The Bible — World English Bible
Exodus 17
In brief
Exodus 17 tells of two trials for the people of Israel in the wilderness, shortly after leaving Egypt. At Rephidim there is no water and the people quarrel with Moses: God brings water out of the rock at Horeb. Then Amalek attacks. As long as Moses keeps his hand raised, Israel prevails, and Aaron and Hur hold up his arms when he grows tired. The chapter shows a people who doubt God's presence and a God who provides and fights for them. Moses names the altar “Yahweh our Banner”.
The chapter in 3 parts
1All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, starting according to Yahweh’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
2Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”
3The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”
4Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5Yahweh said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.
6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
8Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.”
10So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12But Moses’ hands were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset.
13Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.”
15Moses built an altar, and called its name “Yahweh our Banner”.
16He said, “Yah has sworn: ‘Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’ ”
Key verses
He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
Massah and Meribah recall the people's question: “Is Yahweh among us, or not?” Doubt is born of thirst, but God answers with a concrete act of provision.
Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
God stands on the rock that Moses is to strike. Paul will later see in it a picture of Christ, in 1 Corinthians 10:4.
When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset.
The outcome of the battle is decided on the hill as much as on the plain. Moses grows tired, and Aaron and Hur support him: no one stands alone in prayer.
Moses built an altar, and called its name “Yahweh our Banner”.
Moses builds an altar and calls it “Yahweh our Banner”: the victory is credited to God, not to Israel's strength.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Exodus 17
What does it mean that Moses keeps his hands raised in Exodus 17?
As long as Moses holds up his hand with the rod of God, Israel is stronger, and when he lets it down, Amalek gains the upper hand. Many see in this a picture of prayer and dependence on God. Aaron and Hur hold up his arms until sunset: the victory comes from God, but it passes through the mutual help of his people.
Who is Amalek in the Bible?
Amalek is a nomadic people of southern Canaan who attack Israel at Rephidim, right after the exodus from Egypt. God tells Moses to write this episode down so it will be remembered. Several preachers make it a picture of the attacks that target someone who is moving forward with God, while others stress the historical reading of the account.
What do Massah and Meribah mean?
Moses gives these names to the place because the people quarreled (Meribah) and tested God (Massah), asking whether Yahweh was among them. Psalm 95 recalls this episode as a warning: do not harden your heart when the trial lasts.
Articles quoting Exodus 17
World English Bible translation — public domain.