14 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Write H3789 this for a memorial H2146 in a book, H5612 and rehearse H7760 it in the ears H241 of Joshua: H3091 for I will utterly H4229 put out H4229 the remembrance H2143 of Amalek H6002 from under heaven. H8064
Speak H559 now to Zerubbabel H2216 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 governor H6346 of Judah, H3063 and to Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Josedech, H3087 the high H1419 priest, H3548 and to the residue H7611 of the people, H5971 saying, H559 Who is left H7604 among you that saw H7200 this house H1004 in her first H7223 glory? H3519 and how do ye see H7200 it now? is it not in your eyes H5869 in comparison H3644 of it as nothing?
And he said H559 unto me, Who art thou? And I answered H559 him, I am an Amalekite. H6003 He said H559 unto me again, Stand, H5975 I pray thee, upon me, and slay H4191 me: for anguish H7661 is come H270 upon me, because my life H5315 is yet whole in me. So I stood H5975 upon him, and slew H4191 him, because I was sure H3045 that he could not live H2421 after H310 that he was fallen: H5307 and I took H3947 the crown H5145 that was upon his head, H7218 and the bracelet H685 that was on his arm, H2220 and have brought H935 them hither unto my lord. H113 Then David H1732 took hold H2388 on his clothes, H899 and rent H7167 them; and likewise all the men H582 that were with him: And they mourned, H5594 and wept, H1058 and fasted H6684 until even, H6153 for Saul, H7586 and for Jonathan H3083 his son, H1121 and for the people H5971 of the LORD, H3068 and for the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 because they were fallen H5307 by the sword. H2719 And David H1732 said H559 unto the young man H5288 that told H5046 him, Whence art thou? And he answered, H559 I am the son H1121 of a stranger, H376 H1616 an Amalekite. H6003 And David H1732 said H559 unto him, How wast thou not afraid H3372 to stretch forth H7971 thine hand H3027 to destroy H7843 the LORD'S H3068 anointed? H4899 And David H1732 called H7121 one H259 of the young men, H5288 and said, H559 Go near, H5066 and fall H6293 upon him. And he smote H5221 him that he died. H4191 And David H1732 said H559 unto him, Thy blood H1818 be upon thy head; H7218 for thy mouth H6310 hath testified H6030 against thee, saying, H559 I have slain H4191 the LORD'S H3068 anointed. H4899
And David H1732 and his men H582 went up, H5927 and invaded H6584 the Geshurites, H1651 and the Gezrites, H1511 and the Amalekites: H6003 for those H2007 nations were of old H5769 the inhabitants H3427 of the land, H776 as thou goest H935 to Shur, H7793 even unto the land H776 of Egypt. H4714 And David H1732 smote H5221 the land, H776 and left neither man H376 nor woman H802 alive, H2421 and took away H3947 the sheep, H6629 and the oxen, H1241 and the asses, H2543 and the camels, H1581 and the apparel, H899 and returned, H7725 and came H935 to Achish. H397
And Saul H7586 smote H5221 the Amalekites H6002 from Havilah H2341 until thou comest H935 to Shur, H7793 that is over against H6440 Egypt. H4714 And he took H8610 Agag H90 the king H4428 of the Amalekites H6002 alive, H2416 and utterly destroyed H2763 all the people H5971 with the edge H6310 of the sword. H2719
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 I remember H6485 that which Amalek H6002 did H6213 to Israel, H3478 how he laid H7760 wait for him in the way, H1870 when he came up H5927 from Egypt. H4714 Now go H3212 and smite H5221 Amalek, H6002 and utterly destroy H2763 all that they have, and spare H2550 them not; but slay H4191 both man H376 and woman, H802 infant H5768 and suckling, H3243 ox H7794 and sheep, H7716 camel H1581 and ass. H2543
Remember H2142 what Amalek H6002 did H6213 unto thee by the way, H1870 when ye were come forth H3318 out of Egypt; H4714 How he met H7136 thee by the way, H1870 and smote the hindmost H2179 of thee, even all that were feeble H2826 behind H310 thee, when thou wast faint H5889 and weary; H3023 and he feared H3373 not God. H430 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath given thee rest H5117 from all thine enemies H341 round about, H5439 in the land H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee for an inheritance H5159 to possess H3423 it, that thou shalt blot out H4229 the remembrance H2143 of Amalek H6002 from under heaven; H8064 thou shalt not forget H7911 it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 17
Commentary on Exodus 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Ex 17:1-7. The People Murmur for Water.
1. the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin—In the succinct annals of this book, those places only are selected for particular notice by the inspired historian, which were scenes memorable for their happy or painful interest in the history of the Israelites. A more detailed itinerary is given in the later books of Moses, and we find that here two stations are omitted (Nu 33:1-56).
according to the commandment of the Lord, &c.—not given in oracular response, nor a vision of the night, but indicated by the movement of the cloudy pillar. The same phraseology occurs elsewhere (Nu 9:18, 19).
pitched in Rephidim—now believed, on good grounds, to be Wady Feiran, which is exactly a day's march from Mount Sinai, and at the entrance of the Horeb district. It is a long circuitous defile about forty feet in breadth, with perpendicular granite rocks on both sides. The wilderness of Sin through which they approached to this valley is very barren, has an extremely dry and thirsty aspect, little or no water, scarcely even a dwarfish shrub to be seen, and the only shelter to the panting pilgrims is under the shadow of the great overhanging cliffs.
2, 3. the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink, &c.—The want of water was a privation, the severity of which we cannot estimate, and it was a great trial to the Israelites, but their conduct on this new occasion was outrageous; it amounted even to "a tempting of the Lord." It was an opposition to His minister, a distrust of His care, an indifference to His kindness, an unbelief in His providence, a trying of His patience and fatherly forbearance.
4. Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people?—His language, instead of betraying any signs of resentment or vindictive imprecation on a people who had given him a cruel and unmerited treatment, was the expression of an anxious wish to know what was the best to be done in the circumstances (compare Mt 5:44; Ro 12:21).
5. the Lord said unto Moses, &c.—not to smite the rebels, but the rock; not to bring a stream of blood from the breast of the offenders, but a stream of water from the granite cliffs. The cloud rested on a particular rock, just as the star rested on the house where the infant Saviour was lodged [Mt 2:9]. And from the rod-smitten rock there forthwith gushed a current of pure and refreshing water. It was perhaps the greatest miracle performed by Moses, and in many respects bore a resemblance to the greatest of Christ's: being done without ostentation and in the presence of a few chosen witnesses (1Co 10:4).
7. called the name of the place—Massah ("temptation"); Meribah ("chiding," "strife"): the same word which is rendered "provocation" (Heb 3:8).
Ex 17:8-16. Attack of Amalek.
8. Then came Amalek—Some time probably elapsed before they were exposed to this new evil; and the presumption of there being such an interval affords the only ground on which we can satisfactorily account for the altered, the better, and former spirit that animated the people in this sudden contest. The miracles of the manna and the water from the rock had produced a deep impression and permanent conviction that God was indeed among them; and with feelings elevated by the conscious experience of the Divine Presence and aid, they remained calm, resolute, and courageous under the attack of their unexpected foe.
fought with Israel—The language implies that no occasion had been furnished for this attack; but, as descendants of Esau, the Amalekites entertained a deep-seated grudge against them, especially as the rapid prosperity and marvellous experience of Israel showed that the blessing contained in the birthright was taking effect. It seems to have been a mean, dastardly, insidious surprise on the rear (Nu 24:20; De 25:17), and an impious defiance of God.
9. Moses said unto Joshua—or, "Jesus" (Ac 7:45; Heb 4:8). This is the earliest notice of a young warrior destined to act a prominent part in the history of Israel. He went with a number of picked men. There is not here a wide open plain on which the battle took place, as according to the rules of modern warfare. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe, making an irregular attack on a multitude probably not better trained than themselves, and for such a conflict the low hills and open country around this wady would afford ample space [Robinson].
10-12. Moses … went up … the hill … held up his hand—with the wonder-working rod; Moses acted as the standard bearer of Israel, and also their intercessor, praying for success and victory to crown their arms—the earnestness of his feelings being conspicuously evinced amid the feebleness of nature.
13. Joshua discomfited Amalek—Victory at length decided in favor of Israel, and the glory of the victory, by an act of national piety, was ascribed to God (compare 1Jo 5:4).
14-16. Write this for a memorial—If the bloody character of this statute seems to be at variance with the mild and merciful character of God, the reasons are to be sought in the deep and implacable vengeance they meditated against Israel (Ps 83:4).