As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. As long as Moses held up his handsThis phrase highlights the physical act of Moses raising his hands, which is symbolic of prayer and intercession. In Hebrew, the word for "hands" is "yad," often representing power or strength. The act of lifting hands is a gesture of dependence on God, acknowledging that victory comes not by human might but by divine intervention. Historically, this gesture is seen in various cultures as a sign of surrender or appeal, emphasizing the need for God's help in the battle against the Amalekites. Israel prevailed
The word "prevailed" in Hebrew is "gabar," meaning to be strong or to overcome. This indicates that Israel's success in battle was directly linked to Moses' intercession. Theologically, this underscores the principle that spiritual victory is achieved through reliance on God. The historical context of Israel's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land is marked by numerous challenges, and this victory serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people. but whenever he lowered his hands
The lowering of Moses' hands signifies a lapse in intercession, which correlates with a shift in the battle's outcome. This illustrates the importance of persistent prayer and reliance on God. The Hebrew root "raphah" for "lowered" can also mean to relax or let go, suggesting that spiritual vigilance is crucial for maintaining God's favor and support. Amalek prevailed
The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe, often seen as antagonists to Israel. The word "prevailed" here again is "gabar," but in this context, it highlights the consequences of spiritual neglect. Historically, the Amalekites' attack on Israel was unprovoked, symbolizing the constant spiritual warfare believers face. This serves as a reminder of the need for continuous prayer and dependence on God to overcome adversaries. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this passage, Moses plays a crucial role in the battle against the Amalekites by holding up his hands, symbolizing intercession and dependence on God. 2. IsraelitesThe people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. They are engaged in battle with the Amalekites in this passage. 3. AmalekitesA nomadic tribe that attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. They are often seen as representing opposition to God's people. 4. RephidimThe location where the Israelites camped and where the battle with the Amalekites took place. It is also the place where God provided water from the rock. 5. Aaron and HurMoses' brother and a leader among the Israelites, respectively. They supported Moses by holding up his hands when he grew weary, ensuring the victory of Israel. Teaching Points The Power of IntercessionMoses' raised hands symbolize intercession. Just as Moses interceded for Israel, believers are called to intercede for others, trusting in God's power to bring victory. Dependence on GodThe outcome of the battle depended on Moses' hands being raised, illustrating the need for reliance on God rather than human strength. Community SupportAaron and Hur's support of Moses teaches the importance of community and mutual support in the Christian life. We are not meant to fight our battles alone. Perseverance in PrayerMoses' persistence in keeping his hands raised, despite fatigue, encourages believers to persevere in prayer, even when it is challenging. Spiritual WarfareThe battle against the Amalekites represents the spiritual battles believers face. Victory comes through faith, prayer, and reliance on God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Moses' action of raising his hands relate to the concept of intercessory prayer in the New Testament? 2. In what ways can we support one another in our spiritual battles, similar to how Aaron and Hur supported Moses? 3. What does this passage teach us about the importance of perseverance in prayer and faith? 4. How can we apply the lesson of dependence on God in our daily lives, especially when facing challenges? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced victory through prayer and community support. How did this experience strengthen your faith? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 17:12-13These verses continue the account, showing how Aaron and Hur supported Moses, leading to Israel's victory. This highlights the importance of community and support in spiritual battles. 1 Timothy 2:8Paul encourages believers to lift up holy hands in prayer, connecting the physical act of Moses raising his hands to the spiritual act of prayer and intercession. Psalm 28:2David speaks of lifting his hands toward God's holy sanctuary, symbolizing prayer and dependence on God, similar to Moses' actions. Isaiah 35:3-4Encourages strengthening the weak hands and making firm the feeble knees, which can be related to the support Moses received from Aaron and Hur. People Aaron, Amalek, Amalekites, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, MosesPlaces Egypt, Horeb, Massah, Meribah, Nile River, Rephidim, SinaiTopics Amalek, Am'alek, Amalekites, Hands, Held, Israelites, Letteth, Lifted, Lifteth, Lowered, Mighty, Pass, Prevailed, Raised, Rest, Stronger, Whenever, WinningDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 17:11 5103 Moses, significance
8485 spiritual warfare, conflict Exodus 17:5-13 4512 staff Exodus 17:8-13 5214 attack
5776 achievement Exodus 17:8-15 5597 victory, act of God Exodus 17:8-16 1305 God, activity of Exodus 17:10-13 7924 fellowship, in service Exodus 17:11-13 8650 hands, lifting up Library Nature of the Renderings
From the text we now turn to the renderings, and to the general principles that were followed, both in the Old and in the New Testament. The revision of the English text was in each case subject to the same general rule, viz. "To introduce as few alterations as possible into the Text of the Authorised Version consistently with faithfulness"; but, owing to the great difference between the two languages, the Hebrew and the Greek, the application of the rule was necessarily different, and the results …
C. J. Ellicott—Addresses on the Revised Version of Holy ScriptureJehovah Nissi
'And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi [that is, the Lord is my Banner].' --EXODUS xvii. 15. We are all familiar with that picturesque incident of the conflict between Israel and Amalek, which ended in victory and the erection of this memorial trophy. Moses, as you remember, went up on the mount whilst Joshua and the men of war fought in the plain. But I question whether we usually attach the right meaning to the symbolism of this event. We ordinarily, I suppose, think …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The War of Truth
Now, beloved, this scene of warfare is not recorded in Scripture as in interesting circumstance to amuse the lover of history, but it is written for our edification; for we remember the text which says--"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our profit." There is some profit to be derived from this--and we believe a peculiar profit, too, since God was pleased to make this the first writing commanded by Divine authority as a record for generations to come. We think that the journeys …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 How Churches Can Help Ministers.
Text.--And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses's hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side: and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.--Exodus xvii. 11-13. You who read your Bibles will …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion Exhortation to Prayer.
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John Newton—Olney Hymns The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Intercessor
'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Reaction against Egypt
THE XIth DYNASTY: HARMHABI--THE HITTITE EMPIRE IN SYRIA AND IN ASIA MINOR--SETI I. AND RAMSES II.--THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA: MINEPHTAH AND THE ISRAELITE EXODUS. The birth and antecedents of Harmhabi, his youth, his enthronement--The final triumph of Amon and his priests--Harmhabi infuses order into the government: his wars against the Ethiopians and Asiatics--The Khati, their civilization, religion; their political and military constitution; the extension of their empire towards the north--The countries …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 5 Jehovah. The "I Am. "
WHEN Moses in the desert beheld the burning bush God answered his question by the revelation of His name as the "I Am." "And God said unto Moses, I am, that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exod. iii:14). He who spake thus out of the bush to Moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is no less person, than the I AM. If we turn to the fourth Gospel in which the Holy …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory "Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. "
Rom. viii. 7.--"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Unbelief is that which condemns the world. It involves in more condemnation than many other sins, not only because more universal, but especially because it shuts up men in their misery, and secludes them from the remedy that is brought to light in the gospel. By unbelief I mean, not only that careless neglect of Jesus Christ offered for salvation, but that which is the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [136] . Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it might not reign in heaven alone; even He by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, by whose suffering we are rescued from suffering, through whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we knew not, by whose gift we find those whom without knowing them we sought. …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Exodus 17:11 NIVExodus 17:11 NLTExodus 17:11 ESVExodus 17:11 NASBExodus 17:11 KJV
Exodus 17:11 Commentaries
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