HAMAS

Hamas: The Biblical Name for Violence?

by Jon R.Welker

"The earth [land] also was corrupt before God, and the earth [land] was filled with violence.And God looked upon the earth [land], and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth [land]. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth [land] is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth [land]." Genesis 6:11-13

2555 sm'x' chamac, khaw-mawce'; from 2554; violence; by impl. wrong; by meton. unjust gain: _ cruel(ty), damage, false, injustice, x oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong.

2554 sm;x' chamac, khaw-mas'; a prim. root; to be violent; by impl. to maltreat:_ make bare, shake off, violate, do violence, take away violently, wrong, imagine wrongfully.

The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong

In the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament we see the Arabic word for violence is almost identical. The definition is:

(hamas) [#678.0] wrong, do violence to, treat violently. The Arabic cognate means to `be hard,' `strict,' `severe.' Entry #678a hamas means `violence,' `wrong.'

This noun and verb are together used sixty-seven times and mostly translators seem satisfied with the word "violence" in some form (KJV, RSV, NIV). It may be noted, however, that the word Hamas in the Old Testament is used almost always in connection with sinful violence. It does not refer to the violence of natural catastrophes or to violence as pictured in a police chase on modern television. It is often a name for extreme wickedness. It was a cause of the flood (Gen. 6:11, 13), parallel to "corrupt"). Other usages are: a "malicious" witness (Ex. 23:1; Deut. 19:16 NIV); "cruel" hatred (Ps. 25:19); oppression and violence (Ps. 72:14 NIV); violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness (Ezek. 7:11, a rod to punish wickedness, NIV).

The Hebrew-Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament states:

To use violence; Arb. hamisa to be persistent in battle and in religion, hamasa to anger.

If you will study the previous notes on the word hamas, and the Scripture reference from Genesis, you will understand why I again am amazed at the way the Lord gives us "shadows" of things to come and points us in the direction of prophecy being fulfilled. Does it take any imagination to see the connection between the word for violence in Genesis 6:11 and its linkage to the Arabic word hamas and "the days of Noah"?

Why is this important? Let me again quote for you Matthew 24:37-39:

"But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until

the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Within these two Scriptures we see the connection between Hamas-type violence and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to earth! For the sake of those who may not be as familiar with this hamas word and its modern manifestation to us, let me give you some background.

As a result of the first Palestinian intifada in 1987, Hamas came into being in order to fight against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Organized in 1988 as a militant wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas supports Islamic rule and society and rejects any form of Western influence. Due to its terrorist tactics, Hamas was banned by Israel in 1989, and it also became a threat to the secular nature and dominance of the PLO.

In 1993, Hamas leaders spoke out against the Israeli/PLO accord regarding Gaza and the West Bank, by continuing terrorist attacks against settlements there. Yassir Arafat at times sought to restrain the Hamas terrorist activities, but he did not eliminate them. The second intifada in 2000 boosted Muslim/Arab support for Hamas.

Since the death of Yassir Arafat on November 11, 2004, Hamas has vied for the hearts and minds of the Palestinians, in an effort to usurp the ruling authority of the PLO. It appears, according to news releases, that they are being most effective in winning influence and the affections of younger Palestinians. Should Hamas win this struggle or strengthen its power base, we should expect to see more of its "sinful violence"!

Isn't it astounding to see that the most violent wing of the Palestinian factions has assumed the name "Hamas," which to them may express the zeal and fervor of their cause, nonetheless links with the "rod of wickedness" which is risen up in the form of violence?! This type of violence, as shown in the earlier quotes, "is used almost always in connection with sinful violence," or "extreme wickedness." The Palestinian Hamas faction has most often been linked to terrorist and suicide bombings of innocents. Is this not "sinful violence" and "extreme wickedness"?

"He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in His sight." Psalm 72:14 (NIV)

Yet in Ezekiel 7:11 it says that:

"Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them." (KJV)

We also see that this rod will be used to punish wickedness:

"Violence has grown into a rod to punish wickedness; none of the people will be left, none of that crowd _ no wealth, nothing of value." (NIV)

How remarkable! None will be left...nothing of value! We have only to recall images of the devastation of "suicide bombers" and other terrorists in order to see one glaring fulfillment of this prophecy.

And, also take note of how the word "earth," as translated in Genesis 6:11-13, can also be rendered "land." Yet, however we wish to render it, "sinful" and "extreme" wickedness and violence continue to expand throughout the world (earth) and in the "land" of Israel itself!

God is the same; He changes not (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). Therefore, we know that such violence and wickedness which compelled God to destroy those who dwelt in the earth "in the days of Noah," will also compel Him to bring about an end to such sinful violence and extreme wickedness in our days.

Our time is short! Do you have "ears to hear" what the Spirit is saying unto the "called out" ones (church = ecclesia)? Or do you place your hopes in politicians or maybe the United Nations? Where has that gotten us today? In an age and culture that espouses tolerance, multi-culturalism, education and enlightenment, we only see more ignorance, ethnic hatred, religious intolerance and darkened minds. Americans should not be so naive as to believe that just because their intellectual elite and media promote such agendas that that makes it so…. The radical elements of Islam should be a great reminder that we live in a world of many peoples who don't view the world in the same terms. They even resent or hate our arrogance and effort to impose our cultural ideas on the rest of mankind.

There can be no effective and lasting "peace" as long as the Prince of Peace is rejected and cast out of our decision-making. He will return and take "vengeance on them that know [discern, pay attention to, experience] not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thess. 1:8).

Are you ready? These are "days" as those of Noah and his generation! God has "looked upon the earth" and "behold, it IS corrupt" and "filled with violence" (hamas)!

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