Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Exodus 17:8 - 17:16
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The Battle with the Amalekites
v. 8. Then came Amalek, the nation which had descended from Amalek, the grandson of Esau, Gen_36:12, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
v. 9. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; for the soldiers of the heathen nation had fallen upon the rear-guard of Israel and smitten the faint and weary, Deu_25:18. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand, the same staff with which he had performed so many miracles.
v. 10. So Joshua, or Hoshea, a prince of the tribe of Ephraim, Num_13:8-16; Deu_32:44, did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek, for these Edomites were here trying to vent their spite against the chosen people of God; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur, the son of Caleb, the great-grandson of Judah, 1Ch_2:18-20, went up to the top of the hill, to assist their troops with the prayer of faith.
v. 11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, in the attitude of fervent supplication, that Israel prevailed, the tide of battle went in their favor; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. It was not a battle in which mere prowess of arms brought about the decision, but one in which the powers of the true God battled with the enemies of His Church.
v. 12. But Moses' hands were heavy. It is a test of endurance for the strongest man to hold his hands out or up for any length of time. 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; they supported his hands in such a way that they would not sink; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun, until darkness put an end to the battle.
v. 13. And Joshua discomfited, struck down, conquered, Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword, without exercising pity.
v. 14. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, it should be revealed to Joshua and impressed upon his mind; for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven, the entire nation was to be annihilated, Deu_25:19.
v. 15. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi (Jehovah my banner);
v. 16. for he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. It was a vow with his hand upon the banner of Jehovah, the altar which he had built, that Israel should continue the war against the Amalekites until their total extinction had been accomplished. The present victory was an earnest of future victories over all the enemies. Thus all the enemies of the believers, of the Church of Christ, will eventually be conquered, but our prayers must arise to the Throne of Mercy without ceasing.