The Amalekites Attack

⁸ At Rephidim, Amalek^[a](A) came and fought against Israel. ⁹ 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.”

²⁰ Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

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)