Exodus 17

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 17

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 in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.

2Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

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

4And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

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

6Behold, 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.

7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

8¶ Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

16For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn [that] the LORD [will have] war with Amalek from generation to generation.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Israelites, journeying to Rephidim, lacked water and chided Moses, testing the LORD. Moses, by divine command, struck a rock at Horeb, causing water to flow for the people. Subsequently, Amalek attacked Israel, leading to a battle where Israel prevailed as Moses held up his hands, supported by Aaron and Hur, and Joshua led the fight, resulting in Amalek's defeat and the LORD's vow of perpetual war against them.

Medium Summary

Upon reaching Rephidim, the Israelites found no water, prompting them to complain bitterly against Moses and question the LORD's presence. Moses appealed to the LORD, who instructed him to take the elders and his rod to a rock in Horeb. There, Moses struck the rock as commanded, and abundant water gushed forth, satisfying the thirsty congregation. This event led to the naming of the place Massah and Meribah, signifying their testing and chiding of the LORD. Shortly thereafter, Amalek engaged Israel in battle at Rephidim. Moses directed Joshua to lead the fighting while he, Aaron, and Hur ascended a hill. During the battle, Israel's success was directly linked to Moses holding up his hands, which were eventually supported by Aaron and Hur when they grew weary. Joshua's forces ultimately defeated Amalek, and the LORD commanded Moses to record this victory and declared an enduring war against Amalek, leading Moses to build an altar called Jehovahnissi.

Long Summary

The children of Israel, journeying from the wilderness of Sin according to the LORD's commandment, arrived at Rephidim, where they encountered a severe lack of water. This scarcity led the congregation to chide Moses vehemently, demanding water and expressing regret over leaving Egypt, fearing death by thirst for themselves, their children, and their cattle. Moses, distressed by their murmuring and their readiness to stone him, cried out to the LORD for guidance. The LORD responded by instructing Moses to proceed before the people with the elders and his rod, promising to stand upon a rock in Horeb. Moses was commanded to strike this rock, from which water would miraculously flow for the people to drink, a command Moses executed in the sight of the elders. Consequently, the place was named Massah and Meribah, reflecting the Israelites' testing and chiding of the LORD, and their questioning of His presence among them. Soon after, Amalek initiated hostilities by fighting against Israel in Rephidim. Moses immediately tasked Joshua with selecting men and leading them into battle against Amalek, while Moses himself, accompanied by Aaron and Hur, ascended to the top of a nearby hill, holding the rod of God. A crucial element of the battle's outcome was Moses' posture: when his hands were held aloft, Israel gained the advantage, but when his hands grew heavy and lowered, Amalek began to prevail. Recognizing this, Aaron and Hur provided support, placing a stone for Moses to sit upon and holding up his hands steadily until sunset. With Moses' hands thus sustained, Joshua successfully discomfited Amalek and their people with the sword. Following this decisive victory, the LORD commanded Moses to record the event as a memorial in a book and to rehearse it to Joshua, declaring His intention to utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. In commemoration, Moses built an altar and named it Jehovahnissi, signifying that the LORD would wage war against Amalek from generation to generation.

Core Concepts

  • Divine ProvisionThe LORD miraculously provides water from a rock in Horeb in response to Moses' plea, demonstrating His power to sustain His people even in dire circumstances.
  • Israel's MurmuringThe Israelites repeatedly complain and chide Moses, questioning God's presence and provision, highlighting their lack of faith despite witnessing divine acts.
  • Testing the LORDThe people's demand for water and their doubt are explicitly described as "tempting the LORD," implying a challenge to His authority and faithfulness.
  • Intercessory LeadershipMoses acts as an intermediary, crying out to the LORD on behalf of the people and receiving divine instructions, showcasing his role as a leader dependent on God.
  • Spiritual WarfareThe battle against Amalek is depicted with a spiritual dimension, where Israel's success is tied to Moses' uplifted hands and the "rod of God," signifying divine assistance in conflict.
  • Perpetual EnmityThe LORD declares an enduring war against Amalek and commands their remembrance to be blotted out, establishing a long-term divine judgment against this adversary.
  • JehovahnissiThe altar built by Moses, named "The LORD is my banner," commemorates God's victory over Amalek and serves as a testament to His presence and power in battle.