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Exodus 17

1 - All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to The LORD's commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
2 - Therefore 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 The LORD?"
3 - The people were thirsty for water there; and 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?"
4 - Moses cried to The LORD, saying, "What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."
5 - The LORD 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.
6 - 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.
7 - He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested The LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us, or not?"
8 - Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 - Moses 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."
10 - So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 - When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 - But Moses' hands were heavy; and 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.
13 - Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 - The LORD 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."
15 - Moses built an altar, and called its name the LORD our Banner.
16 - He said, "Yah has sworn: 'The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.'"
Exodus 17 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: The Israelites again murmur about water and Moses smites the rock at Horeb, water gushes forth from the rock, the Amalekites attacked the host of Israel, Israel goes to battle, Moses raises his staff on the Hill for all the people to see, Aaron and Hur hold up Moses hands so the Joshua prevails against Amalek. Him him

Outline
1 The people murmur for water at Rephidim
5 God sends them for water to the rock in Horeb
8 Amalek is overcome by the raising of Moses' hands
15 Moses builds the altar Jehovah-nissi

Painting of Moses Raising Arms, with Aaron and Hur
Painting of Aaron and Hur helping Moses

Important Topics for Bible Study
The children of Israel come to Rephidim
there is no water and the people murmured against Moses
Moses cries to the Lord
the Lord calls Moses to Mount Horeb
Moses smote the rock and water comes out
Moses names the place where the water gushed out
Amalek attacks the Israelites
Moses appoints Joshua to fight for Israel
Joshua succeeds only when Moses's hands are raised on the hillside
when his hands go down Amalek prevails
Israel wins the battle and Moses built an altar
Moses gives a name for the occasion and the meaning
Jehovah Nissi - The LORD is our banner or ensign
The war will never end with Amalek
Amalek descended from Esau
 

Quick Reference Map
Map of the Route of the Exodus
Map of the Possible Route of the Exodus (Click to Enlarge)

Ancient Customs
murmured
rod of God
rock at Horeb
encampment
warfare

Ancient People
God, Moses, Aaron, Hur, Joshua, Amalek
the LORD

Geography
the wilderness of Sin
Rephidim
Horeb
Massah
Meribah
 

Quick Reference Maps

The Exodus of the Hebrews

Mount Horeb

The Red Sea

Map of the Red Sea
Map of the Red Sea and Egypt (Click to Enlarge)

The Old Testament

pyramids.gif

Exodus Resources

Moses and the Exodus
The Giving of the Law
The Tabernacle
The Wilderness Wanderings