(Numb. 13:29:) AMALEK DWELLS IN THE LAND OF THE NEGEB. What reason did they see for opening with Amalek?⁴²., Numb. 4:9, cont.; Numb. R. 16:18. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a child who misbehaves and is beaten with a strap. When they wanted to intimidate him, they reminded him of the strap. Similarly Amalek had been an evil strap for Israel. What reason did he see to post himself {up to} in the way of Israel? He did so because his ancestor, Esau, had so commanded him in order to forestall them in their way. So he uprooted himself from his place and posted himself on the road. {(Numb. 14:45:) AND THERE WENT DOWN THE AMALEKITE, WHILE THE CANAANITE, WHO DWELT IN THAT MOUNTAIN.}⁴³ [(Numb. 13:29, cont.:) WHILE THE HITTITE, THE JEBUSITE, AND THE AMORITE DWELL IN THE MOUNTAINS,] AND THE CANAANITE DWELLS BY THE SEA AND ALONG THE JORDAN. These are the mighty ones dwelling on the way. Therefore the spies intended to break the heart of Israel, as stated (in Numb. 32:9): THEY TURNED AWAY THE HEART OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

footnotes: ⁴² Tanh ⁴³ On this reading, Amalek used to dwell in the mountains, but came down to block Israel’s passage.