from those patriarchs. Either interpretation may be received upon sufficient grounds of probability, for by neither is the metrical symmetry of the couplet disturbed. The difficulty which opposes the certain in terpretation of this passage arises from the circumstance of the Amalekites, alluded to by Balaam, not being very distinctly defined, there having been more than one people of this name. "On the whole," says the writer of the additions to Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible,* “ we seem to be warranted in suggesting; first, that there were more kinds of Amalekites than one. Secondly, that the tribe which Saul destroyed might not be very numerous at that time; and that the tract of country mentioned in relation to them, was that of their flight, not that of their possession, unless as rovers or bedouins. Thirdly, that they were turbulent and violent towards their neighbours, as formerly they had been towards the stragglers of Israel; which accounts why their neighbours were not displeased at their expulsion. Fourthly, that such being their character, they might have produced a war, giving recent cause of offence to Israel; though Scripture only mentions the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy. N.B. Perhaps there never had been peace between the two nations. Fifthly, that Agag, slain by Samuel, had been extremely cruel, which seems warranted by the expression, 'as thy sword has made mothers childless :' and therefore he met with no more than his just punishment in the death he received. VOL. II. * See Taylor's edition, art. Amalekites. F "We should, on this article, carefully distinguish the people called Amalekites (Genesis xiv. 7) from the tribe exterminated or expatriated by Saul (1 Samuel xiv. 48; xxx. 1; xxxvii. 8), in consequence of the anathema (Exodus xvii. 14); and apparently both these should be distinguished from the descendants of Eliphaz and Timnah. (Genesis xxxvi. 12.) "Balaam says (Numbers xxiv. 20,) Amalek was the first or chief of the nations; that is, around the country within his view or ken: this agrees with the derivation from Melek, the king or ruler; query, king's people. "The Arab writers often mention and glory in their descent from Amalek: their historians, poets, commentators on the poets, and genealogists, all boast of this; and down to the very days of Mahomet, many families traced their descent from this progenitor, and prided themselves on the distinction. "Probably the different tribes bearing this name might, in a geographical view, be thus arranged. First, Amalek, the ancient, (Genesis xiv. 7), where the phrase is remarkable, all the country of the Amalekites," which implies a great extent. This people we may place near the Jordan. (Numbers xxiv. 20.) "Second, a tribe in the region east of Egypt, between Egypt and Canaan. (Exodus xvii. 8; 1 Samuel xiv. &c.) "Third, the descendants of Eliphaz. "It was against the second of these that Moses and Joshua fought (Exodus xvii. 8-13), against which tribe perpetual hostility was to be maintained. (verse 16, and 1 Samuel xv.) "It was also, most probably, to the ancient Amalekites (No. 1) that Balaam alluded (Numbers xxiv. 20,) as having been head of the peoples;' for the descendants of Esau were very far from answering to this title; in fact, they were but just appearing as a tribe or family. Even at this day, the Arabs distinguish between families of pure Arab blood, and those of mixed descent; but they include the posterity of Ishmael among those of mixed descent, while they reckon the Amalekites, by parentage, as of pure blood. The posterity of Esau, therefore, could hardly claim privilege above that of Ishmael, either by antiquity or by importance. Neither is it any way likely, that the Amalekites of Esau's family should extend their settlements to where we find those Amalekites (No. 2) which attacked Israel, at the very borders of Egypt, and on the shores of the Red Sea. Instead of Maachatai (Deuteronomy iii. 14; Joshua xii. 4, 5; xiii. 11—13), the Seventy read the kings of the Amalekites, which implies that this people had occupied very extensive territories. The same countries seem to be alluded to by David (Psalm lxxxiii. 7): he had already mentioned Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, &c., yet, distinct from these, he mentions Gebel, Ammon, and Amalek, consequently this Amalek was not of the descent of Esau or of Ishmael. "The spies sent to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers xiii. 29), report that the Amalekites inhabited the south; which agrees exactly with that equivocation of David to Achish (1 Samuel xxvii.) David invaded the Amalekites (verse 8), but (verse 10) he says he went against the south of Judah,' the south of the Jerahmeelites, the south of the Kenites; which indeed was very true, as he went against the Amalekites, who were south of all those places. "D'Herbelot tells us, that the Mussulmen give the name of Amalekites to those giants which inhabited Palestine when the Israelites attacked it: they suppose that some of these even fled to Barbary; and this agrees with the opinion of those who mention inscriptions found in Barbary, importing that the people who wrote them fled from Canaan, from the face of Joshua, son of Nun, the robber."-Vide Pracop de Bello Vandal and Reland, Pal. P. 82. CHAPTER VI. Balaam's prophecy on the Kenites. BALAAM now proceeds to take up his parable against the Kenites, saying, in a loftier strain of poetical rapture, Strong is thy dwelling-place, And thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Who these Kenites were, is not determined, and, at this distance of time, it is impossible to solve an historical problem of much difficulty, which has engaged the investigation of the most distinguished men in the walks of Hebrew literature, who have still left it a question to be decided. We must then, under circumstances at best but discouraging, be satisfied with conjecture based upon reasonable assumption from analogous facts or inductive processes of reasoning. Though it is impossible absolutely to fix the identity of the people here spoken of by Balaam, there is sufficient in his description of them, brief as it is, to show their character, and to sanction the reasonable inferences of Calmet and others, who have followed him in this and similar arduous fields of inquiry. "The Kenites," says that learned man,* "were a people *See Dictionary of the Bible, art. Kenites. |