AM'ALEKITES. One of the fiercest and most warlike of the old nomadic Arabian tribes. They dwelt in the land south of Judea (Num bers xiii : 29). between Idumea and Egypt, though it would also appear that a branch ex tended at one time into central Palestine. Their country is first mentioned in Genesis xiv as the scene of the wars of Chedialaome• of Elam. From the very first they manifested great hostility to the Israelites. attacking them during the journey toward Sinai. They were defeated in this encounter (Exodus xvii : S-16), and their complete extermination was prophesied (ib., Numbers xxiv : 20; Deuteronomy xxv : 17-10). When Israel was attempting to enter Palestine. the Amalekites led the opposing Canaanitish forces (Numbers xiv : 43-45). In the days of Saul they were almost annihilated (I. Samuel xv : 2) ; and later David overcame a bond of marauding Amalekites with great slaughter, pur suing them until "there escaped not a man of them save 400 young men who had camels and fled" (I. Samnel xxx 1-20). The last Amale kites were finally extirpated in the days of Ilezekiah by the Simeonites (I. Chronicles iv : 43). The inveterate hostility between .Amalek and Israel is reflected in so late a production as the Book of Esther, where the designation of 'Haman, the arch-enemy of the Jews, as "the Agagite" (Esther iii : 1), is introduced in order to emphasize his descent from Agag, the King of Amalek ( Numbers xxiv : 7).
A seaport town in Cam pania, southern Italy, situated on the Gulf of Salerno, about 22 miles southeast of Naples. It
is situated on the slope of a mountain rising from the coast and covered with splendid trees and gardens. The houses tower one above an other, and are connected by stairways and bridges. The most interesting building of the place is the old cathedral, with its bronze doors east in Constantinople in the eleventh century, and its columns from Paestum. An old Capu chin monastery. dating from the beginning of the thirteenth century, is finely situated west of Amalfi in the hollow of a rock rising about 230 feet from the sea. in December, 1899. a large port inn of the rock slid into the sea. carrying along the houses in its path. The town produces paper, soap, and macaroni. It is connected by steamer with Naples and Messina. Pop., 1881, 7500. According to local tradition, Amalfi was founded by Constantine the Great. From the ninth to the eleventh century it was an independent State, and was ruled by doges. It had a large population, and enjoyed a con siderable trade with the Orient. Amalfi carried on a long struggle with the Pisans and the neigh boring princes of Salerno. Since the twelfth century the place has been on the decline. The oldest known maritime code, the Tabula A mal ph itana. was compiled in Amalfi, and the town is otherwise famous as being the birthplace of Fla vio Gioja—who was wrongly accredited with the invention of the mariner's compass—and of Masaniello.