Who Is Amalek?

Amalek (עֲמָלֵק‎) is the enemy nation of the Israelites. The name "Amalek" can refer to the descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esav, anyone who lived in their territories in Canaan, or North African descendants of Cham, the son of Noach.

Regarding the etymology of the term "Amalek," the Midrash Tanchuma Ki Teiztei §9 declares the name of the evil nation Amalek as a portmanteau of the words am ("nation") and lak ("lick")—a reference to the notion that Amalek came like a dog to "lick" the blood of the Jewish People as they exited Egypt. 

Amalek was the son of Eliphaz and his concubine, Timna. Timna was a Horite and sister of Lotan. The Medrash tells that Timna was a princess who tried to convert to Judaism. However, she was rejected by Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. She replied that she would rather be a handmaiden to the dregs of Israel than a mistress of another gentile nation. To punish the Patriarchs for their attitudes, God caused Timna to give birth to Amalek, whose descendants would cause Israel much distress. 

Amalek was also the product of an incestuous union since Eliphaz was Timna's stepfather, according to 1 Divrei Hayamim 1:36, after he committed adultery with the wife of Seir the Horite, who was Timna's biological father.

First-century Roman-Jewish scholar and historian Flavius Josephus refers to Amalek as a "bastard" (νόθος) in a derogatory sense.

Amalek is described in Bereishis 36:16 as the "chief of Amalek" among the "chiefs of the sons of Esau." This suggests that he led a clan or territory named after him. Additionally, in the oracle of Balaam, Amalek is referred to as the "first of the nations."

The Torah tells in sefer Bamidbar  13:29 that the Amalekites inhabited the Negev and Sinai. They appear to have lived a nomadic or seminomadic lifestyle along the fringes of southern Canaan's agricultural zone.

The Amalekites are depicted throughout the Torah as relentless adversaries of the Israelites, engaging in numerous confrontations and becoming symbolic of hostility to Israel. They first ambush the Israelites at Rephidim during the Exodus, where Moshe ensures victory when he raises his hands with Aaron and Chur's support. Later, they are condemned in Devarim for their attack on the Israelites and ordered to be eradicated; King Shaul loses divine favor for sparing King Agag and their livestock. The Amalekites resurface repeatedly, allying with various groups such as the Canaanites and Midianites to raid and oppress Israel. David Hamelechs legendary book of Psalms mentions them in Psalm 83 as Israel's historic enemies whose plans to destroy Israel fail, thwarted by divine intervention—a vivid portrayal of their enduring antagonism.

In the Mishneh Torah, Rambam identifies three commandments concerning Amalek, as mentioned in the Torah: two positive and one negative. Mitzvah 59 is a negative commandment: not to forget Amalek's malevolent actions against us, as stated in "Do not forget" (Deut. 25:19). Mitzvah 188 is a positive commandment: to eradicate the descendants of Amalek, as expressed in "You shall blot out the memory of Amalek" (Deut. 25:19). Mitzvah 189 is another positive commandment: to continually remember Amalek's deeds against us, as instructed in "Remember what Amalek did to you" (Deut. 25:17).

Many rabbinic authorities, such as Rambam, ruled that the commandment only applies to a Jewish king or an organized community and cannot be performed by an individual. [Rambam (Sefer Hamitzvos, end of positive commandments), Nachmanides (Commentary to Shemos 17:16), Sefer HaYereim (435), Hagahos Maimoniyos (Hilchot Melachim 5:5)] 

Rashi wrote that the Amalekites were sorcerers who could transform themselves to resemble animals to avoid capture. Thus, in 1 Shmuel 15:3, it was considered necessary to destroy the livestock when destroying Amalek.

According to Haggahos Maimuniyyos, the commandment only applies to the future messianic era and not to present times; medieval authorities widely supported this limitation.

One mysterious prophecy states that all nations will eventually worship God alone. This raises the question of how this will be done due to how sinful Amalek is. The Midrash states that there is no quandary, given that the last Amalekite was a convert to Judaism.

Rambam elaborates that when the Jewish people wage war against Amalek, they must request the Amalekites to accept the Seven Laws of Noach and pay a tax to the Jewish kingdom. If they refuse, they are to be executed. [Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim uMilchamos, 6:1 and 6:4]

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch pointed out that the command was to destroy "the remembrance of Amalek," which can be done in our generation. The Chofetz Chaim said that God would perform the elimination of Amalek and that Jews only need to remember what Amalek did to them. [Introduction to positive commandments, Beer Mayim Hayim, letter Alef]