Numbers 24:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The origin of the Amalekite tongue marks the initial conflict against Israel. Their fate will be sealed in the age to come. This refers to Antiochus, a successor of Alexander, who inflicted suffering upon the Hebrews during the Maccabean period.

The origin of the nations is traced back to Amalek, whose lineage is destined for destruction. In truth, Amalek is not the foremost among all nations; however, since the name Amalek can be interpreted as “king of the disobedient,” and the disobedient refer to the Gentiles, we must consider this: we should not recognize the firstborn of the world, the one who governs the nations that follow their own desires, whose descendants will be annihilated. His offspring are the wicked and disobedient, to whom the Lord declares, “You are of your father the devil.”

The Amalekites were a nomadic people residing near the southern boundaries of Edom. They were, in fact, the first ancient group among other neighboring nations, tracing their existence back to the time of Abraham (Genesis 14:7), thus predating the Israelites, Idumeans, Moabites, and Ammonites. The demise of the Amalekites, as prophesied by Balaam (cf. Ex. 17:14), took place under the reign of the first king of Israel, Saul (1 Sam. 15:8). The fall of this ancient Amalekite nation parallels the political and spiritual decline of the once-great Roman Empire, which dominated much of the world but ultimately fell at the hands of the Stone prophesied by Daniel—cut from the mountain without human intervention—that crushed all the kingdoms of the Gentiles, namely the Messiah, Christ (Dan. 2:34, 44, 45), the incarnate Son born of the Virgin.