The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
"Amalekites ... children of the east"  (Judges 6:3).  The Amalekites were historical enemies of Israel, and they would have seized upon every opportunity to raid the Chosen People, allying themselves here with Midian. "`The children of the east' is a general description of the nomads of the Syrian desert."[2]