Thematic Bible
Exodus 17:1 (show verse)
The entire congregation of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as Jehovah commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
Exodus 17:2 (show verse)
So they complained to Moses about this: Give us water to drink! Moses said: Why do you complain to me? Why do you test Jehovah?
Exodus 17:3 (show verse)
The people were thirsty for water. They complained to Moses and asked: Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?
Exodus 17:4 (show verse)
Moses cried out to Jehovah: What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me!
Exodus 17:5 (show verse)
Jehovah said to Moses: Go in front of the people. Take the elders of Israel with you. Take your rod with which you struck the river, in your hand, and go.
Exodus 17:6 (show verse)
Behold! I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock and water will come out of it. Then the people may drink. Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:7 (show verse)
He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the complaining of the children of Israel, and because they tested Jehovah, saying: Is Jehovah among us or not?
Exodus 17:8 (show verse)
The Amalekites fought Israel at Rephidim.
Exodus 17:9 (show verse)
Moses said to Joshua: Choose some of our men. Then fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold in my hand the staff God told me to take along.
Exodus 17:10 (show verse)
Joshua did as Moses told him. They fought the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill.
Exodus 17:11 (show verse)
As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel would win, but as soon as he put his hands down, the Amalekites would start to win.
Exodus 17:12 (show verse)
Finally, Moses was so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. They stood beside him and supported his arms in the same position until sunset.
Exodus 17:13 (show verse)
That is how Joshua defeated the Amalekites.
Exodus 17:14 (show verse)
After the fight Jehovah said to Moses: Write an account of this victory and read it to Joshua. I want the Amalekites to be forgotten forever.
Exodus 17:15 (show verse)
Moses built an altar. He named it: Jehovah Gives Me Victory.
Exodus 17:16 (show verse)
Then Moses explained: This is because I depended on Jehovah. But in future generations, Jehovah will have to fight the Amalekites again.