Exodus 17

Water from the Rock and War with Amalek

Israel quarrels with Moses because there is no water, tests the LORD’s presence, receives water from the rock at Horeb, faces Amalek in battle, and learns that victory comes through the LORD’s upheld servant and the LORD’s banner over His people.

World English Bible, Public Domain

Exodus 17:1-7

When redeemed people turn need into accusation, the LORD remains faithful to provide through his appointed word and mediator, while also naming the unbelief for what it is.

1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, starting according to Yahweh’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”

3 The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

4 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

5 Yahweh said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”

Exodus 17:8-16

The redeemed people endure hostile opposition only under the LORD's banner, with obedient action below and dependent intercession above.

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.”

10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset.

13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.”

15 Moses built an altar, and called its name “Yahweh our Banner”.

16 He said, “Yah has sworn: ‘Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’ ”

Key Terms

רְפִידִים Rephidim H7508
מַיִם mayim H4325
וַיָּרֶב vayyarev H7378
תְּנַסּוּן tenassun H5254
וַיָּלֶן vayyalen H3885
וַיִּצְעַק vayyits'aq H6817
סָקַל saqal H5619
זִקְנֵי ziqnei H2205
מַטֶּה matteh H4294
יְאֹר ye'or H2975
צוּר tsur H6697
חֹרֵב Chorev H2722

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