The Amalekites were a nomadic people descended from Esau through his grandson Amalek (Genesis 36:12). They are remembered in Scripture as one of Israel’s most hostile and persistent enemies, often opposing God’s people at critical moments.
Their first appearance in Scripture is in Exodus 17:8, when they attacked Israel shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. Moses, with God’s help, led Israel to victory, and the Lord made a solemn declaration in Exodus 17:14:
“I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
This pronouncement was not a rash reaction but a divine judgment based on Amalek’s aggression against a vulnerable people. Deuteronomy 25:17–19 explains the severity:
“Remember what Amalek did to you… how he attacked your rear ranks… when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.”
Because of this, God commanded Israel to remember and one day erase Amalek from memory.
King Saul was later commanded to fulfill this judgment. 1 Samuel 15:3 says:
“Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them.”
However, Saul disobeyed by sparing King Agag and the best livestock, which led to God rejecting him as king (1 Samuel 15:9–11). This failure had long-term consequences.
Haman, the enemy of the Jews in the book of Esther, is called an Agagite (Esther 3:1), possibly linking him to Amalekite descent and showing that their opposition to God’s people endured even into the Persian Empire.
The Amalekites serve as a biblical symbol of opposition to God’s purposes, the danger of unchecked sin, and the importance of complete obedience. God’s dealings with them highlight His justice and the serious consequences of rebellion against His covenant people.
