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| 1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Jehovah, and encamped in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. |
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| 2 Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? and wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah? |
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| 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? |
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| 4 And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they are almost ready to stone me. |
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| 5 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go. |
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| 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may 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 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not? |
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| 8 Then came 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 us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. |
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| 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. |
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| 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up 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
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| 12 But Moses' 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. |
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| 13 And Joshua discomfited 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 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. |
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 of it Jehovah-nissi; |
Jehovah-nissi – Banner of Jehovah. E43
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| 16 and he said, Jehovah hath sworn: Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. |
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