Exodus 17:11-16

11 When Moshe raised his hand, Isra'el prevailed; but when he let it down, 'Amalek prevailed.

12 However, Moshe's hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aharon and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other; so that his hands stayed steady until sunset.

13 Thus Y'hoshua defeated 'Amalek, putting their people to the sword.

14 ADONAI said to Moshe, "Write this in a book to be remembered, and tell it to Y'hoshua: I will completely blot out any memory of 'Amalek from under heaven."

15 Moshe built an altar, called it ADONAINissi [ADONAI is my banner/miracle],

16 and said, "Because their hand was against the throne of Yah, ADONAI will fight 'Amalek generation after generation."

Exodus 17:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

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, Ex 17:1-7 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, Ex 17:8-13, 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, Ex 17:14-16.