Exodus 17:1-6

1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched camp in Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Therefore the people chided Moses and said, "Give us water that we may drink." And Moses said unto them, "Why chide ye me? Why do ye tempt the LORD?"

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses and said, "Why is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?"

4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, "What shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready to stone me!"

5 And the LORD said unto Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod with which thou smotest the river, take in thine hand and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Exodus 17:1-6 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.