King James Bible Dictionary

A people inhabiting the country south of Idumea and east of the Red Sea
Numbers 13:29; Numbers 14:25; 1 Samuel 15:7; 1 Samuel 27:8

Defeated by:

Chedorlaomer
Genesis 14:7

Joshua
Exodus 17:8; Exodus 17:13

Gideon
Jude 1:7

Saul
1 Samuel 14:47-48; 1 Samuel 15:1-33

David
1 Samuel 27:8-9; 1 Samuel 30:1-20

The Simeonites
1 Chronicles 4:42-43

Defeat the Israelites
Numbers 14:45; Judges 3:13

Israel commanded to destroy
Deuteronomy 25:17-19; 1 Samuel 28:18

Prophecies against
Exodus 17:14; Exodus 17:16; Numbers 24:20

a nomadic tribe of uncertain origin, which occupied the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness intervening between the southern hill-ranges of Palestine and the border of Egypt. (Numbers 13:29; 1 Samuel 15:7; 27:8) Their wealth consisted in flocks and herds. Mention is made of a "town" (1 Samuel 15:5) but their towns could have been little more than stations or nomadic enclosures. The Amalekites first came in contact with the Isr'lites at Rephidim, but were signally defeated. (Exodus 17:8-16) In union with the Canaanites they again attacked the Isr'lites on the borders of Palestine, and defeated them near Hormah. (Numbers 14:45) Saul undertook an expedition against them. (1 Samuel 14:48) Their power was thenceforth broken, and they degenerated into a horde of banditti. Their destruction was completed by David. (1 Samuel 30:1-17)

a mountain in Ephraim, (Judges 12:15) probably so named because the Amalekites once held possession of it.