a tribe that dwelt in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and
the Red Sea. They were not the descendants of Amalek, the son of
Eliphaz, for they existed in the days of Abraham ( Genesis 14:7
). They were probably a tribe that migrated from the shores of
the Persian Gulf and settled in Arabia. "They dwelt in the land
of the south...from Havilah until thou comest to Shur" ( Numbers
13:29 ; 1 Samuel 15:7 ). They were a pastoral, and hence a
nomadic race. Their kings bore the hereditary name of Agag (
Numbers 24:7 ; 1 Samuel 15:8 ). They attempted to stop the
Israelites when they marched through their territory (
Deuteronomy 25:18 ), attacking them at Rephidim ( Exodus 17:8-13
; Compare Deuteronomy 25:17 ; 1 Samuel 15:2 ). They afterwards
attacked the Israelites at Hormah ( Numbers 14:45 ). We read of
them subsequently as in league with the Moabites (Judg. 3:13 )
and the Midianites ( Judges 6:3 ). Saul finally desolated their
territory and destroyed their power ( 1 Samuel 14:48 ; 15:3 ),
and David recovered boot