Exodus / Chapter 17

Exodus 17

16 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex 1 tradition available

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

At Rephidim, Israel quarrels over thirst; God provides water from the rock at Horeb. The Amalekites attack, and Israel prevails while Moses holds up the staff — when his arms tire, Aaron and Hur support them. God declares perpetual war against Amalek.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The place-names Massah and Meribah ('testing' and 'quarreling') memorialize Israel's failure in the geography itself. The staff that struck the Nile in judgment (7:20) now strikes the rock in provision — judgment-tools repurposed as grace-tools. The battle scene with Moses's raised hands (vv11-12) creates one of Scripture's most vivid images of intercession: when the hands are lifted, Israel prevails; when they drop, Amalek prevails. The altar name YHWH Nissi ('The LORD is my banner,' v15) becomes a divine title.

Translation Friction

We rendered vayyarev ('quarreled,' v2) to distinguish it from the grumbling (vayyillonu) of chapter 16 — the Hebrew escalates from complaint to legal dispute. The phrase massah umerivah ('testing and quarreling,' v7) we transliterated in the notes because these become fixed theological place-names referenced throughout Scripture. God standing 'on the rock at Horeb' (v6) places the divine presence at the point of provision — we rendered this literally to preserve the spatial theology.

Connections

The water from the rock is cited in Psalm 78:15-16; 105:41; and 1 Corinthians 10:4 (where Paul identifies the rock with Christ). The battle with Amalek is referenced in Deuteronomy 25:17-19 and 1 Samuel 15. Moses's supported arms anticipate the intercessory posture throughout Scripture (1 Timothy 2:8). **Tradition comparisons:** Targum Onkelos interprets this chapter with notable Aramaic renderings: The cryptic 'hand upon the throne of Yah' is interpreted as a solemn oath from before God's glorious throne. Onkelos transforms a physical gesture into a juridical act, and introduces the 'glory' (yeq... See the [Targum Onkelos on Exodus](/targum/exodus).

Exodus 17:1

וַ֠יִּסְע֠וּ כׇּל־עֲדַ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל מִמִּדְבַּר־סִ֛ין לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ בִּרְפִידִ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין מַ֖יִם לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת הָעָֽם׃

The whole congregation of the sons of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sin, traveling by stages as the LORD commanded, and they camped at Rephidim. But there was no water for the people to drink.

KJV And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. No water at Rephidim — the third provision crisis (bitter water at Marah, 15:23; hunger in Sin, 16:3; now thirst at Rephidim). Each crisis tests whether Israel will trust the God who has already provided.
Exodus 17:2

וַיָּ֤רֶב הָעָם֙ עִם־מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ תְּנוּ־לָ֥נוּ מַ֖יִם וְנִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה מַה־תְּרִיבוּן֙ עִמָּדִ֔י מַה־תְּנַסּ֖וּן אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃

The people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"

KJV Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The people 'quarrel' (vayyarev) and 'test' (tenassun) the LORD. Both verbs will be memorialized in the place-names Meribah ('quarreling') and Massah ('testing'). Moses reframes the complaint: they are not arguing with him but testing God.
Exodus 17:3

וַיִּצְמָ֨א שָׁ֤ם הָעָם֙ לַמַּ֔יִם וַיָּ֥לֶן הָעָ֖ם עַל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ הֶעֱלִיתָ֣נוּ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם לְהָמִ֥ית אֹתִ֛י וְאֶת־בָּנַ֥י וְאֶת־מִקְנַ֖י בַּצָּמָֽא׃

But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt — to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"

KJV And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The accusation repeats the Egypt-death formula from 16:3: 'You brought us out to kill us.' The complaint grows more specific — now livestock and children are named. Fear sharpens the rhetoric.
Exodus 17:4

וַיִּצְעַ֤ק מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֥ה אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה ע֥וֹד מְעַ֖ט וּסְקָלֻֽנִי׃

Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "What shall I do with this people? A little more and they will stone me."

KJV And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'A little more and they will stone me' (od me'at usqaluni) — Moses's fear is physical, not hypothetical. The mob anger is so intense that Moses believes death is imminent. His appeal to God is raw: 'What shall I do?'
Exodus 17:5

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה עֲבֹר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם וְקַ֥ח אִתְּךָ֖ מִזִּקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּמַטְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכִּ֤יתָ בּוֹ֙ אֶת־הַיְאֹ֔ר קַ֥ח בְּיָדְךָ֖ וְהָלָֽכְתָּ׃

The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God's instruction uses the same staff that struck the Nile (7:20) — the instrument of Egypt's first plague becomes the instrument of Israel's provision. Judgment-tools are repurposed as grace-tools.
Exodus 17:6

הִנְנִ֣י עֹמֵד֩ לְפָנֶ֨יךָ שָּׁ֥ם ׀ עַֽל־הַצּוּר֮ בְּחֹרֵב֒ וְהִכִּ֣יתָ בַצּ֗וּר וְיָצְא֥וּ מִמֶּ֛נּוּ מַ֖יִם וְשָׁתָ֣ה הָעָ֑ם וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֵּן֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֖י זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

KJV Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

הַצּוּר hatsur
"the rock" — rock, cliff, boulder; metaphorically: refuge, strength, God

Tsur becomes a divine title in Israel's poetry: 'the Rock' (Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18; Psalm 18:2). The rock that yields water at Horeb anticipates the metaphorical identification of God Himself as the Rock who sustains His people.

Translator Notes

  1. 'I will stand before you there on the rock' (hineni omed lefanekha sham al-hatsur) — God positions Himself on the rock before Moses strikes it. The divine presence is at the point of impact. When Moses strikes the rock, he strikes the place where God stands. The water comes from God's presence, not merely from stone.
Exodus 17:7

וַיִּקְרָא֙ שֵׁ֣ם הַמָּק֔וֹם מַסָּ֖ה וּמְרִיבָ֑ה עַל־רִ֣יב ׀ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְעַ֨ל נַסֹּתָ֤ם אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֲיֵ֧שׁ יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּקִרְבֵּ֖נוּ אִם־אָֽיִן׃ {פ}

He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the sons of Israel and because they tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

KJV And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

מַסָּה וּמְרִיבָה Massah uMerivah
"Massah and Meribah" — testing and quarreling, trial and contention

Place-names formed from the verbs nasah ('to test') and riv ('to quarrel'). The geography permanently records Israel's failure of trust. Psalm 95:8-9 will warn future generations: 'Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness.'

Translator Notes

  1. Massah ('testing') and Meribah ('quarreling') — the place-names memorialize Israel's worst moment: questioning whether God is present. 'Is the LORD among us or not?' (hayesh YHWH beqirbenu im-ayin) is the existential question of the wilderness. It will be answered definitively at Sinai and in the tabernacle.
Exodus 17:8

וַיָּבֹ֖א עֲמָלֵ֑ק וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּרְפִידִֽם׃

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.

KJV Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Amalek attacks the vulnerable — Deuteronomy 25:17-18 specifies that they struck the stragglers at the rear. This is Israel's first military engagement as a free people.
Exodus 17:9

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ בְּחַר־לָ֣נוּ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְצֵ֖א הִלָּחֵ֣ם בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק מָחָ֗ר אָנֹכִ֤י נִצָּב֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וּמַטֵּ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדִֽי׃

Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out to fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."

KJV And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Joshua (Yehoshua, 'the LORD saves') appears for the first time by name. He is assigned military command while Moses takes the intercessory position on the hill. The battle is fought on two fronts: sword below, prayer above.
Exodus 17:10

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר אָֽמַר־לוֹ֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק וּמֹשֶׁה֙ אַהֲרֹ֣ן וְח֔וּר עָל֖וּ רֹ֥אשׁ הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

KJV So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Aaron and Hur accompany Moses — the prophetic, priestly, and civic leadership together on the hilltop. Hur's identity is not specified here; tradition identifies him as Miriam's son (possibly from the tribe of Judah).
Exodus 17:11

וְהָיָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ים מֹשֶׁ֛ה יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנִ֛יחַ יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֥ר עֲמָלֵֽק׃

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

KJV And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed' — the raised hands are not magical but intercessory. Moses's posture embodies Israel's dependence on God: when the mediator lifts his hands, God's power flows through the battle. When the hands drop, the power ebbs.
Exodus 17:12

וִידֵ֤י מֹשֶׁה֙ כְּבֵדִ֔ים וַיִּקְחוּ־אֶ֛בֶן וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ תַחְתָּ֖יו וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב עָלֶ֑יהָ וְאַהֲרֹ֨ן וְח֜וּר תָּֽמְכ֣וּ בְיָדָ֗יו מִזֶּ֤ה אֶחָד֙ וּמִזֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י יָדָ֛יו אֱמוּנָ֖ה עַד־בֹּ֥א הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

But Moses's hands grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

KJV But Moses’ 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.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

אֱמוּנָה emunah
"steady" — firmness, steadiness, faithfulness, trustworthiness

The same root as amen and he'emin ('believed,' Genesis 15:6). Here used of Moses's physically supported hands — emunah is embodied steadfastness. The man whose hands are faithful (steady, firm) enables Israel's victory. Faithfulness in the Hebrew Bible is always enacted, never merely internal.

Translator Notes

  1. 'Moses's hands grew heavy' (uydei Mosheh kevedim) — the adjective kaved ('heavy') echoes Pharaoh's heavy heart and Moses's heavy mouth. The same root that described obstacles throughout Exodus now describes the prophet's physical limitation. Aaron and Hur become the support structure — one man cannot sustain intercession alone. The word emunah ('steady, faithful') describes Moses's supported hands, linking physical steadiness to covenantal faithfulness.
Exodus 17:13

וַיַּחֲלֹ֧שׁ יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֥ק וְאֶת־עַמּ֖וֹ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃ {פ}

Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

KJV And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Joshua 'overwhelmed' (vayyachalosh) Amalek — the verb chalash means to weaken, disable, defeat. The victory is attributed to Joshua's sword and Moses's hands working together.
Exodus 17:14

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה כְּתֹ֨ב זֹ֤את זִכָּרוֹן֙ בַּסֵּ֔פֶר וְשִׂ֖ים בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ כִּֽי־מָחֹ֤ה אֶמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

The LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the hearing of Joshua: I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'Write this as a memorial in a book' (ketov zot zikkaron bassefer) — the first divine command to write in the Bible. The memory of Amalek's attack — and God's promise to blot out Amalek — is to be preserved in written form. Written memory outlasts oral tradition.
Exodus 17:15

וַיִּ֥בֶן מֹשֶׁ֖ה מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ נִסִּֽי׃

Moses built an altar and called its name "The LORD Is My Banner,"

KJV And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

יְהוָה נִסִּי YHWH Nissi
"The LORD Is My Banner" — the LORD is my banner, standard, rallying point

A nes is a military standard — the flag raised in battle around which soldiers gather. By naming the altar YHWH Nissi, Moses declares that God is the rallying point of Israel's warfare. Victory belongs to the one who fights under God's banner.

Translator Notes

  1. 'The LORD Is My Banner' (YHWH Nissi) — the altar name declares God as Israel's military standard. A nes ('banner, standard') was a rallying point in battle — the flag around which soldiers gathered. God is the point around which Israel's warfare organizes.
Exodus 17:16

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־יָד֙ עַל־כֵּ֣ס יָ֔הּ*(בכתר ארם צובה היה כתוב כֵּ֣סְיָ֔הּ בתיבה אחת) מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַיהֹוָ֖ה בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃ {פ}

saying, "A hand is on the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

KJV For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'From generation to generation' (midor dor) — the conflict with Amalek is not a one-time event but an ongoing reality. The LORD's war against Amalek extends across all generations until Amalek is blotted out.

Targum Onkelos (Aramaic, 1st-5th c. CE)anti-anthropomorphism

"For by an oath from before the throne of the glory of the LORD, the LORD will wage war against Amalek."

The cryptic 'hand upon the throne of Yah' is interpreted as a solemn oath from before God's glorious throne. Onkelos transforms a physical gesture into a juridical act, and introduces the 'glory' (yeqar) as a buffer for direct reference to God's throne.

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