Ex. 17:2 The people again quarrel with Moses. He wonders why they continue to test the Lord (see also v. 7). They show a hardness of heart like Pharaoh and the Egyptians, which is how Ps. 95:7–9 describes these events.
Ex. 17:6 at Horeb. See note on 3:1. I will stand before you there on the rock. A further example of God’s promise to Moses, “I will be with you” (3:12). The Lord’s presence presumably was in the pillar of cloud (see 13:21–22). Because of God’s promise to stand there “on the rock,” some interpreters see a close identification between God’s presence and the rock itself. The command, you shall strike the rock, is therefore understood as a command to strike God himself, the source of the life-giving water that flowed from the rock.
Ex. 17:7 The place where these events happened will bear names that reflect the events (see esv footnotes). The names will be a reminder for the people.
Ex. 17:8–16 While Israel is camped at Rephidim (v. 8; compare v. 1), they are attacked by the people of Amalek, who inhabited the northern Sinai peninsula (Gen. 14:7).
Ex. 17:9 This is the first mention of Joshua, who will act as an assistant to Moses (see 24:13; 33:11). He will be among the few who are faithful in the wilderness (see Num. 14:6–9, 30). He will succeed Moses, leading Israel into Canaan (see Josh. 1:1–9).
Ex. 17:9–13 The focus on Moses’ hand(s) (vv. 9, 11, 12) indicates two things that the Israelites need to take to heart: (1) Moses is the Lord’s choice to lead Israel (notice that Moses’ hands relate to who prevailed; v. 11); and (2) the Lord is bringing about their deliverance through Moses (signified by the staff of God in Moses’ hand).
Ex. 17:14–16 No explicit reason is given for the severity of the Lord’s judgment on Amalek. (But see note on Josh. 6:17–18.) A later reference to the event (Deut. 25:17–19) says that Amalek “did not fear God,” having attacked the people of Israel who were trailing behind and tired from the journey. The Amalekites still posed a threat to Israel in the days of Saul and David (1 Sam. 15:3).
The ESV Global Study Bible
Copyright © 2012 by Crossway.
All rights reserved.
Used by permission.
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
Loading
Loading
Interlinear |
Bibles |
Cross-Refs |
Commentaries |
Dictionaries |
Miscellaneous |