a valley, which may be why Amalekites were also known as “dwellers in a valley.”

Genesis 36:8 "Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom."

As previously mentioned, Amalek was descended from Esau, and Esau was Edom who dwelt in Mount Seir according to this verse. Also, we can see from the map that Mount Seir is at the border of Edom, and is part of the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh, the country of the ancient Amalekites.

Genesis 36:15-16 "¶ These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah."

The sons of Esau were dukes, and dukes are sovereign princes (Joshua 13:21). Amalek was a duke of Edom. Connect this to:

Ezekiel 38:2 "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,"

Gog too, was a “chief prince,” a duke as with Amalek. Esau was “the father of the Edomites in mount Seir,” (Genesis 36:9) which makes Amalek an Edomite. Paul tells us:

Romans 9:13 "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

This verse tells us that there is a group of people that God loved, and there is another group of people that God hated. Esau was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and he was "… red, all over like an hairy garment" (Genesis 25:25). Scarlet is the colour of sin (Isaiah 1:18). Connect this to “that man of sin, the son of perdition” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The Beast in Revelation 17:3 is also scarlet in colour. There were two nations in Rebekah’s womb:

Genesis 25:23 "And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."

This prophecy of scripture is not just restricted to Esau and Jacob, but two nations and two manner of people: Jacob is a reference to Jesus Christ and the children of God, while Esau is a reference to “that man of sin, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and children of the Devil. One nation shall rise against another (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:10). Jacob is a spiritual nation that God loved, and Esau is a spiritual nation that God hated. Prophesying of Esau, Isaac said:

Genesis 27:40 "And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."

Notice the words "… and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck?" That is to say, Esau would be a servant to his brother Jacob, until the time comes when he shalt have the dominion, and shall break his brother's yoke from off his neck.

Compare this to:

Psalms 2:2-3 "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us."

Notice the “kings of the earth” and the rulers of this world also have some form of yoke binding them, and their desire is that they should break free from the bands and the cords. Verse 2 tells us that they have conspired against the LORD and against his anointed, and verse 3 tells us that those kings and rulers are bound by the LORD and his anointed. However, the time shall come when the yoke shall be broken, and Esau (kings of the earth and rulers of this world) shall have the dominion. One of the verses connecting Gog to Amalek is this:

Ezekiel 38:11 "And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,"

Exodus 17:1 "And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink."

After the exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt, they journeyed from the wilderness of Sin and pitched in Rephidim. It was there in Rephidim, when they were “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,” that Amalek came and attack them.

Ezekiel 38:12 "To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land."

Exodus 12:36-38 "And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 37 ¶ And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle."

The children of Israel were gathered as a people and came out of Egypt bringing much cattle and goods with them. Likewise, it was for those cattle and goods that Gog of Ezekiel 38 came to take a spoil, and to take a prey.

Ezekiel 38:14 "¶ Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?"

This verse tells us that Gog has been watching the people of Israel in secret. He has a surveillance system that he use to track them, and he knows when they are dwelling in safety, and that is when he will launch an attack, when they were least prepared.

Ezekiel 38:15 "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:"

That will be the opportune time when Gog shall launch his attack, and he shall come out of his place in the north parts, bringing many people with him, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army.

Ezekiel 38:16 "And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes."

And they shall come against the people of Israel suddenly, as a cloud to cover the land, just like how Amalek came out of nowhere and launched an attack on the children of Israel. Unbeknownst to them, however, it was God who brought Gog and his army out in the open, for to destroy them.

Ezekiel 38:17 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?"

This goes to show that Gog was from the “old time” and his identity was already revealed by the prophets of God, who prophesied “in those days” that God would bring him against them. Consider the following prophecies against Amalek.

Exodus 17:14-16 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah–nissi: 16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

God promised in this passage of scripture that he will utterly put out the rememberance of Amalek from under heaven, and that the LORD have sworn that he will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Numbers 24:20 "¶ And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever."

Amalek was the first of the nations to attack Israel after they came out of Egypt. Again, God repeated his promise in this verse that he will have war with Amalek from generation to generation until the “latter end” when Amalek shall perish forever. Connect this to Ezekiel 38:16 "And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes."

Deuteronomy 25:17-19 "¶ Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it."

This was God repeating his promise that the remembrance of Amalek shall be blot out from under heaven for what they have done to the children of Israel by the way, when they came forth out of Egypt. In fact, the entire Book of Esther is a foreshadow of the Amalek's rise to power and his utter destruction in the latter end.

Esther 3:1 "After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him."

Agag was the king of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:8; 15:20). Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, was a descendant from the line of Amalekite kings, which the Bible calls “the Jews’ enemy.”

Esther 3:10 "And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy."

The Bible tells us that king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. That was Amalek’s rise to power, and with that, the manifestation of his enmity against the Jews, to destroy them.

Esther 4:7 "And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them."

Esther 1:1-2 "Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) 2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,"

It is to be noted that by the time of Esther, the Amalekites had already established their presence in Persia, which is the present day Iran. During the time of Saul, God had commanded him to destroy Amalek for what they have done to the children of Israel. It was then, king Saul came to a city of Amalek, which is in the valley, for to destroy them (1 Samuel 15:1-5).

1 Samuel 15:7 "And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt."

Historical records tell us that the reign of the Hyksos (Amalekites) in Egypt after the Exodus did not last too long. According to Britannica, their reign only lasted slightly over a hundred years before they were driven out of Egypt when the Theban revolt spread northward under Kamose, thereby ending the 108 years of Hyksos rule over Egypt. During the time of king Saul, the Amalekites were distributed between Shur (that is over against Egypt) and Havilah, and that was when king Saul smote them, and they were forced to escape to their stronghold in Mount Seir.

1 Chronicles 4:42-43 "And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day."

During the time of Hezekiah king of Judah, he again started to destroy the Amalekites which escaped to Mount Seir, and in the time of Esther, the Bible tells us that the Amalekites had already established their presence in Persia (present day Iran). It was then, that they rose to power under the reign of king Ahasuerus, and they wanted to destroy all the Jews in the Persian empire.

Esther 8:7 "¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews."

Of course, their plan to destroy the Jews did not succeed, and their rise to power ended when Haman the Agagite was hung upon the gallows he had made for Mordecai, and his ten sons, and a great many Amalekites were destroyed at the commandment of the king. Therefore, what happened to Haman the Agagite was a foreshadow of Amalek's rise to power and his utter destruction in the latter end. More to be shared in Part 4.