Summary

Exodus 17 describes two significant events during the Israelites' journey in the wilderness: the provision of water from the rock at Rephidim and the battle against the Amalekites.

Key Points

• The Israelites journey from the wilderness of Sin to Rephidim, where there is no water for the people to drink (Exodus 17:1).

• The people complain to Moses about the lack of water, and Moses cries out to the Lord (Exodus 17:2-4).

• God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his rod, and water comes out for the people to drink (Exodus 17:5-6).

• The place is named Massah and Meribah because of the Israelites' quarreling and testing the Lord (Exodus 17:7).

• The Amalekites attack the Israelites at Rephidim, and Moses instructs Joshua to choose men to fight (Exodus 17:8-9).

• Moses, Aaron, and Hur go to the top of a hill, and as long as Moses holds up his hands, the Israelites prevail (Exodus 17:10-11).

• When Moses' hands grow tired, Aaron and Hur support his hands, and Joshua defeats the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12-13).

• The Lord instructs Moses to write the account of the battle as a memorial and to rehearse it in Joshua's ears (Exodus 17:14).

• Moses builds an altar and names it Jehovah-nissi, meaning "The Lord is my banner" (Exodus 17:15).

• The Lord declares that He will have war with Amalek from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16).