And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. (Numbers 24:20)
Many take this to be a general reference to all the enemies of Israel, Amalek being given as a type.
The first of the nations.
Eliphaz the son of Esau was the ancestor of the Amalekites (Gen. 36:12). However, the word “first” may have reference to the Amalekites as the first people to attack the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt (Ex. 17:8). The word may be used of either rank or time.
Perish for ever.
Destruction was decreed for the Amalekites when they attacked Israel (Ex. 17:14, 16). King Saul was later commanded to execute the sentence (1 Sam. 15:3, 15); and King David inflicted severe losses upon them (1 Sam. 30). They were apparently exterminated in the time of Hezekiah (1 Chron. 4:42, 43; see also on Gen. 36:12).