Exodus 17:1-16 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:9

And Moses said unto Joshua ,.... The son of Nun, who was his minister, and was a man of war from his youth, trained up in the art of war, and afterwards succeeded Moses, and was captain of the armies of Israel, and fought at the head of them, and subdued the Canaanites. Moses knew he was a fit person for the present purpose, and therefore gave him the following orders: choose us out men ; the stoutest and most courageous, best able to bear arms, and engage in war; for the multitude in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:10

So Joshua did as Moses had said to him ,.... He singled out some proper persons for the battle, and arrayed them with armour, and led them forth out of the camp, and went forth at the head of them: and fought with Amalek ; upon both armies meeting, a battle ensued: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur, went up to the top of the hill ; to the top of Mount Sinai or Horeb, not so much to see the battle fought, as to be seen by Joshua and the people of Israel, especially Moses with the rod in his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:11

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed ,.... With his rod in it as a banner displayed, as some think, which inspired the Israelites with courage to fight, and they had the better of it; though Aben Ezra rejects that notion, observing, that if that had been the case, Aaron or Hur would have lifted it up, or fixed it in a high place on the mount, that it might have been seen standing; and therefore he thinks the sense of the ancients the most correct, that it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:12

But Moses's hands were heavy ,.... And hung down through weariness, holding up the rod first in one hand, and then in another, for so long a time; and thus sometimes, through infirmity, the best of men grow remiss in prayer, their hands are weak and hang flown through the corruptions of their hearts, the power of unbelief, the temptations of Satan, and want of immediate answers of prayer, or through long delays of it, and then the enemy gets an advantage over them: and they took a stone,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:13

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Amalek being distinguished from "his people", has led some to think that Amalek was the name of the king, or general of the army, and that it was a common name to the kings of that nation, as Pharaoh was to the kings of Egypt; but for this there is no foundation in the Scriptures: as Amelek signifies the Amalekites, his people may design the confederates and auxiliaries, the other people, as Ben Gersom expresses it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:14

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... After the battle was over, and the Israelites had got the victory: write this for a memorial in a book : not in loose papers, but in a book, that it might continue; meaning that the account of this battle with Amelek should be put down in the annals or journal of Moses, in the book of the law he was writing, or was about to write, and would write, as he did, see Joshua 1:7 that so it might be kept in memory, and transmitted to the latest posterity; it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:15

And Moses built an altar ,.... On Horeb, as Aben Ezra; on the top of the hill, as Ben Gersom, where sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered up for the victory obtained, or however a monument erected in memory of it: and he called the name of it Jehovahnissi ; which signifies either "the Lord is my miracle" who wrought a miracle for them in giving them the victory over Amalek, as well as, through smiting the rock with the rod, brought out water from thence for the refreshment of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:16

For he said, because the Lord hath sworn ,.... So some Jewish writers F2 R. Sol. Urbin. fol. 95. 1. take it for an oath, as we do; or "because the hand is on the throne of the Lord" F3 כי יד על כס־יה "quia manus super thronum Domini", Pagninus, Montanus; "sublata manu super solium Dei (juro)", Tigurine version. ; which the Targum of Jonathan, Jarchi, and Aben Ezra, interpret of the hand of the Lord being lifted up, of his swearing by the throne of his glory; but, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:1

Pitched in Rephidim - In Numbers 33:12-14 ; it is said, that when the Israelites came from Sin they encamped in Dophkah, and next in Alush, after which they came to Rephidim. Here, therefore, two stations are omitted, probably because nothing of moment took place at either. See the notes on Numbers 33 (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:2

Why chide ye with me? - God is your leader, complain to him; Wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? As he is your leader, all your murmurings against me he considers as directed against himself; why therefore do ye tempt him? Has he not given you sufficient proofs that he can destroy his enemies and support his friends? And is he not among you to do you good? Exodus 17:7 . Why therefore do ye doubt his power and goodness, and thus provoke him to treat you as his enemies? read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:2

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