When Moses' hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. When Moses’ hands grew heavyThe phrase "Moses’ hands grew heavy" signifies the physical and spiritual burden Moses carried as the leader of the Israelites. In Hebrew, the word for "heavy" is "kaved," which can also mean "glorious" or "weighty." This dual meaning reflects the significant responsibility Moses bore. His hands growing heavy symbolizes the human limitations even the greatest leaders face, reminding us of the need for divine strength and communal support in our spiritual battles. they took a stone and put it under him
The act of placing a stone under Moses is both practical and symbolic. The stone, in Hebrew "eben," often represents strength and stability. This action provided Moses with a firm foundation, illustrating the importance of a solid base in faith and leadership. Archaeologically, stones were common tools and symbols in ancient cultures, often used in altars and memorials, signifying God's enduring presence and support. and he sat on it
Moses sitting on the stone indicates a moment of rest and reliance on God's provision. Sitting, in biblical terms, often denotes a position of authority and teaching. Here, it underscores the necessity of resting in God's promises and the support of the community. It is a reminder that leaders must also take time to rest and rely on God's strength rather than their own. Aaron and Hur held his hands up
Aaron and Hur's support of Moses' hands is a powerful image of community and cooperation. The Hebrew word for "held" is "tamakh," meaning to support or uphold. This act of holding up Moses' hands signifies the importance of fellowship and mutual support in the body of Christ. It highlights the role of spiritual leaders and community members in sustaining one another through prayer and encouragement. one on each side
The positioning of Aaron and Hur, one on each side, represents balance and equality in support. This imagery emphasizes the need for a balanced approach in ministry and life, where support comes from all sides. It also reflects the biblical principle of two or more gathered in agreement, as seen in Matthew 18:20, where Christ promises His presence. so that his hands remained steady
The steadiness of Moses' hands, achieved through the support of Aaron and Hur, symbolizes perseverance and endurance in faith. The Hebrew word for "steady" is "emunah," which is often translated as faithfulness or firmness. This steadiness is a testament to the power of collective faith and the sustaining grace of God, enabling believers to remain firm in their spiritual battles. until the sun went down
The phrase "until the sun went down" marks the duration of the battle and the perseverance required to achieve victory. In biblical times, the setting sun often signified the end of a day or a period of struggle. This imagery serves as a reminder that spiritual battles may be long, but with God's help and the support of others, victory is assured. It encourages believers to remain steadfast until the end, trusting in God's perfect timing. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this passage, Moses is interceding for Israel during a battle with the Amalekites. 2. AaronMoses' brother and the first high priest of Israel. He assists Moses by holding up his hands during the battle. 3. HurA lesser-known figure, possibly a leader or elder among the Israelites, who also helps Moses by supporting his hands. 4. The AmalekitesA nomadic tribe that attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. They are often seen as representing opposition to God's people. 5. RephidimThe location where the Israelites camped and where the battle with the Amalekites took place. Teaching Points The Importance of Community SupportJust as Moses needed Aaron and Hur, we need the support of our Christian community to persevere in our spiritual battles. Intercession and PerseveranceMoses' raised hands symbolize intercession and prayer. We are called to persist in prayer, trusting God for victory. Leadership and HumilityMoses' willingness to accept help demonstrates humility. Leaders should recognize their limitations and accept assistance. Spiritual WarfareThe battle against the Amalekites represents spiritual warfare. We must remain vigilant and rely on God's strength. God's FaithfulnessThe victory over the Amalekites is a testament to God's faithfulness in delivering His people when they trust in Him. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the support Moses received from Aaron and Hur illustrate the importance of community in our spiritual lives? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of intercession seen in Moses' actions to our own prayer lives? 3. How does the account of the battle with the Amalekites encourage us to rely on God's strength in our personal battles? 4. What lessons can we learn from Moses' humility in accepting help, and how can we apply this to our leadership roles? 5. How does the ongoing conflict with the Amalekites throughout the Bible illustrate the nature of spiritual warfare in our lives today? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 17:8-16Provides the broader context of the battle with the Amalekites and God's command to Moses to record the event as a reminder of His deliverance. 1 Samuel 15Discusses God's command to Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, showing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Amalek. Hebrews 12:12Encourages believers to strengthen their feeble arms and weak knees, drawing a parallel to the support Moses received. Galatians 6:2Calls believers to bear one another's burdens, reflecting the support Aaron and Hur provided to Moses. People Aaron, Amalek, Amalekites, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, MosesPlaces Egypt, Horeb, Massah, Meribah, Nile River, Rephidim, SinaiTopics Aaron, Falling, Grew, Hands, Heavy, Held, Hold, Hur, Kept, Moses's, Sat, Seat, Sitteth, Stayed, Steady, Stedfast, Stone, Sunset, Supported, Supporting, Thereon, Thus, Till, Tired, WearyDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 17:12 5072 Aaron, spokesman
5181 sitting
5582 tiredness 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 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 17:12 NIVExodus 17:12 NLTExodus 17:12 ESVExodus 17:12 NASBExodus 17:12 KJV
Exodus 17:12 Commentaries
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