The Amalekites, descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:12), are depicted in the Bible as a nomadic tribe with a fierce and warlike nature. Their hostility towards the Israelites is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, marking them as perennial enemies of God's chosen people.

Early Hostility and Warfare

The Amalekites first appear in the biblical narrative during the Exodus, when they attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. This unprovoked assault is recorded in Exodus 17:8-16, where Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, held up his hands to ensure Israel's victory. The Lord declared, "I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven" (Exodus 17:14), establishing a divine mandate against them due to their aggression.

Continued Enmity

The Amalekites' enmity did not cease with their initial defeat. In Deuteronomy 25:17-19, Moses reminds the Israelites of the Amalekites' treacherous attack on the weary and stragglers among them, emphasizing their lack of fear of God. This passage underscores the Amalekites' cruel and opportunistic nature, attacking the vulnerable without provocation.

Conflict During the Period of the Judges

The Amalekites continued to be a thorn in Israel's side during the time of the Judges. In Judges 3:13, they allied with the Moabites against Israel, and in Judges 6:3-5, they joined forces with the Midianites to raid and plunder the land, leaving Israel impoverished. Their repeated incursions highlight their persistent hostility and marauding lifestyle.

Saul's Campaign Against the Amalekites

King Saul was commanded by God, through the prophet Samuel, to completely destroy the Amalekites as a divine judgment for their past sins (1 Samuel 15:2-3). Saul's failure to fully execute this command, sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, led to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 15:9-23). This episode illustrates the seriousness with which God viewed the Amalekites' offenses and the importance of obedience to His commands.

David's Encounters with the Amalekites

David also faced the Amalekites during his time. In 1 Samuel 30, they raided Ziklag, capturing the families of David and his men. David pursued them, recovering all that was taken and defeating them decisively (1 Samuel 30:17-19). This victory further demonstrates the Amalekites' role as persistent adversaries and the divine favor upon David.

The Amalekites in Later History

The Amalekites' presence continued into the period of the monarchy. In 1 Chronicles 4:42-43, the Simeonites attacked the remaining Amalekites in the hill country of Seir, bringing an end to their threat. This final mention signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to blot out the memory of Amalek.

Throughout the biblical narrative, the Amalekites are consistently portrayed as a warlike and cruel people, embodying opposition to God's purposes and His people. Their repeated acts of aggression and treachery serve as a testament to their character and the divine judgment pronounced upon them.1 Samuel 15:33
And Samuel said, As the sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of the Three Woe Trumpets.
... v.12, "The Midianites and Amalekites, and all the sons of ... two of this name, the one
warlike, and too ... by the Holy Spirit,) because this is the character of the ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the three woe trumpets.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... Agag, the old king of the Amalekites, Esther 3 ... laws seeming to me the principal
character of idolatrous ... potent in the army under a warlike administration, that ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... the father of the nation. They ascribed to all their deities a warlike
and savage character. The Egyptians pictured some of them ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... a common soil, but the ties which bound them together at this period were of the
most slender character. ... They were a fine race of warlike, well-armed Beda-wins ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... to late times, was connected with cruel practices; generations ... he entered the country
of the Amalekites by way ... Chaldaean syllabary by the same character, and a ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

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