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| 1 And all the company of the sons of Israel journey from the wilderness of Sin, on their journeyings, by the command of Jehovah, and encamp in Rephidim, and there is no water for the people to drink; |
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| 2 and the people strive with Moses, and say, 'Give us water, and we drink.' And Moses saith to them, 'What ye strive with me, what ye try Jehovah ' |
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| 3 and the people thirst there for water, and the people murmur against Moses, and say, 'Why [is] this thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to put us to death, also our sons and our cattle, with thirst.' |
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| 4 And Moses crieth to Jehovah, saying, 'What do I to this people yet a little, and they have stoned me.'
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| 5 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Pass over before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel, and thy rod with which thou hast smitten the River take in thy hand, and thou hast gone: |
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| 6 Lo, I am standing before thee there on the rock in Horeb, and thou hast smitten on the rock, and waters have come out from it, and the people have drunk.' And Moses doth so before the eyes of the elders of Israel, |
Smite the rock – The rock was a picture of Christ-who was smitten that the water of life might flow from Jesus for all of Adam's race who would become Israelites indeed. R5957:3, R5285:1; PD34/45
As the waters of that rock followed the Israelites, so God's favor, through Christ, refreshes his people throughout their wilderness journey. R5285:2
Here by the Lord's direction. The second time (Num. 20:2-12) he was to "speak to the R3077:3
Christ is smitten but once for our sins. If, for a reason, the waters stop, the Rock should be invoked, in the name of the Lord, to start gushing anew. R3077:4
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| 7 and he calleth the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the 'strife' of the sons of Israel, and because of their 'trying' Jehovah, saying, 'Is Jehovah in our midst or not ' |
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| 8 And Amalek cometh, and fighteth with Israel in Rephidim, |
Came Amalek and fought – As one branch of Esau's family, they were related to the Israelites and to the Arabs of today. R4207:2
The Amalekites, a warlike people, considered the coming of Israel as an invasion of their country and attacked them in battle. R5285:2
Similarly, spiritual Israelites have conflicts with the world, the flesh and the devil. R5285:2
With Israel – A people used to peaceful pursuits would naturally be at a disadvantage in conflict with such opposition. R5285:2
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| 9 and Moses saith unto Joshua, 'Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I am standing on the top of the hill, and the rod of God in my hand.' |
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| 10 And Joshua doth as Moses hath said to him, to fight with Amalek, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur, have gone up [to] the top of the height; |
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| 11 and it hath come to pass, when Moses lifteth up his hand, that Israel hath been mighty, and when he letteth his hands rest, that Amalek hath been mighty. |
When Moses – The antitypical Moses is the antitypical Mediator, Christ. R2681:6
Held up in his hand – In prayer to God for the people. R5285:2
Israel prevailed – God thus indicated that Moses was the advocate of Israel, and that without him they could do nothing. We, too, have an advocate. R5285:2
In the antitype, spiritual Israelites have conflicts with enemies too mighty for them without the Lord's assistance-the world, the flesh, and the devil. R5285:2
Amalek prevailed – When Moses ceased to pray the Amalekites were the victors--showing our dependence on Christ. R5285:2
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| 12 And the hands of Moses [are] heavy, and they take a stone, and set [it] under him, and he sitteth on it: and Aaron and Hur have taken hold on his hands, on this side one, and on that one, and his hands are stedfast till the going in of the sun; |
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| 13 and Joshua weakeneth Amalek and his people by the mouth of the sword. |
And Joshua – Type of the "great deliverer, " Christ. A79
Amalek – Symbolizing the wilful sinners of the Millennial age. F174
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| 14 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Write this, a memorial in a Book, and set [it] in the ears of Joshua, that I do utterly wipe away the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens;' |
In a book – The first definite information with reference to the Sacred Writings, later preserved in the side of the Ark. (Deut. 31:25) R1145:3
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| 15 and Moses buildeth an altar, and calleth its name Jehovah-Nissi, |
Jehovah-nissi – Banner of Jehovah. E43
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| 16 and saith, 'Because a hand [is] on the throne of Jah, war [is] to Jehovah with Amalek from generation generation.' |
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