Amalekite: A tribe that dwelt in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and the Red
Sea. They were not the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz, for
they existed in the days of Abraham
(Genesis 14:7) They were probably a
tribe that migrated from the shores of the Persian Gulf and settled
in Arabia. "They dwelt in the land of the south from Havilah until
thou comest to Shur"
(Numbers 13:29; 1 Samuel 15:7) They were a pastoral, and
hence a nomadic race. Their kings bore the hereditary name of Agag
(Numbers 24:7; 1 Samuel 15:8) They attempted to stop the Israelites when they
marched through their territory
(Deuteronomy 25:18) attacking them at Rephidim
(Exodus 17:8-13) comp.
(Deuteronomy 25:17; 1 Samuel 15:2) They afterwards attacked the
Israelites at Hormah
(Numbers 14:45) We read of them subsequently as in
league with the Moabites
(Judges 3:13) and the Midianites
(Judges 6:3) Saul
finally desolated their territory and destroyed their power
(1 Samuel 14:48; 15:3) and David recovered booty from them
(1 Samuel 30:18-20)
In the Babylonian inscriptions they are called Sute, in those of
Egypt Sittiu, and the Amarna tablets include them under the general
name of Khabbati, or "plunderers."
