Who Are the Amalekites in the Bible?
Share
Shouts of praise erupted from the long parade of Israelites as they stepped onto the eastern shores of the Red Sea. But joy withered like a desert flower when a warlike, nomadic tribe attacked the formerly enslaved people as they prepared to camp at Rephidim.
But who were the Amalekites, and what did they have to do with God’s people?
Were the Amalekites Related to the Israelites?
Investigating the historical and familial ties between the Israelites and Amalekites sheds light on their shattered relationship.
Esau and Jacob (later known as Israel) struggled with sibling rivalry before birth. The Bible confirms the two infants “jostled each other” in utero. When their mother, Rachael, asked the Lord about the struggle, God explained that two different people groups wrestled within her, and the oldest would defer to the youngest.
Beyond God’s prophetic response, an unfortunate dynamic of favoritism embedded itself in the family as each young man vied for parental approval. A series of events highlighting Esau’s foolishness and Jacob’s dishonesty ensued, with Jacob receiving his father’s blessing and the promise of inheritance. Consumed by fury, Esau threatened murder as Jacob fled to safety.
Jacob returned home twenty years later, repentant and humble, and the twins reconciled. But God’s words to their mother proved true. Despite Jacob and Esau’s peaceful reunion, hostility and bitterness flourished in the heart of Esau’s grandson, Amalek.
When Did the Amalekites First Fight the Israelites?
Years later, Jacob and his family sought relief from a severe drought in Egypt. He and his descendants flourished, but Pharoah feared they might stage a rebellion. To quash an imagined insurrection, Egypt’s king enslaved the Israelites.
Finally, after enduring more than four hundred years of oppression, God commissioned Moses to relieve His people of their burden. Israel escaped–crossing the Red Sea only to witness the destruction of Egypt’s army. Yet another enemy lay in waiting.
As Israel’s people set up camp at Rephidim, the Amalekites ambushed helpless stragglers—the women, children, and elderly who lagged behind. Joshua and his warriors charged the attackers, resulting in a fierce engagement. Perched atop a nearby hill, Moses’ aged hands displayed his staff above his head. But the Amalekites surged toward victory every time the leader’s arms drooped with weariness. Aaron and Hur launched into action, supporting Moses as the makeshift army became victorious.
The Bible records God’s follow-up conversation with Moses:
“Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:14 NIV)
Why Did the Amalekites Attack the Israelites?
Scripture sheds light on several dark motivations that inspired the nomadic marauders to pursue the Israelites and claim the role of archenemy. I believe the following spurred the Amalekites into action.
- Appeal of Wealth. Given the desert’s limited resources, the Amalekites probably felt threatened by the presence of a large tribe marching through the desert. Not only that, but word made it at least as far away as Jericho that God’s people fled Egypt as victors—bearing an abundance of silver, gold, livestock, and other riches. Why not eliminate potential competition for land and water while relieving the unwelcome visitors of their treasure?
- Power of Cruelty. Multiple scriptures mention the Amalekites and their cruel actions. These include confiscating food, kidnapping women and children, and the unwarranted strike on Israel. Deuteronomy 25:17-18 recounts the conditions under which the assault occurred, “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God” (NKJV). The unprovoked attack targeted the most helpless of Israel—women, children, and the elderly.
- Contempt for God. Did you notice the last words of the Bible verse noted above? Amalek refused to revere God, choosing self over the Creator. His sinful pursuit of the Lord’s “special possession” thrust Amalek’s family onto a fatal course.
- Familial Bitterness. We can guess Amalek knew his grandfather, Esau, rejected a generous inheritance. Instead? Jacob benefited from his brother Esau’s blessing—amassing possessions and fathering those who gave rise to the twelve tribes of Israel. We will dive deeper into the relationship between the Amalekites and Israel later in this article.
- Spiritual Puppetry. Above all, the vicious ambush was spiritually rooted. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)
Even though Amalek and his relatives represent earthly wickedness, a greater power utilizes human thoughts and exploits when allowed or invited. Amalek and his family cooperated with Israel’s greatest Enemy as they set their plan in motion.
When Else Did the Amalekites Fight Against Israel?
1 Samuel 15 describes another skirmish in which God commissioned Israel’s first king, Saul, to attack the Amalekites as retribution for their earlier treatment of Israel. Told to rid the land of the Amalekites, Saul disobeyed the Lord and spared their king. As a result? God cut off Saul’s right to the kingdom, and Israel’s priest Samuel executed judgment on Agag with the words, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” (1 Samuel 15:33 NKJV)
Sometime later, as David and his men returned from the front lines, the Amalekites descended on Ziklag, the former shepherd’s temporary home. The raiding tribe secured a swift defeat, with the town bereft of protection. Ziklag lay in charcoal ruins by the time David and his warriors returned—every man’s wife and children a captive to the enemy.
Determined to free their families from the clutches of those who would sell their loved ones into slavery, David and two hundred men tracked the Amalekites down as they reveled in their success. Although 400 Amalekites escaped, David and his troops recovered everything that was kidnapped or stolen.
One other significant battle—a battle of wits—occurred between Haman and Queen Esther. The young Jewish woman discovered that Haman, a government official descended from the Amalekites, plotted to annihilate every Jew in the land. Risking her own life, she approached the king without being summoned and requested that he and Haman join her for dinner. That first evening, Haman basked in their presence. Esther extended a second invitation and exposed Haman’s plans the following evening. Because of her courage, God’s people escaped genocide, but Haman suffered the same fate he wished upon the Jews.
Why Did God Promise to Eliminate the Amalekites?
Many of us struggle to understand such brutality. We may wonder if God justified executing such harsh judgment against the Amalekites. While understanding God's anger toward this people group is challenging, we need to consider several points.
- God gave the Amalekites hundreds of years, and they could have turned to Him. But like Esau, they rejected God—the true inheritance available to all who seek Him. Genesis 15:16 highlights the Lord’s patience with the people inhabiting Cana. “In the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure” (NKJV). Though this verse addresses the Amorites, the Amalekites also lived in the area and benefitted from the gift of time.
- More than rejecting God, Exodus 17:16 records that the Amalekites waged a war against the “throne of the Lord.” Their rebellious choice resulted in loss and pain for their tribe as well as Israel, the Philistines, and other people groups.
- Along with their allies, the Amalekites confiscated food from Israel and oppressed suffering people.
Even though we praise traits such as love and mercy, we sometimes struggle to value the Lord’s justice. Yet His love and justice were both satisfied through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Like the Amalekites and their ancestor, Esau, we can accept or despise the inheritance He offers—salvation and forgiveness.
What Can We Learn from the Amalekites Today?
The Amalekites teach us at least three key truths.
- God Loves Israel. Numbers 24:9 gives us a glimpse of God’s heart for Israel and challenges individuals and governments with these words: “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you” (NKJV). The way we treat God’s people and the country of Israel will impact our lives and those we love. I pray that, unlike the tribe of Amalek, you and I choose blessing.
- Seek peace with God. Scripture teaches that our unchanging God extended grace to Gentiles before Jesus’ sacrifice. Consider Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV). Like the people of Nineveh, we can turn toward relationships or run to our ruin by modeling the ways of the Amalekites.
- Seek peace with others. Bitterness and envy warp relationships. Our sinful decisions affect us but can also lead to generational hardship. When we experience what we consider unfair, will we react according to the love and grace of our Redeemer or, like Amalek and his descendants, seek revenge and suffer pain and destruction?
The world is witnessing the resurgence of spiritual Amalekites. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we who love Christ are empowered to give others hope and show them a better way—the Way of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Photo Credit: Public domain (painting by Nicolas Poussin) via Wikimedia Commons.
This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.
The Bible Story of Elijah
The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons
The Bible Story of Queen Esther
The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar
The Bible Story of Mary Magdalene