Exodus 17:9
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So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Two passages of story are recorded in this chapter, I. The watering of the host of Israel. 1. In the wilderness they wanted water (Exo 17:1). 2. In their want they chided Moses (Exo 17:2, Exo 17:3). 3. Moses cried to God (Exo 17:4). 4. God ordered him to smite the rock, and fetch water out of that; Moses did so (Exo 17:5, Exo 17:6). 5. The place named from it (Exo 17:7). II. The defeating of the host of Amalek. 1. The victory obtained by the prayer of Moses (Exo 17:8-12). 2. By the sword of Joshua (Exo 17:13). 3. A record kept of it (Exo 17:14, Exo 17:16). And these things which happened to them are written for our instruction in our spiritual journey and warfare.
Open source ↗17:9-13 This victory was a gift from God, as the description here makes clear. The determining factor was God’s blessing, as indicated by Moses’ upraised hands. This principle was illustrated again and again in the conquest of the land of Canaan. Without God’s blessing, Israel could do nothing (see Num 14:42-45; Josh 7:10-12). 17:9 Joshua was Moses’ trusted assistant (33:11) who would eventually become his successor (Deut 31:7-8). This early experience was important training for leading the people later in the conquest of the land. The Hebrew name Joshua, which means “savior,” is equivalent to the Greek name Jesus (see also study note on Heb 4:8).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God.
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
Then Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.
And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,
Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.