The Amalekites, a nomadic tribe descended from Esau's grandson Amalek, are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as persistent adversaries of the Israelites. Their enmity with Israel is rooted in their unprovoked attack on the Israelites shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. This initial confrontation is recorded in Exodus 17:8-16, where the Amalekites attacked the weary Israelites at Rephidim. In response, Moses instructed Joshua to lead the Israelites in battle, while he stood on a hill with the staff of God. As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed. After their victory, the Lord declared, "Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven" (Exodus 17:14).

The Amalekites' hostility towards Israel continued throughout the period of the Judges and into the era of the monarchy. In Deuteronomy 25:17-19, Moses reminded the Israelites of the Amalekites' treachery and instructed them to "blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven" once they had rest from their enemies in the Promised Land. This command was a divine mandate for the complete destruction of the Amalekites, emphasizing the severity of their offense against God's chosen people.

The fulfillment of this divine judgment was entrusted to King Saul, the first king of Israel. In 1 Samuel 15, the prophet Samuel conveyed God's command to Saul: "Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys" (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul's failure to fully execute this command, sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, led to his rejection as king. Samuel's rebuke highlighted the importance of obedience to God's commands: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22).

Despite Saul's incomplete obedience, the Amalekites continued to pose a threat to Israel. They are mentioned in subsequent battles during the reign of David, who successfully defeated them on several occasions (1 Samuel 30:1-20; 2 Samuel 8:12). The final eradication of the Amalekites is traditionally attributed to the time of Hezekiah, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:42-43, where the Simeonites destroyed the remaining Amalekites in the hill country of Seir.

The Amalekites serve as a symbol of opposition to God's purposes and a reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Their prophesied destruction underscores the seriousness with which God regards His covenant with Israel and His commitment to justice. The narrative of the Amalekites is a testament to the divine sovereignty and the fulfillment of God's promises throughout biblical history.Numbers 24:20
And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted.
... us, in order to convince us of our utter feebleness ... passages, the following are examples:
"The Amalekites and the ... to explain the cause of their miseries, though ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the arguments usually.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... God, shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice ... Wherefore their wrong thoughts of
God beget in them ... grace prevents him, is drowned in destruction and perdition ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

What does it mean that the Lord is my banner? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Kenites? | GotQuestions.org

Why is obedience better than sacrifice? | GotQuestions.org

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