There are some differences of opinion as to the history and geographical location of these Amalekites. The name “Amalek” appears (Gen. 36: 12) as the grandson of Esau; whence some have found the origin, genealogically, of this people there; but they appear much earlier (Gen. 14: 7).――――As to their _home_ geographically, their nomadic habits require a somewhat wide range of territory within which they may be found. The passages 1 Sam. 15: 7, and 27: 8, locate them in the district lying between the Philistines and Egypt, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean in Arabia Petrea. We find them repeatedly associated with the Midianites, Moabites, and Ammonites in raids upon the children of Israel during the time of the Judges and onward to the reign of David (Judg. 3: 12, 13, and 6: 3, and 1 Sam. 30: 1). They come to view in the visions of Balaam (Num. 24: 20), spoken of there as “the first of the nations”――a phrase which can scarcely refer to their high antiquity (though this construction is barely possible); more probably it refers to the fact that they were the first to make war upon Israel after the latter assumed her distinctly national character. So understood, the description of Amalek looked historically back to the facts before us Ex. 17. Balaam foresaw their early destruction――their case being in this respect solemnly admonitory to the king of Moab. Let us not pass this historic fragment without a passing allusion to its admirable fitness as the opening scene in Israel’s relation to hostile foreign powers. She had and was destined to have national enemies. It was clearly in the policy of the Lord her God that she should fight these enemies with arms in deadly combat. Hence it was vital that she should be taught in the outset where her strength for victory actually lay. This onslaught of Amalek upon her rear and the ensuing battle, terminating in victory through prayer without ceasing――the uplifted arms of their Moses sustained till the sun set upon the victorious arms of Joshua――became their standard lesson――the first and the permanent example to show them the fountain of their strength――the ground of assured victory while they lived in obedience to God and trusted his arm alone.――――It scarcely need be said that all the spiritual conflicts of God’s people with sin and Satan fall under the same general law――victory through prayer sustained and unfaltering――victory in the strength of Israel’s God alone. _Jethro._