Amalek
Amalek, a nomadic tribe descended from Esau, who were persistent enemies of Israel.
The name Amalek means “a people that licks up”
PlaceEdomOld Testament9 books52 verses
Summary
A location in Edom first mentioned at Genesis 14:7; referred to as Amalek or Amalekite or "valley" (עֲמָלֵק) or Amalekite (עֲמָלֵקִי).
Location
- Certainty
- Widely agreed (100% of scholarship)
- Coordinates
- 30.648° N, 34.422° E
Glossary entries
Connections
- Founded by
Alternative names
Mentions
Includes 6 verses that refer to Amalek without naming it.
- Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
- After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
- So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
- Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
- As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.
- So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.
- Then the LORD said to Moses, “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.”
- “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
- The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
- Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”
- For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.”
- Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.
- Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”
- Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt,
- Deuteronomy 25:18Referred to, not named…how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God.
- When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
- After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.
- Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.
- Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
- Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
- Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore.
- Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to Me, did I not save you from their hands?
- Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
- He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.
- This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt.
- 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.’”
- Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.
- And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
- Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
- He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.
- Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”
- …and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’
- “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.
- Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
- Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)
- Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.
- On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down.
- 1 Samuel 30:2Referred to, not namedThey had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.
- 1 Samuel 30:8Referred to, not named…and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”
- Then David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me three days ago when I fell ill.
- 1 Samuel 30:14Referred to, not namedWe raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.”
- 1 Samuel 30:15Referred to, not named“Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked. And the man replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”
- So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
- 1 Samuel 30:19Referred to, not namedNothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back.
- After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.
- ‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
- And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.”
- …from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
- The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz; and by Timna, Amalek.
- …and struck down the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped. And they have lived there to this day.
- …and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all these nations—from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites.
- …of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.