Bible Word of the Day
Amalek, Amalekites (Descendants of Esau)
Meaning
The Amalekites were a group of people that were not considered part of the Canaanite people. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau and related to the Edomites. Esau was the older twin brother of Jacob and both were the sons of Isaac. Jacob was the child chosen by the Lord because of his heart toward God and Jacob became the father of the Jewish nation. Jacob had twelve sons, which became the twelve tribes of Israel. The Amalekites were the enemies of Israel, however, they should have supported and fought alongside Israel because of the family relationship which made them blood kin. However, instead they fought against Israel because of envy, jealousy and hatred.
The Amalekites lived in the Negev, which is the desert region south of Jerusalem between Israel and Egypt. The Amalekites attacked Israel during the Exodus shortly after their Red Sea crossing. Israel’s sin was they were told to completely wipe out the Amalekites and they failed to do so. And as a result, we can read about the consequences of that action in the story of Esther. Evil Haman was an Amalekite and that’s what fueled his hatred of the Jewish people and Mordecai. Haman’s blindness was he did not take into account the Jewish people were God’s chosen people and Esther was the niece of Mordecai. Haman was identified as an Agagite descendant from the Amalekite King Agag, whom Israel captured and killed.
“The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” (Book of Numbers 13:29)
“Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes.” (Book of Numbers 24:20)