Amalek
“Dweller in a valley”
Summary
The grandson of Esau and son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timna, who became a chieftain (duke) of Edom.
☩Family Origins
Amalek was the son of Eliphaz (the firstborn of Esau) by his concubine Timna, who came from the Horite race. He became a chieftain or emir of an Edomite tribe. Although Amalek is listed as equal in rank with the other sons of Eliphaz, his posterity appears to have shared a lesser fate, with only a "remnant" mentioned as existing in Edom by the time of Hezekiah.
☩Relationship to the Amalekites
This Amalek should probably be distinguished from the Amalekites who are frequently mentioned as enemies of Israel in Scripture, as those Amalekites appear to have existed earlier, being mentioned in the time of Abraham. The final remnant of Amalek's posterity in Edom was dispersed by a band of Simeonites during the reign of Hezekiah.
Related Verses24 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Amalek," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Amalek," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Amalek," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).