The Exodus and the wilderness · Exodus 17
Moses’ Raised Hands Against Amalek
At Rephidim, Amalek comes to fight Israel. Moses says to 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.” Joshua obeys, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur go up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses holds up his hand, Israel prevails; whenever he lets it down, Amalek prevails. His hands grow heavy. Aaron and Hur put a stone under him, and they hold up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, until the sun goes down. Joshua defeats Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. The LORD commands Moses to write this down as a memorial in a book and announces that he will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Moses builds an altar and calls it “The LORD is my banner.”
What happens
- Amalek comes to fight Israel at Rephidim Exodus 17:8
- Moses tells Joshua to choose men and fight Exodus 17:9
- With his hand raised, Israel prevails; with it lowered, Amalek wins Exodus 17:11
- Aaron and Hur hold up his hands until sundown Exodus 17:12
- Joshua defeats Amalek; the LORD wants it recorded as a memorial Exodus 17:13–14
- Moses builds an altar: “The LORD is my banner” Exodus 17:15
Who is in this story
The lesson
Victory comes from the LORD, “my banner,” but he uses men who fight and men who hold each other up: Joshua on the plain, Moses on the hill, Aaron and Hur holding up his hands. No one stands alone in the battles of faith.
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Quick quiz on this story
Where does Amalek come to fight Israel?
“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.” Moses immediately sends Joshua to choose men for the battle. Exodus 17:8
Whom does Moses tell to choose men and fight Amalek?
Moses says to Joshua, “Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek.” He himself stands on the hill with Aaron and Hur. Exodus 17:9–10
What do Aaron and Hur do when Moses’ hands grow tired?
They put a stone under Moses, and he sits on it; Aaron and Hur hold up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, until the sun goes down. Exodus 17:12
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