Amalek

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Amalek ( Ăm'A-L Ĕk ), People Of Prey, Booty. The son of Eliphaz, and grandson of Esau.  Genesis 36:16;  1 Chronicles 1:36. He was probably the father of the Amalekites, an ancient and powerful people,  Genesis 14:7;  Numbers 24:20, who inhabited the regions on the south of Palestine, between Idumea and Egypt, and also to the eastward of the Dead Sea and Mount Seir.  Judges 5:14;  Judges 12:15;  1 Samuel 15:5. The Hebrews had scarcely passed the Red Sea, when the Amalekites attacked them; they were defeated by Joshua.  Exodus 17:8. Saul destroyed them as a nation,  1 Samuel 15:2-33, and David utterly routed them.  1 Samuel 30:17. A small remnant seems to have escaped, till at last the word of the Lord was fulfilled, and their name was blotted from the earth, in their utter destruction.  Numbers 24:20;  1 Chronicles 4:43. The "Agagite," in  Esther 3:1;  Esther 3:10;  Esther 8:3;  Esther 8:5, was probably an Amalekite, whose ancestor had escaped from the general carnage.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 36:12 (c) The meaning of this word is "a people that take away all." Originally Amalek was a grandson of Esau. Esau is a type of the flesh, and Amalek is also a type of the flesh which has no place in the economy of GOD. He was outside the family of GOD, and no effort was ever made to bring him into the family of GOD. So the human flesh is at enmity with GOD. That which is born of the flesh remains flesh. The flesh never gets converted, and never becomes holy in itself. There is no help for the flesh found in the Scriptures.

 Exodus 17:14 (c) Amalek was to be kept in subjection by Israel, and this is a type of our flesh which is to be kept in subjection by the people of GOD. As the flesh lusts against the Spirit (  Galatians 5:17), so Amalek fought against Israel constantly, and the Lord declared that this battle was to continue and never cease.

 Deuteronomy 25:17 (c) Here again Amalek is represented as a type of Satan and of the flesh, both of which attack GOD's people, especially when they are weak, weary and sick. Those who lag behind in the service of the Lord thus separating themselves from Christians who are on the march, will find that this enemy Amalek will make inroads in their souls and lives.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Son of Eliphaz, by his concubine Timnah, of the Horites; grandson of Esau; duke of Edom ( Genesis 36:12;  Genesis 36:16). The Edomites seized the Horite territory. In Hezekiah's reign, the last remnant of Amalek in Edom was dispersed by the Simeonites ( 1 Chronicles 4:42-43).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Am'alek. (Dweller In A Valley). A son of Eliphaz, by his concubine, Timnah, grandson of Esau, and chieftain ("duke," Authorized Version) of Edom.  Genesis 36:12;  Genesis 36:16;  1 Chronicles 1:36. (B.C. about 1700).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Son of Eliphaz, and grandson of Esau,  Genesis 36:12 . It is not certain that any distinct mention is made in the Bible of his posterity, people called Amalekites being in existence long before,  Genesis 14:7;  Numbers 24:20 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 36:12 1 Chronicles 1:36 Genesis 36:16

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

See Mount Amalek

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrew Amalek', עֲמָלֵק , according to Furst, from the Arabic, Dweller In A Valley; Sept. Ἀμαλήκ , Vulg. Amalech, Amalec), the son of Eliphaz (the first-born of Esau) by his concubine Timna ( Genesis 36:12;  1 Chronicles 1:36); he was the chieftain, or emir ("Duke"), of an Idumaean tribe ( Genesis 36:16); which, however, was probably not the same with the AMALEKITES (See Amalekites) (q.v.) so often mentioned in Scripture ( Numbers 24:20, etc.). B.C. post 1905. His mother came of the Horite race, whose territory the descendants of Esau had seized; and, although Amalek himself is represented as of equal rank with the other sons of Eliphaz, yet his posterity appear to have shared the fate of the Horite population, a "remnant" only being mentioned as existing in Edom in the time of Hezekiah, when they were dispersed by a band of the tribe of Simeon ( 1 Chronicles 4:43).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

am´a - lek ( עמלק , ‛ămālēḳ ): The son, by his concubine Timna, of Eliphaz, the eldest son of Esau. He was one of the chiefs (the King James Version dukes) of Edom ( Genesis 36:12 ,  Genesis 36:16 ). See Amalekite .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Am´alek, a son of Eliphaz (the first-born of Esau) by his concubine Timna: he was the chieftain, or Emir, of an Idumean tribe ( Genesis 36:16).