1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, 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; and 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?" 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 It happened, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and 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.'"
The Israelites journey from the wilderness of Sin to Rephidim, Exodus 17:1, where they murmur for lack of water, Exodus 17:2, Exodus 17:3. Moses asks counsel of God, Exodus 17:4, who commands him to take his rod and smite the rock, Exodus 17:5, and promises that water should proceed from it for the people to drink, Exodus 17:6. The place is called Massah and Meribah, Exodus 17:7. The Amalekites attack Israel in Rephidim, Exodus 17:8. Joshua is commanded to fight with them, Exodus 17:9. Moses, Aaron, and Hur go to the top of a hill, and while Moses holds up his hands, the Israelites prevail; when he lets them down, Amalek prevails, Exodus 17:10, Exodus 17:11. Moses, being weary, sits down, and Aaron and Hur hold up his hands, Exodus 17:12. The Amalekites are totally routed, Exodus 17:13, and the event commanded to be recorded, Exodus 17:14. Moses builds an altar, and calls it Jehovah-Nissi, Exodus 17:15. Amalek is threatened with continual wars, Exodus 17:16.
INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 17
The children of Israel coming to Rephidim, want water, and chide with Moses about it, who, crying to the Lord, is bid to smite the rock, from whence came water for them, and he named the place from their contention with him, Exodus 17:1 at this place Amalek came and fought with Israel, who, through the prayer of Moses, signified by the holding up of his hands, and by the sword of Joshua, was vanquished, Exodus 17:8, for the remembrance of which it was ordered to be recorded in a book, and an altar was built with this inscription on it, "Jehovahnissi": it being the will of God that Amalek should be fought with in every generation until utterly destroyed, Exodus 17:14
(Exodus 17:1-7) The Israelites murmur for water at Rephidim, God sendeth it out of the rock.
(Exodus 17:8-16) Amalek overcome, The prayers of Moses.
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