Amalek was the eponymous ancestor of the Amalekites, a fierce, nomadic tribe that became the ancient, perennial enemy of Israel. Their unprovoked attack on Israel immediately following the Exodus led to a unique and perpetual divine decree of war against them.
Lineage and Origin
The Bible explicitly traces Amalek’s lineage back to the family of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob.
- Grandson of Esau: Amalek was the son of Eliphaz, Esau’s firstborn son, and Timna, a concubine of Eliphaz.
- Genesis 36:12 (KJV): “And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.”
- Duke of Edom: The descendants of Amalek are listed among the powerful chieftains or “dukes” that came from Esau in the land of Edom.
- Genesis 36:16 (KJV): “Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.”
The Amalekites were a powerful nomadic force that inhabited the Negev and the Sinai Peninsula, positioning them directly across the path of the Israelites during their wilderness journey.
The Perpetual Enemy of Israel
The Amalekites are notorious for being the first nation to attack Israel after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This was not a fair battle but a cowardly attack on the most vulnerable of the people.
1. The Attack at Rephidim
Immediately after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and the provision of water from the rock, the Amalekites ambushed the Israelites.
- Exodus 17:8 (KJV): “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.”
- Deuteronomy 25:17-18 (KJV): Moses commanded Israel to “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.”
In the ensuing battle, while Joshua led the army, Moses stood on a hill with the rod of God. The Bible records the spiritual nature of this conflict: as long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed.
- Exodus 17:11 (KJV): “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”
2. The Divine Decree
Following this ambush, the LORD declared a state of perpetual war against Amalek.
- Exodus 17:14, 16 (KJV): “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven… For the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
- Deuteronomy 25:19 (KJV): “…thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”
3. The Judgment through Saul and David
The command to destroy Amalek was formally given to King Saul, the first king of Israel. Saul’s incomplete obedience to this command—by sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock—was the primary reason the LORD rejected him as king.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (KJV): “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”
- 1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV): Samuel’s rebuke: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
Later, David also fought against the Amalekites, routing them after they had raided his city of Ziklag.
Prophetic Hotspot: The Eternal Antagonist
Amalek is not merely a historical foe but is seen throughout biblical history and tradition as the archetype of unprovoked, absolute evil, dedicated to the destruction of God’s people.
- The final major mention of an Amalekite antagonist is Haman the Agagite in the book of Esther, a descendant of the Amalekite King Agag, who plotted the complete annihilation of the Jewish people. This demonstrates the enduring, murderous spirit of Amalek against the seed of Abraham.
Amalek is the quintessential spiritual enemy—the force that attempts to cut off and destroy the weak and the weary from behind, showing no “fear of God.” It symbolizes the enduring opposition to the Kingdom of God on earth.
The Return Question: Blotting Out the Remainder
Question for Discussion: The command to “blot out the remembrance of Amalek” (Deuteronomy 25:19) suggests a complete spiritual and practical purification from an absolute evil. In light of the promise of the Lord’s Return and the establishment of His perfect kingdom, what internal, spiritual “Amalek” (such as persistent doubt, subtle rebellion, or fear of God’s command) must the believer strive to “blot out” of their own heart so that they may be found clean and ready at the day of His appearing?