"Hamas" in Prophecy
A commentary by Tom Robinson
Good News senior writer, St. Louis, Missouri
By
electing the terrorist group Hamas to majority control of the Palestinian
parliament, a majority of the Palestinian people have refused to reject Hamas' advocacy
of destroying the Israeli state through terrorist tactics—such as blowing
up Israel's ordinary citizens and children. It may be surprising to learn
that Palestinian support for hamas—not the terrorist organization
specifically but what the word hamas stands for—was generally
foretold long ago in Scripture.
The name Hamas is an Arabic acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya ("Islamic
Resistance Movement"). By design, this acronym is also meaningful
on its own—the Arabic word hamas being typically defined
as "zeal" or "warlike strength and bravery." Yet
these meanings derive from an older connotation of forcefulness or severity.
Arabic is a Semitic language derived in large part from ancient Hebrew
(as many of the Arabs have descended from Ishmael, son of the biblical
patriarch Abraham). Thus, it should really come as no surprise to learn
that hamas is also a Hebrew word found in the Bible.
It means "violence"—in fact, sinful, malicious violence
(Strong's No. 2555). What a fitting name for a terrorist organization.
Remarkably, this very word is applied in Scripture to the Middle East
conflict of today, as we will see.
The Bible has much to say regarding the clash between Israel and the
Palestinians, tracing the roots of this ancient blood feud and declaring
how it will ultimately be resolved. The conflict actually goes back to
two sibling rivalries—between Abraham's sons Ishmael and
Isaac (see Genesis 16–17; 21) and between Isaac's sons Esau
and Jacob (see Genesis 25; 27–28). Ishmael was the father of many
of the Arabs while from Isaac, through Jacob, came the Israelites.
What about Esau? Esau and his descendants are also referred to in the
Bible, often by the name Edom (25:30)—and sometimes by the name
of their homeland of Mount Seir (see 36:8-9), southeast of Judea, in
what is now southern Jordan.
For centuries, the people of Edom acted maliciously against the Israelites,
striking at them and encroaching on them. The land of Edom, or Idumea,
eventually encompassed the southern half of Judea. Over time, many Edomites
migrated away from the Holy Land region, and their descendants may be
found among various Middle Eastern peoples. But a number remained or
returned—so much so that a prophecy in the book of Obadiah indicates
the Edomites will be in possession of much of the original land of Israel
in the end time. This would seem to indicate that they probably are well
represented among the Palestinians of today.
Yet the book of Obadiah shows that at the dawning of the messianic era,
the Israelites will receive their land back. Verse 19 shows that a people
in control of particular areas in the Holy Land will gain additional
territory when God intervenes. In context, the Israelites, according
to this verse, will regain the lands the Edomites took from them.
Tellingly, the lands listed as gaining territory are populated today
by Jews, while the lands to be reclaimed are now populated by the Palestinians—apparently
identifying the Palestinians as Edomites, at least in large measure.
(For more details, go to comments on Obadiah, online at http://www.ucg.org/brp/brp.asp?get=daily&day=2&month=February&year=2003&Layout=).
In the course of God returning to Israel its original land, "the
house of Esau shall be stubble…and no survivor shall remain of
the house of Esau" (verse 18). According to verse 10, this will
be God's judgment on the Edomites for their history of "violence" or hamas toward
Israel: "For violence [hamas] against your brother Jacob,
shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever." Consider
this verse in light of the current choice of the Hamas organization by
a majority of the Palestinians. This is not to say that the organization
was prophesied—but broad support for its tactics was.
God says the Edomites will ultimately fail in their quest to eradicate
Israel: "Because you have had an ancient hatred, and have shed
the blood of the children of Israel…therefore blood shall pursue
you…. Because you have said, 'These two nations and these
two countries [territories of Samaria and Judah—primarily the West
Bank today] shall be mine, and we will possess them' …therefore…I
will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed
in your hatred against them…. You shall be desolate, O Mount Seir,
as well as all of Edom—all of it!" (Ezekiel 35:5-15; compare
Isaiah 34:5; 63:1-6). Hamas terror will then be no more.
 To
better understand the roots of the Mideast conflict and where events
are headed, be sure to request or download your free copy of our booklet The
Middle East in Bible Prophecy.
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