Amalekites, << uh MAL uh kyts, >> were a desert people who lived south of Canaan in Old Testament times. Canaan consisted roughly of an area that extended from east of the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The Israelites considered the Amalekites their oldest enemies. Joshua defeated the Amalekites in the late 1200’s B.C. King Saul defeated them 200 years later. Afterward, the Amalekites destroyed Ziklag, the town where David and his followers lived. David found them celebrating this victory. He killed many, but 400 escaped.
