Amalekites in the Book of Esther Explained

The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe whose origins are uncertain, though they occupied the Sinai Peninsula and the wilderness between southern Palestine and Egypt ^[1]. Their wealth primarily consisted of flocks and herds, and while a "town" is mentioned in 1 Samuel 15:5, their settlements were likely temporary enclosures ^[1]. They are described as dwelling in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea ^[2]. Some scholars suggest they were not direct descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau, because they appear in the time of Abraham (Genesis 14:7) ^{[2, 4]}. Instead, they may have migrated from the Persian Gulf region ^[2].

The Amalekites are significant in biblical narrative due to their persistent antagonism toward Israel. Their first recorded encounter with the Israelites occurred at Rephidim, where they attacked the Israelites and were decisively defeated (Exodus 17:8-16) ^{[1, 12]}. This attack targeted the "rear flanks" of Israel during their wilderness wandering ^[10]. The biblical text records God's command to "blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (Deuteronomy 25:19), a directive that shaped later interactions ^[10]. Josephus notes that God sent Samuel to remind Saul that he was chosen king to carry out God's will, specifically mentioning the Amalekites' past harm to the Hebrews ^[8].

In the Book of Esther, the antagonist Haman is identified as an "Agagite" (Esther 3:1) ^{[3, 11]}. This designation links him to Agag, a hereditary name for Amalekite kings (Numbers 24:7; 1 Samuel 15:8) ^{[2, 11]}. Matthew Henry, a Puritan commentator, suggests Haman was likely a descendant of Agag, connecting him directly to the Amalekite lineage ^[11]. This connection is crucial for understanding the deep-seated animosity Haman held toward the Jews. Haman's plot to annihilate all Jews in the Persian Empire (Esther 3:6-9) is thus seen as a continuation of the ancient Amalekite enmity against Israel ^[11].

Esther, whose Persian name means "star," was a Jewish maiden named Hadassah (myrtle) ^{[3, 5]}. She was an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, a Benjamite, who held a position in King Ahasuerus's household ^{[3, 5]}. When Queen Vashti was deposed, Esther was chosen as the new queen, with her Jewish identity initially unknown to the king ^{[3, 5]}. Mordecai, also a Benjamite, is understood by some traditions to be a descendant of Kish, the father of King Saul (Esther 2:5) ^[3]. This lineage is significant because King Saul was commanded by God to utterly destroy the Amalekites, including their king Agag, but he failed to fully obey (1 Samuel 15) ^[8]. The confrontation between Haman the Agagite and Mordecai the Benjamite, therefore, can be interpreted as a renewal of the ancient conflict between the Amalekites and Israel, specifically between the descendants of Agag and the tribe of Benjamin ^[11].

The Book of Esther culminates in the Jews' defense against their enemies, with the royal authority supporting both sides due to conflicting edicts ^[9]. The Jews, led by Mordecai and Queen Esther, were ultimately victorious, destroying their adversaries ^[9]. Josephus records that 75,800 enemies of the Jews were destroyed, suggesting these were Amalekites, fulfilling Balaam's prophecy that "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be, that he perish for ever" (Numbers 24:20) ^[7]. The events of the Book of Esther are commemorated by the Jewish festival of Purim ^[6].

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Amalekites — a nomadic tribe of uncertain origin, which occupied the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness intervening between the southern hill-ranges of Palestine and the border of Egypt. (Numbers 13:29; 1 Samuel 15:7; 27:8) Their wealth consisted in flocks and herds. Mention is made of a "town" (1 Samuel 15:5) but their towns could have been little more than stations or nomadic enclosures. The Amalekites first came in contact with the Israelites at Rephidim, but were signally defeated. (Exodus 17:8-16) In union with the Canaanites they again attacked the Israelites”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Amalekite — 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 (Gen. 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" (Num. 13:29; 1 Sam. 15:7). They were a pastoral, and hence a nomadic race. Their kings bore the hereditary name of Agag (Num. 24:7; 1 Sam. 15:8). They attempted to stop the Israelites when the”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Esther — (a star), the Persian name of [498]Hadassah (myrtle), daughter of Abihail, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Esther was a beautiful Jewish maiden. She was an orphan, and had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai, who had an office in the household of Ahasuerus king of Persia--supposed to be the Xerxes of history-- and dwelt at "Shushan the palace." When Vashti was dismissed from being queen, the king chose Esther to the place on account of her beauty, not knowing her race or parentage; and on the representation of Haman the Agagite that the Je”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Amalek — Dweller in a valley, the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12; 1 Chr. 1:36); the chief of an Idumean tribe (Gen. 36:16). His mother was a Horite, a tribe whose territory the descendants of Esau had seized.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Esther — The queen of Ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her name. She was a Jewess named Hadas'sah (the myrtle), but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known (Esther 2:7). It is a Syro-Arabian modification of the Persian word satarah, which means a star. She was the daughter of Abihail, a Benjamite. Her family did not avail themselves of the permission granted by Cyrus to the exiles to return to Jerusalem; and she resided with her cousin Mordecai, who held some office in the household of the Persian king ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Esther, Book Of — one of the latest of the canonical books of Scripture, having been written late in the reign of Xerxes, or early in that of his son Artaxerxes Longimanus (B.C. 444, 434). The author is not known. The book of Esther is placed among the hagiographa by the Jews, and in that first portion of them which they call "the five rolls." It is written on a single roll, sin a dramatic style, and is read through by the Jews in their synagogues at the feast of Purim, when it is said that the names of Haman's sons are read rapidly all in one breath, to signify that ”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 13: destroy them. Nor is it to me improbable that those seventy-five thousand eight hundred of the Jews' enemies which were soon destroyed by the Jews, on the permission of the king, which must be on some great occasion, were Amalekites, their old and hereditary enemies, Exodus 17:14, 15; and that thereby was fulfilled Balaam's prophecy, "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be, that he perish for ever" Numbers 24:20.] 21 (return) [ Take here part of Reland's note on this disputed passage: "In Josephus's cop”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 7, section 1: . Saul's War With The Amalekites, And Conquest Of Them. 1. Now Samuel came unto Saul, and said to him, that he was sent by God to put him in mind that God had preferred him before all others, and ordained him king; that he therefore ought to be obedient to him, and to submit to his authority, as considering, that though he had the dominion over the other tribes, yet that God had the dominion over him, and over all things. That accordingly God said to him, that "because the Amalekites did the Hebrews a great deal of mischief while”
Esther (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Esther 9:1: We have here a decisive battle fought between the Jews and their enemies, in which the Jews were victorious. Neither side was surprised; for both had notice of it long enough before, so that it was a fair trial of skill between them. Nor could either side call the other rebels, for they were both supported by the royal authority. I. The enemies of the Jews were the aggressors. They hoped, notwithstanding the latter edict, to have power over them, by virtue of the former (Est 9:1), and made assaults upon them accordingly; they formed themselves into bodies, and join”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 25:17: 25:17 The Amalekites were tribal peoples who attacked Israel’s rear flanks during the Sinai wilderness wandering (Exod 17:8-16). They were apparently related to the Edomites (Gen 36:12).”
Esther (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Esther 3:1: Here we have, I. Haman advanced by the prince, and adored thereupon by the people. Ahasuerus had lately laid Esther in his bosom, but she had no such interest in him as to get her friends preferred, or to prevent the preferring of one who she knew was an enemy to her people. When those that are good become great they still find that they cannot do good, nor prevent mischief, as they would. This Haman was an Agagite (an Amalekite, says Josephus), probably of the descendants of Agag, a common name of the princes of Amalek, as appears, Num 24:7. Some think that he was”
Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 17:8: We have here the story of the war with Amalek, which, we may suppose, was the first that was recorded in the book of the wars of the Lord, Num 21:14. Amalek was the first of the nations that Israel fought with, Num 24:20. Observe, I. Amalek's attempt: They came out, and fought with Israel, Exo 17:8. The Amalekites were the posterity of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birthright and blessing, and this was an effort of the hereditary enmity, a malice that ran in the blood, and perhaps was now exasperated by the working of the promise towards an accomplishment. ”

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