The Amalekites are a significant group mentioned in the Old Testament, known for their longstanding enmity with the Israelites. They are traditionally considered descendants of Esau, through his grandson Amalek (Genesis 36:12). The Amalekites inhabited the region of the Negev and the Sinai Peninsula, and they are often depicted as nomadic raiders.

The first notable encounter between the Israelites and the Amalekites occurs shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, the Amalekites attacked them at Rephidim. In this battle, Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, held up his hands to ensure Israel's victory, as recorded in Exodus 17:8-16. The LORD declared, "I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven" (Exodus 17:14), establishing a divine mandate against them.

The Amalekites continued to be a thorn in Israel's side throughout their history. During the period of the Judges, they allied with the Moabites and Midianites against Israel (Judges 3:13, 6:3). King Saul was commanded by God, through the prophet Samuel, to completely destroy the Amalekites as an act of divine judgment (1 Samuel 15:2-3). However, Saul's incomplete obedience led to his rejection as king.

David also fought against the Amalekites, notably recovering his people and possessions after they had been taken captive from Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1-20). The Amalekites are last mentioned in the time of Hezekiah, when a remnant was defeated by the Simeonites (1 Chronicles 4:42-43).

Canaanites

The Canaanites were the original inhabitants of the land of Canaan, a region that roughly corresponds to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Syria and Jordan. They are descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, as listed in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:15-19). The Canaanites were a collection of various city-states and peoples, including the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, and others.

The Canaanites are frequently mentioned in the context of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land. God promised this land to Abraham and his descendants, and the Canaanites were to be dispossessed due to their idolatry and moral corruption (Genesis 15:16). The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, were commanded to conquer and occupy the land, as seen in the book of Joshua.

Despite the divine command to drive out the Canaanites, the Israelites often failed to fully obey, leading to ongoing conflicts and the influence of Canaanite culture and religion. This disobedience resulted in the Israelites adopting Canaanite practices, which led to periods of apostasy and judgment (Judges 2:1-3).

The Canaanites are often associated with the worship of Baal and Asherah, deities that became a snare to the Israelites. The biblical narrative portrays the Canaanites as a people whose practices were abominable to God, necessitating their removal from the land to fulfill God's covenant promises to Israel.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Canaanites serve as a symbol of the spiritual and moral challenges that the Israelites faced in maintaining their covenant relationship with God.