Exodus 17:13














1. THE ATTACK BY AMALEK. It was cowardly, malicious, merciless (cf. Deuteronomy 25:17; 1 Samuel 15:2); not open, straightforward enmity; cutting off the feeble and the stragglers; a vulture-like hostility; a type and sample of diabolical hatred. Notice the parallel between Israel's position with regard to Amalek and our position with regard to Satan and his emissaries.

1. Israel was. passing through the wilderness. So God's people are passing through this world (Hebrews 11:14). The country through which the route lies is not claimed by those who use it.

2. Amalek considered the wilderness as their own. So Satan claims to be the prince of this world. In either case the authority is usurped.

3. Amalek took Israel at a disadvantage. No cause of enmity assigned, only apparently the right assumed for the stronger to prey upon the weaker. Satan, too, always endeavours to take us at a disadvantage. He did not attack Christ until "he was an hungered;" he attacks us, also, when we are weakest.

II. THE DEFENCE AND CONFLICT. -

1. A chosen captain. Joshua - "Jehovah is hell)." Perhaps name changed from Hoshea at this time; shows, at any rate, whence the leader derived his ability to lead. Our captain, "manifested to destroy the works of the devil." Had it not been for Satan's enmity, how should we have known the power of Christ?

2. Selected soldiers. Not all the people, but chosen from the people. All share the danger, but the defence may best be undertaken by a few, though, no doubt, these few are supported and encouraged by the general sympathy. In the war with Satan the brunt of the battle must fall on the selected soldiers - Christ chose apostles, and in every age the majority has been protected by representative champions. Satan must make more headway than he does, were it not that the weaker and more ignorant are sheltered from direct attack behind the bulwarks raised by the stronger and the wiser.

3. An uplifted banner. Usually the colours go before the army; here the banner - God's rod - is upheld upon the mountain -

(1) in full sight of all;

(2) in a position of comparative security. Notice -

1. This banner was a sign of God's helpful presence.

2. It was in full view of the fighters, and the fortune of the battle varied according as it was raised or lowered. Two things were necessary to ensure victory

(1) that the banner should be held up;

(2) that the fighters should keep looking at it. In the fight with Satan the same principle applies. God's law, God's righteous purpose, must be upheld by the Prophet, supported on one hand by the priest, on the other by the noble; but, further, the fighters must keep it well in view, nothing less than the assurance of its fixedness can nerve them so as to ensure victory.

III. THE MEMORIAL.

1. A book. This victory a pledge of Amalek's final exter- ruination.

2. An altar. "Jehovah our Banner," sign of a continuous war to be ended only with the fulfilment of God's purpose. In the fight with Satan our Lord's victory in the wilderness and on the cross, a pledge of final victory for all.

1. It is written in a book. Who has not read of it?

2. It is commemorated by a memorial, which all may see. "This do as a memorial of me." So long as there is evil in the world, so long there must be war. God's soldiers must fight from generation to generation until the final victory be achieved. What is the secret of their strength? The banner uplifted upon the mountain. The rod of God. "It is written." The prophet uprears it. Priest and noble, in so far as they fulfil their office, unite to support the prophet. The fighters h,ok up to the banner, and, encouraged by its steadfast maintenance, fight on till victory be secured. - G.

Joshua discomfited Amalek.
I. Amalek, as we learn from Deuteronomy 25:18, had "SMITTEN THE HINDMOST, EVEN ALL THAT WERE FEEBLE." The stragglers are always a temptation to the foe. The hindmost and the feeble are sure to be the first attacked, and therefore should have special care.

II. Joshua discomfited AMALEK, not Moses or some other friend. Let us keep our bitterness for sin, and our swords for the King's enemies.

III. AMALEK IS NOT TO BE BEATEN WITHOUT A FIGHT. The struggle against sin is real, as we shall find to our cost if we are not wary.

IV. MOSES WAS FOR EACH MINDING HIS OWN WORK. Joshua to fight, and himself to take the top of the hill.

V. Moses on the hill is AN EMBLEM OF PUBLIC PRAYER. There is a mystery about prayer that we cannot unravel, fine of the bravest of Christian soldiers, scarred with many a fight, said, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands."

VI. HOW MUCH EVEN THE MIGHTIEST OF MEN ARE DEPENDENT UPON OTHERS MUCH WEAKER THAN THEMSELVES. It was well for the fortunes of the day that Moses was not alone.

VII. AN ALTAR MARKED THE PLACE OF BATTLE, AND GLORY WAS GIVEN TO THE LORD OF HOSTS. The soldiers of the Cross should call the battle-fields where they have won their bravest fights by the name of Him to whom they ascribe .all might and majesty.

(T. Champness.)

Homilist.
I. AS THE RECORD OF A WAR DISTINGUISHED FROM MOST MODERN WARS.

1. It was purely defensive on the Hebrew side.

2. It was Divinely sanctioned on the Hebrew side.

3. It was evidently judicial on the Hebrew side.

II. AS THE RECORD OF A WAR SUGGESTING PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL APPLICATION.

1. The propagating influence of evil. I find the primal cause of this war in the injury which Jacob perpetrated upon his brother Esau (Genesis 27:18, 19). God only knows the influence of one evil act.

2. The Divine liberty allowed to wicked men. Full freedom to work out revengeful passions.

3. The variety of instrumentality by which God works out His designs. The Eternal ever works by means.

4. The dependence of man's progress on his relation to heaven.

5. The importance of transmitting to posterity the agency of God in history (see ver. 14).

III. AS THE RECORD OF A WAR SYMBOLIZING THE MORAL STRUGGLE IN WHICH THE GOOD ARE ENGAGED.

1. That the good have spiritual enemies to contend with.

2. That the victory which the good are to obtain over their enemies depends on the help of others.

3. That whatever may be the amount of help obtained in the struggle, the victory must ever be ascribed to God.

(Homilist.)

I. THE CHRISTIAN'S EXAMPLE.

1. To fight.

(1)An aggressive fight "Go"

(2)To be done wisely. "Choose you out men."

(3)Earnestly "Fight." No parley.

(4)Continually.

2. To pray.

(1)For those who fight.

(2)Earnestly. Not growing weary.

(3)Confidently. "The rod" — symbol of past mercies.

(4)Unitedly.

II. THE CHRISTIAN'S ENCOURAGEMENT.

1. Christ, our Captain —

(1)With us, to cheer.

(2)With us, to direct.

(3)With us, to defend.

2. Christ, our intercessor.

(1)Prays, while we work.

(2)Prays continually.

(3)Prays successfully.

III. THE CHRISTIAN'S PROSPECT.

1. Of certain victory.

2. certain glory.

(B. D. Macmillan.)

I. THE BATTLE WAS FORCED UPON THE VICTORS.

II. THE BATTLE WAS HOTLY CONTESTED.

III. THE VANQUISHED OWED DEFEAT, AND THE VICTORS VICTORY, TO DIVINE POWER THROUGH HUMAN INTERCESSION.Lessons:

1. As soon as we become followers of Christ, war is forced upon us.

2. Every Christian possesses a Divine rod which, wielded, will bring him Divine help (Hebrews 4:16).

3. Christians in their conflict have an Intercessor on the hill, and a Leader in the valley. Christ makes intercession (Hebrews 7:25); and the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities (Romans 8:26), and guides into all truth (John 16:13).

(W. Harris.)

1. Hands of creature-instruments may be helpful under God, to give His Church success against its enemies.

2. Such hands lifted up to heaven in prayer, and for encouragement, God doth assist unto prevalency.

3. Hands hanging down and feeble in prayer, may give opportunity unto enemies to prevail.

4. Such languishings after strong strugglings, God sometimes orders upon His choicest servants.

5. Doubtful may be the fight of Israel as to success against its enemies for a time (ver. 11).

6. Heaviness of flesh and spirit in contending with God for Israel may sometimes befall Moses (Matthew 26:41, 43).

7. Suitable support under such delinquencies are very requisite for God's servants. Christ the stone to us.

8. Good helpers to strengthen hearts and hands in faintings are specially useful.

9. By such helps souls may be stedfast and faithful unto God unto time of victory (ver. 12).

10. Moses praying and Joshua fighting, Amalek must fail, when prayer puts the edge on the sword it is furbished to the slaughter.

11. It is God's just ordering that they who first oppress with the sword, shall perish by the sword (ver. 13).

(G. Hughes, B. D.)

People
Aaron, Amalek, Amalekites, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, Moses
Places
Egypt, Horeb, Massah, Meribah, Nile River, Rephidim, Sinai
Topics
Amalek, Am'alek, Amalekite, Army, Broke, Defeated, Discomfited, Edge, Joshua, Mouth, Mowed, Overcame, Overwhelmed, Power, Sword, Weakeneth
Outline
1. The people murmur for water to Rephidim
6. God send them for water to the rock in Horeb
7. The place is called Massah and Meribah
8. Amalek is overcome by Joshua, while Moses holds up his hand
14. Amalek is doomed to destruction; and Moses builds the altar Jehovah-nissi

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 17:13

     5572   sword

Exodus 17:5-13

     4512   staff

Exodus 17:8-13

     5214   attack
     5776   achievement

Exodus 17:8-15

     5597   victory, act of God

Exodus 17:8-16

     1305   God, activity of

Exodus 17:10-13

     7924   fellowship, in service

Exodus 17:11-13

     8650   hands, lifting up

Library
Nature of the Renderings
From the text we now turn to the renderings, and to the general principles that were followed, both in the Old and in the New Testament. The revision of the English text was in each case subject to the same general rule, viz. "To introduce as few alterations as possible into the Text of the Authorised Version consistently with faithfulness"; but, owing to the great difference between the two languages, the Hebrew and the Greek, the application of the rule was necessarily different, and the results
C. J. Ellicott—Addresses on the Revised Version of Holy Scripture

Jehovah Nissi
'And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi [that is, the Lord is my Banner].' --EXODUS xvii. 15. We are all familiar with that picturesque incident of the conflict between Israel and Amalek, which ended in victory and the erection of this memorial trophy. Moses, as you remember, went up on the mount whilst Joshua and the men of war fought in the plain. But I question whether we usually attach the right meaning to the symbolism of this event. We ordinarily, I suppose, think
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The War of Truth
Now, beloved, this scene of warfare is not recorded in Scripture as in interesting circumstance to amuse the lover of history, but it is written for our edification; for we remember the text which says--"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our profit." There is some profit to be derived from this--and we believe a peculiar profit, too, since God was pleased to make this the first writing commanded by Divine authority as a record for generations to come. We think that the journeys
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

How Churches Can Help Ministers.
Text.--And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses's hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side: and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.--Exodus xvii. 11-13. You who read your Bibles will
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Exhortation to Prayer.

John Newton—Olney Hymns

The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Intercessor
'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Reaction against Egypt
THE XIth DYNASTY: HARMHABI--THE HITTITE EMPIRE IN SYRIA AND IN ASIA MINOR--SETI I. AND RAMSES II.--THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA: MINEPHTAH AND THE ISRAELITE EXODUS. The birth and antecedents of Harmhabi, his youth, his enthronement--The final triumph of Amon and his priests--Harmhabi infuses order into the government: his wars against the Ethiopians and Asiatics--The Khati, their civilization, religion; their political and military constitution; the extension of their empire towards the north--The countries
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 5

Jehovah. The "I Am. "
WHEN Moses in the desert beheld the burning bush God answered his question by the revelation of His name as the "I Am." "And God said unto Moses, I am, that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exod. iii:14). He who spake thus out of the bush to Moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is no less person, than the I AM. If we turn to the fourth Gospel in which the Holy
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. "
Rom. viii. 7.--"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Unbelief is that which condemns the world. It involves in more condemnation than many other sins, not only because more universal, but especially because it shuts up men in their misery, and secludes them from the remedy that is brought to light in the gospel. By unbelief I mean, not only that careless neglect of Jesus Christ offered for salvation, but that which is the
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [136] . Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it might not reign in heaven alone; even He by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, by whose suffering we are rescued from suffering, through whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we knew not, by whose gift we find those whom without knowing them we sought.
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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