Bible Chapter Summary
Exodus 17 Summary
Water from the Rock and Amalek Defeated
At Rephidim the Israelites find no water and quarrel bitterly with Moses, who cries out to the LORD on their behalf. God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his rod, and water flows out for the people to drink; Moses names the place Massah and Meribah because the people tested the LORD. When the Amalekites attack Israel at Rephidim, Joshua leads Israel's fighters in battle while Moses stands on a hilltop with the rod of God; as long as Moses holds his hands up Israel prevails, so Aaron and Hur support his hands until sunset, and Joshua defeats Amalek. The LORD commands Moses to record the victory as a memorial and declares perpetual war against Amalek, after which Moses builds an altar and names it Jehovah-nissi.
Key themes
Key verses
Exodus 17:6
“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.”
Exodus 17:7
“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?”
Exodus 17:11
“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”
Exodus 17:15
“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:”
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