Exodus 17:8-13

Israel Defeats Amalek

8 ¹Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.

9 So Moses said to ²Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with ³the staff of God in my hand. ”

10 So ⁴Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and ⁵Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 Whenever Moses ⁶held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and ⁷Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 And ⁸Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

Exodus 17:8-13 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.

Cross References

• 1. 17:8 Deut. 25:17; 1 Sam. 15:2
• 2. 17:9 ch. 24:13; 32:17; 33:11
• 3. 17:9 ch. 4:20
• 4. 17:10 [See ver. 9 above]
• 5. 17:10 ch. 24:14; 31:2
• 6. 17:11 [1 Tim. 2:8]
• 7. 17:12 [See ver. 10 above]
• 8. 17:13 [See ver. 9 above]