Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Joshua did as Moses had told himThis phrase highlights the obedience and faithfulness of Joshua, a key figure in Israel's history. The Hebrew root for "did" (עָשָׂה, 'asah) implies action and completion, indicating Joshua's readiness to fulfill his leader's command. Joshua's obedience is a model of faith in action, demonstrating trust in God's appointed leadership. Historically, Joshua's role as a military leader foreshadows his future leadership of Israel into the Promised Land, emphasizing the importance of preparation and faithfulness in small tasks before being entrusted with greater responsibilities. and fought the Amalekites
The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe, descendants of Esau, and often seen as perpetual enemies of Israel. The Hebrew root for "fought" (לָחַם, lacham) conveys the idea of engaging in battle or warfare. This conflict is not just a physical battle but also a spiritual one, representing the ongoing struggle between God's people and those who oppose His purposes. The Amalekites' attack on Israel is historically significant as it represents the first military challenge faced by the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, symbolizing the trials believers face on their journey of faith. while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill
This phrase underscores the importance of spiritual leadership and intercession. Moses, Aaron, and Hur's ascent to the hill signifies a strategic position not only for overseeing the battle but also for seeking divine intervention. The act of going to the "top of the hill" can be seen as a metaphor for rising above earthly struggles to seek God's perspective and power. Historically, hills and mountains are often places of divine encounter in Scripture, such as Mount Sinai. This setting emphasizes the need for leaders to seek God's guidance and support through prayer and intercession, as Moses did by raising his hands, which is detailed in the subsequent verses. The presence of Aaron and Hur highlights the importance of community and support in leadership, reminding believers that spiritual battles are won through unity and reliance on God's strength. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaA young leader and warrior, Joshua is obedient to Moses and leads the Israelites in battle against the Amalekites. His role foreshadows his future leadership of Israel. 2. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, Moses provides strategic and spiritual leadership. He goes to the top of the hill to oversee the battle and intercede for Israel. 3. AaronMoses' brother and the first high priest of Israel, Aaron supports Moses by holding up his hands during the battle, symbolizing prayer and intercession. 4. HurA lesser-known figure, Hur assists Aaron in supporting Moses. His presence highlights the importance of community and teamwork in spiritual battles. 5. AmalekThe Amalekites are a nomadic tribe that opposes Israel. Their attack represents the ongoing spiritual and physical battles God's people face. 6. The HillThe location where Moses, Aaron, and Hur stand, symbolizing a place of oversight, prayer, and divine intervention. Teaching Points Obedience and LeadershipJoshua's obedience to Moses' instructions is a model for Christian leadership and discipleship. We are called to follow God's appointed leaders and His Word. The Power of IntercessionMoses' role on the hill demonstrates the power of prayer and intercession. Believers are encouraged to support one another through prayer, especially in times of spiritual warfare. Community SupportAaron and Hur's support of Moses illustrates the importance of community and teamwork in the Christian life. We are not meant to fight our battles alone. Spiritual WarfareThe battle against Amalek is a reminder of the spiritual battles we face. We must rely on God's strength and the support of fellow believers to overcome. Remembering God's FaithfulnessJust as Israel was to remember the battle with Amalek, we are called to remember God's past faithfulness as we face current challenges. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua's obedience to Moses' instructions challenge us in our own walk with God and our response to spiritual leadership? 2. In what ways can we practice intercession for others, following Moses' example on the hill? 3. How can we better support our fellow believers in their spiritual battles, as Aaron and Hur supported Moses? 4. What are some "Amalekites" or spiritual battles you are currently facing, and how can you apply Ephesians 6:10-18 to these situations? 5. How can remembering God's past faithfulness help us trust Him in our present circumstances, similar to how Israel was to remember the battle with Amalek? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 25:17-19This passage recounts the Amalekites' attack and God's command to remember and eventually blot out Amalek, emphasizing the ongoing struggle against evil. 1 Samuel 15The account of King Saul's incomplete obedience in dealing with the Amalekites, highlighting the importance of full obedience to God's commands. Hebrews 7:25This verse speaks of Jesus' intercession for believers, paralleling Moses' role as an intercessor during the battle. Ephesians 6:10-18The armor of God passage, which underscores the spiritual nature of battles and the need for prayer and divine strength. People Aaron, Amalek, Amalekites, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, MosesPlaces Egypt, Horeb, Massah, Meribah, Nile River, Rephidim, SinaiTopics Aaron, Amalek, Am'alek, Amalekites, Fight, Fought, Height, Hill, Hur, Joshua, Ordered, WarDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 17:10 5072 Aaron, spokesman 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
8640 calling upon God 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 ScriptureJehovah 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.
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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 Links Exodus 17:10 NIVExodus 17:10 NLTExodus 17:10 ESVExodus 17:10 NASBExodus 17:10 KJV
Exodus 17:10 Commentaries
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