Amalek in the Bible — Who Was Amalek?

Born to Eliphaz and his concubine Timna, making him a grandson of Esau. His descendants, the Amalekites, became one of Israel's most persistent enemies — attacking them at their weakest after the Exodus. God declared perpetual war against Amalek, and Saul lost his kingship partly for failing to fully destroy them.

Themes

Genealogy Faith Identity Doubt Hope Leadership Prayer Strength

Connected To

Family

Eliphaz Esau Timna

Roles

Ancestor of the Amalekites

Read Their Story

4 chapters across 4 books

1 chronicles

Esau's Family — The Brother Who Became Edom1 Chronicles 1:34-42

Amalek appears here as the offspring of Eliphaz and Timna — his birth at the intersection of Esau's family and the native Horite clan is where Israel's centuries-long conflict with the Amalekites begins.

exodus

The Arms That Changed EverythingExodus 17:11-13

Amalek here refers to the leader or personification of the enemy force that Joshua defeats, and whose total overthrow God is now commanding Moses to record as a permanent memorial.

genesis

The Family Tree Branches OutGenesis 36:9-14

Amalek is introduced here as the son of Eliphaz through Timna — a name that will carry enormous weight in Israel's later history as the ancestor of the nation that attacked Israel in the wilderness.

numbers

The Parting ShotsNumbers 24:20-25

Amalek