| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| |
|
| 1 And all the assembly of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, according to their journeys, at the command of Jehovah; and they encamped in Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink. |
|
| 2 And the people contended with Moses, and said, Give us water, that we may drink! And Moses said to them, Why do ye dispute with me? Why do ye tempt Jehovah? |
|
| 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why is it that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? |
|
| 4 And Moses cried to Jehovah, saying, What shall I do with this people? Yet a little, and they will stone me! |
|
| 5 And Jehovah said to Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel, and thy staff with which thou didst smite the river, take in thy hand, and go. |
|
| 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock on Horeb; and thou shalt strike the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did 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
|
| 7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they had tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not? |
|
| |
|
| 8 And Amalek came 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
|
| 9 And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us men, and go out, fight with Amalek; to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand. |
|
| 10 And 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. |
|
| 11 And it came to pass when Moses raised his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. |
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
|
| 12 And Moses' hands were heavy; then they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on this side, and one on that side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. |
|
| 13 And Joshua broke the power of 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
|
| 14 And Jehovah said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot 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
|
| 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi. |
Jehovah-nissi – Banner of Jehovah. E43
|
| 16 And he said, For the hand is on the throne of Jah; Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation! |
|