Exodus

Chapter 17

Summary

Exodus 17 records two significant events demonstrating the LORD's provision and protection. First, at Rephidim, the people grumble because there is no water. the LORD instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff, and water gushes forth to quench their thirst. The place is named Massah and Meribah due to their quarrelling and testing of the LORD. Second, the Amalekites attack Israel. As long as Moses holds up his staff with the help of Aaron and Hur, Joshua and the Israelites prevail. After the victory, Moses builds an altar and names it the LORD Nissi—the LORD is my Banner.

The entire Israelite community left the Desert of Sin, travelling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

So they quarrelled with Moses and demanded, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why are you arguing with me? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?"

But the people were very thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"

Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

the LORD answered Moses, "Go out in front of the people. Take some of the elders of Israel with you, and take the staff in your hand that you struck the Nile River with, and go."

"I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

He called the place [1] (Massah) and [2] (Meribah) because the Israelites argued and because they tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."

So Joshua fought the Amalekites exactly as Moses had ordered, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill.

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he let his hands down, the Amalekites started winning.

When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on one side, one on the other, so that his hands remained steady until sunset.

In this way, Joshua defeated the Amalekite army with the sword.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

Moses built an altar and called it [3] (the LORD Nissi).

He said, "Hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. the LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."

Notes

[1]Hebrew: מַסָּה (Massah). Testing. Commemorating the people's testing of the LORD's presence and provision.

[2]Hebrew: מְרִיבָה (Meribah). Quarrelling. Marking the place where the Israelites contended with Moses and the LORD.

[3]Hebrew: יְהוָה נִסִּי (the LORD Nissi). the LORD is my Banner. One of the redemptive names of God, commemorating the victory as a sign of His presence and power.

Summary

Notes

[1]Hebrew: מַסָּה (Massah). Testing. Commemorating the people's testing of the LORD's presence and provision.

[2]Hebrew: מְרִיבָה (Meribah). Quarrelling. Marking the place where the Israelites contended with Moses and the LORD.

[3]Hebrew: יְהוָה נִסִּי (the LORD Nissi). the LORD is my Banner. One of the redemptive names of God, commemorating the victory as a sign of His presence and power.