Water from the Rock
(Numbers 20:1–13)

1Then the whole congregation of Israel (he wrestles with God) left the Desert of Sin (thorn),a moving from place to place as the LORD {YHWH} commanded. They camped at Rephidim (resting places), but there was no water for the people to drink. 2So the people contended with Moses (drawn out), “Give us water to drink.”

“Why do you⁺ contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you⁺ test the LORD {YHWH}?”

3But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses (drawn out): “Why have you brought us out of Egypt (land of bondage)—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

4Then Moses (drawn out) cried out to the LORD {YHWH}, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!”

5And the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God) with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb (Horeb).b And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

So Moses (drawn out) did this in the sight of the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God). 7He named the place Massah (testing)c and Meribah (quarreling)d because the Israelites (God prevails) quarreled, and because they tested the LORD {YHWH}, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

The Defeat of the Amalekites

8After this, the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) came and attacked the Israelites (God prevails) at Rephidim (resting places). 9So Moses (drawn out) said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley). Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God {Elohim} in my hand.”

10Joshua (YHWH saves) did as Moses (drawn out) had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley), while Moses, Aaron (light bringer), and Hur (hole) went up to the top of the hill.

11As long as Moses (drawn out) held up his hands, Israel (he wrestles with God) prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek (dweller in a valley) prevailed. 12When Moses’ (drawn out) hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron (light bringer) and Hur (hole) held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

13So Joshua (YHWH saves) overwhelmed Amalek (dweller in a valley) and his army with the sword.

14Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua (YHWH saves), because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek (dweller in a valley) from under heaven.”

15And Moses (drawn out) built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner {YHWH Nissi}.e 16“Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD {YHWH} will war against Amalek (dweller in a valley) from generation to generation.”