Exodus 17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 17

Two passages of story are recorded in this chapter, I. The watering of the host of Israel. 1. In the wilderness they wanted water, Exod. 17:1. 2. In their want they chided Moses, Exod. 17:2, 3. 3. Moses cried to God, Exod. 17:4. 4. God ordered him to smite the rock, and fetch water out of that; Moses did so, Exod. 17:5, 6. 5. The place named from it, Exod. 17:7. II. The defeating of the host of Amalek. 1. The victory obtained by the prayer of Moses, Exod. 17:8-12. 2. By the sword of Joshua,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 17:1-7

Here is, I. The strait that the children of Israel were in for want of water; once before the were in the like distress, and now, a second time, Exod. 17:1. They journeyed according to the commandment of the Lord, led by the pillar of cloud and fire, and yet they came to a place where there was no water for them to drink. Note, We may be in the way of our duty, and yet may meet with troubles, which Providence brings us into for the trial of our faith, and that God may be glorified in our... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 17:8-16

We have here the story of the war with Amalek, which, we may suppose, was the first that was recorded in the book of the wars of the Lord, Num. 21:14. Amalek was the first of the nations that Israel fought with, Num. 24:20. Observe, I. Amalek's attempt: They came out, and fought with Israel, Exod. 17:8. The Amalekites were the posterity of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birthright and blessing, and this was an effort of the hereditary enmity, a malice that ran in the blood, and perhaps... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 17 The children of Israel coming to Rephidim, want water, and chide with Moses about it, who, crying to the Lord, is bid to smite the rock, from whence came water for them, and he named the place from their contention with him, Exodus 17:1 at this place Amalek came and fought with Israel, who, through the prayer of Moses, signified by the holding up of his hands, and by the sword of Joshua, was vanquished, Exodus 17:8 , for the remembrance of which it was ordered... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:1

And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin ,.... Where they had stayed some time, at least a week, as it should seem, from the gathering the manna there six days, and resting on the seventh: after their journeys : first from the wilderness of Sin to Dophkah, and from Dophkah to Alusb, and from Alush to Rephidim, as appears from Numbers 33:12 their two stations at Dophkah and Alush are here omitted, nothing very remarkable or of any moment... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:2

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses ,.... Contended with him by words, expostulating with him in a very angry and indecent manner for bringing them thither; loading him with reproaches and calumnies, wrangling and quarrelling with him, and using him very ill, giving hard words and bad language: and said, give us water, that we may drink ; directing their speech both to Moses and Aaron, as the word "give" F7 תנו "Date", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; being in the plural number... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:3

And the people thirsted there for water ,.... They saw there was no water when they first came thither, and therefore chid Moses for bringing them to such a place, where they could not subsist; and having stayed some little time here, and all the water they brought with them from Alush being spent, and having none to drink, began to be very thirsty: and the people murmured against Moses ; became more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against him with much acrimony and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:4

And Moses cried unto the Lord ..... Or prayed unto him, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; which shows the distress he was thrown into, the vehemence of his prayer, and perhaps the loud and lamentable tone in which he expressed it: this was the method he always took, and the refuge he fled unto in all his times of trouble; in which he did well, and set a good example of piety and devotion to God, of faith and trust in him: saying: what shall I do unto this people ? or, "for this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:5

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... Out of the pillar of cloud: go on before the people , lead them on nearer to Mount Sinai or Horeb, within sight of which they now were. Jarchi adds, by way of explanation, "and see if they will stone thee"; fear not, go on boldly, no harm shall come to thee: and take with thee of the elders of Israel ; some of them for a witness, as the above writer observes, that they may see that by thine hand water comes out of the rock, and may not say there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 17:6

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb ,.... Or "upon that rock" F11 על הצור "super illam petram", Junius & Tremellius; "super illa petra", Piscator. , a particular rock which was pointed unto, where the Lord in the pillar of cloud would stand; not as a mere spectator of this affair, but as a director of Moses where to smite the rock; and to exert his power in producing water from it, and by his presence to encourage Moses to do it, and to expect and... read more

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