They returned, and came— i.e.. The kings mentioned Genesis 14:5 returned from the conquest of the people enumerated in the foregoing verses, and then came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, a city in the frontiers of Idumaea, near the place where the Israelites afterwards murmured for want of water, and where God supplied them with water out of the rock En-mishpat, which signifies the fountain of judgment, might probably be so called, because judgment was there administered to the neighbouring people; or perhaps it was so called in after-times, from that severe judgment which God in that place passed upon Moses and Aaron for humouring the people in their unbelief. See Numbers 20:12.
And smote the country of the Amalekites— Hence it is evident, that Moses, under the direction of the Divine Spirit, who inspired him, intermixed ancient with modern names; which renders it difficult to give a determinate account of the nations and people referred to. The country of the Amalekites means that country which was inhabited by the people so called in the days of Moses; for the Amalekites had their name from Amalek, Esau's grandson, ch. Genesis 36:12. For the Amorites, see ch. Genesis 10:16. and Deuteronomy 20:20. Hazezon-tamar, was the same with Engedi, 2 Chronicles 20:2 a city, lying afterwards within the borders of the tribe of Judah, not far from the Dead-sea, Joshua 15:62.