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First mentioned in the missionary chapters of the sons of Mosiah, the Amalekites(/əˈmæl.ə.kaɪts/) of the Book of Mormon are described as a group of dissenters from the Nephites (Book of Mormon index, Alma 43:13). They are credited with building the city of Jerusalem in the land of Jerusalem within the land of Nephi, alongside Lamanites and Amulonites (Alma 21:2).
Contents
The character of the Amalekites is described as "more hardened than the Lamanites" (Alma 21:3). In the various wars, the Amalekites are appointed captains because of their murderous dispositions (Alma 43:6).
Religiously, the Amalekites are after the order of Nehor (Alma 21:4). When Aaron, the son of Mosiah, enters their land, the Amalekites are among those who contend with him. Though they confess to believe in God, only one Amalekite is converted (Alma 23:14).
Because of them, the Lamanites are spurred on to kill their own people, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (Alma 24:1). During the various wars between the Nephites and Lamanites, they are described as being better armed and continually inspire the Lamanites to fight (Alma 43:20,44).
Origins
Unlike Amlicites and Amulonites, no origin appears to be directly stated for the Amalekites. But it is worth noting that according to the Words of Mormon 1:16, there arose "false prophets" and "false preachers," who were punished as the law allowed, and some joined the ranks of the Lamanites.
Additionally, some scholars, including Professor Royal Skousen, have proposed, based on textual evidence and on spelling variations in the original manuscripts, that "Amalekite" is an alternative spelling of "Amlicite". Thus, Skousen's research into the original manuscripts used as the source for printing the Book of Mormon clarifies that the "Amalekites" and the "Amlicites" are not two separate groups, rather are apparently one in the same group. The original manuscripts provide evidence that this confusion arose due to human error in transcribing the Book of Mormon into English, as unfamiliar names were at times spelled inconsistently as the contents of the Book of Mormon were verbally dictated to the scribes. This confusion, while not having doctrinal implications for the book's contents, still exists in the Book of Mormon as of this 2016 writing.