AMALEKITES, an ancient tribe in the southeast of Palestine, frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as enemies of the Israelites.
The name is celebrated in Arabian tradition, but the statements in regard to them are con flicting and confused and almost worthless from a historical point of view. They appear as a branch of the Edomites (Genesis xxxvi, 12), Amalek being represented as the son of Eliphaz, who was himself the son of Esau by Timina, a Horite woman. When the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to Canaan the Amale kites are said to have harassed them and be cause of this hostility it was divinely ordered that their memory should be blotted out (Deut. xxv, 17-19). A victory by them over Israel is mentioned (Num. xix, 45) and a defeat at Raphidin (Ex. xvii, 8-16). The statements, however, are obscure and the situation is fur ther complicated by the account of Joshua's victory over. the Amalekites in the Sinaitic
peninsula. According to 1 Sam. xv, Saul re ceived a divine command to destroy the tribe because of its enmity to Israel, and David con quered a marauding band of these ancient ene mies of his people. The spirit of hostility is shown also in Balaam's prophecy first of nations, his latter end (will be) destruction' (Num. xxiv, 20). Even in the Psalms (1xxxiii, 7) Amalek is cited as the traditional enemy of Israel; later in the Book of Esther Haman, the arch-enemy of Israel, is termed the Aga emphasizing his descent from Agag, King of the hated race, and is opposed to Mordecai the Bengamite. Consult Gnmme, 'Mohammed' (1904) ; Meyer, Eduard, 'Die Israeliten and ihre Nachbarstamme' (1906); NOldeke, (Ueber die Amalekiter> (Gottingen 1864), and Schmidt 'Messages of the Poets> (1911).