So called from Am, people--Lacac, to lick up, or take away. It is probable that this mountain took its name from Amalek, the grandson of Esau. (See Genesis 36:12.) It was situated in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and the 'Red Sea, or more properly speaking, between Havilah and Shur. (1 Samuel 15:7) And this Amalek, who gave name to this mountain, or derived his name from it, was father to the race of Amalekites, which were the deadly foes of Israel from Israel's first departure from Egypt. And this was the nation concerning whom the Lord sware, that he would utterly put out their name from under heaven, and have war with from generation to generation. (See Exodus 17:8-16.)
Behold, reader, in the history of Esau's race, and their bitter enmity against the seed of Jacob, the type of that unceasing and everlasting war which takes place between nature and grace, between the children of the bondwoman and the children of the free. It is blessed when, from well-founded evidences, we can say with the apostle, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." (Galatians 4:31.)