The Amalekites came and attacked Israel at Rephidim. The first external military threat Israel faces after the sea crossing arrives at the same location as the water crisis. Rephidim is the site of both the crisis of provision and the crisis of survival. The Amalekites are the descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12, 16) — distant relatives of Israel who become persistent enemies. Deuteronomy 25:17–18 records God's command to remember what the Amalekites did: they attacked the stragglers, those who were weak and weary. The attack at Rephidim is an attack on the most vulnerable members of Israel. 1 Samuel 15 records the later divine command to destroy Amalek entirely — the seed of the conflict planted at Rephidim will produce fruit across the entire Old Testament period.

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