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| 1 And all the assembly of the sons of Israel set forward out of the desert of Sin, by their removings, at the bidding of Yahweh,–and encamped in Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. |
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| 2 And the people found fault with Moses, and said–Give us water, that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why should ye find fault with me? Why should ye put Yahweh to the proof?
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| 3 So the people thirsted, there, for water, and the people murmured against Moses,–and said–Wherefore is it that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill me and my sons, and my cattle, with thirst? |
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| 4 And Moses made outcry unto Yahweh, saying, What am I to do, with this people? Yet a little, and they will stone me. |
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| 5 Then said Yahweh unto Moses–Pass over before the people, and take, with thee, some of the elders of Israel,–thy staff also, wherewith thou didst smite the river, take thou in thy hand, so shalt thou go thy way. |
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| 6 Behold me! standing before thee, there, upon the rock in Horeb, then shalt thou smite the rock, and there shall come forth therefrom water, and the people shall drink. And Moses did so, in the sight 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 So he called the name of the place, Massah, and Meribah,–because of the fault-finding of the sons of Israel, and because of their putting Yahweh to the proof, saying, Is Yahweh in our midst, or is he not? |
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| 8 Then came in Amalek,–and fought 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 said unto Joshua–Choose for us men, and go forth, fight with Amalek,–tomorrow, am, I, stationing myself upon the top of the hill, with the staff of God in my hand. |
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| 10 So Joshua did, as Moses had said to him, to fight with Amalek,–and, Moses, Aaron and Hur, went up to the top of the hill. |
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| 11 And it shall be, when Moses shall lift on high his hands, then shall Israel prevail, but, when he shall let down his hands, then shall Amalek prevail. |
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 But, the hands of Moses, were weary, so they took a stone, and put under him, and he sat thereupon,–and, Aaron and Hur, upheld his hands–on this side, one, and, on that side, one, and so his hands became steady, until the going in of the sun. |
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| 13 So Joshua overthrew Amalek and his people, with the edge 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 Then said Yahweh unto Moses–Write this as a remembrancer in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua–that I will, wipe out, 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 built an altar,–and called the name thereof, Yahweh-nissi. |
Jehovah-nissi – Banner of Jehovah. E43
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| 16 And he said–Because of a hand against the throne of Yah, Yahweh hath war with Amalek,–from generation to generation! |
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