Amalek

Am’alek, (Hebrew Amalek’, עֲמָלֵק, according to Fürst, from the Arabic, dweller in a valley; Sept. Α᾿μαλήκ,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).

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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia

Keywords: Amalek

Bible reference(s): 1 Chronicles 1:36, 1 Chronicles 4:43, Genesis 36:12, Numbers 24:20

Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.

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