The Amalekites Attack

At Rephidim, Amalek[a](A) came and fought against Israel. Moses said to Joshua,(B) “Select some men for us and go fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with God’s staff in my hand.”

10 Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 While Moses held up his hand,[b] Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand[c] down, Amalek prevailed.(C) 12 When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army[d] with the sword.

14 The Lord then said to Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven.”(D)

15 And Moses built an altar(E) and named it, “The Lord Is My Banner.”[e] 16 He said, “Indeed, my hand is lifted up toward[f] the Lord’s throne. The Lord will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 17:8 A semi-nomadic people descended from Amalek, a grandson of Esau; Gn 36:12
  2. Exodus 17:11 Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read hands
  3. Exodus 17:11 Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read hands
  4. Exodus 17:13 Or people
  5. Exodus 17:15 Or Yahweh-nissi
  6. Exodus 17:16 Or hand was on, or hand was against; Hb obscure

The Amalekites Defeated

The Amalekites(A) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.(B) Moses said to Joshua,(C) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff(D) of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur(E) went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,(F) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.(G) 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite(H) army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(I) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out(J) the name of Amalek(K) from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar(L) and called(M) it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites(N) from generation to generation.”(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 17:16 Or to
  2. Exodus 17:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Amalek was first among the nations,(A)
but his future is destruction.

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Balaam’s Fifth Message

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(A) and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
    but their end will be utter destruction.”(B)

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Revenge on the Amalekites

17 “Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the journey after you left Egypt.(A) 18 They met you along the way and attacked all your stragglers from behind when you were tired and weary. They did not fear God. 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest(B) from all the enemies around you in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance,(C) blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven. Do not forget.(D)

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17 Remember what the Amalekites(A) did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.(B) 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest(C) from all the enemies(D) around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek(E) from under heaven. Do not forget!

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