Exodus 17

Chapter 17

Water from the Rock

1 At the LORD’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sint and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.

2 So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.
“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?”

3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”
5 The LORD said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you.

6 I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai.t Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

7 Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD here with us or not?”

Israel Defeats the Amalekites

8 While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them.

9 Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”
10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill.11 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.12 Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
14 After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”).

16 He said, “They have raised their fist against the LORD’s throne, so nowt the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”

EXODUS 17

The [Lord] Gives Water //from a Rock

1  t The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the [Lord] ordered them to. Once they camped at Rephidim, t but there was no water for them to drink.

2 The people started complaining to Moses, “Give us some water!”
Moses replied, “Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the [Lord] to the test?”

3 But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, “Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?”

4 Then Moses prayed to the [Lord], “What am I going to do with these people? They are about to stone me to death!”
5 The [Lord] answered, “Take some of the leaders with you and go ahead of the rest of the people. Also take along the walking stick with which you struck the Nile River.

6 When you get to the rock at Mount Sinai, t I will be there with you. Strike the rock with the stick, and water will pour out for the people to drink.” Moses did this while the leaders watched.

7 The people had complained and tested the [Lord] by asking, “Is the [Lord] really with us?” So Moses named that place Massah, which means “testing” and Meribah, which means “complaining.”

Israel Defeats //the Amalekites

9 So Moses told Joshua, “Have some men ready to attack the Amalekites tomorrow. I will stand on a hilltop, holding this walking stick that has the power of God.”
10 Joshua led the attack as Moses had commanded, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur stood on the hilltop. 11 The Israelites out-fought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms, but they started losing whenever he lowered them. 12 After a while, his arms were so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they stood beside him and supported his arms in the same position until sunset.

13 That's how Joshua defeated the Amalekites.

14  t Afterwards, the [Lord] said to Moses, “Write an account of this victory and read it to Joshua. I want the Amalekites to be forgotten forever.”
15 Moses built an altar and named it “The [Lord] Gives Me Victory.” 16 Then Moses explained, “This is because I depended on the [Lord].t But in future generations, the [Lord] will fight the Amalekites again and again.”