seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Exodus 17:8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”
15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Here's the link to the commentary I read.Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim: This was an unprovoked attack by the Amalekites against Israel. In response, Moses called Joshua to lead the armies of Israel into battle, to defend the nation against the attack from Amalek.
“In the most treacherous and dastardly manner; for they came at the rear of the camp… The baggage, no doubt, was the object of their avarice; but finding the women, children, aged and infirm persons, behind with the baggage, they smote them and took away their spoils.” (Clarke)
So Joshua did as Moses said to him: This is the first passage that mentions Joshua. We find him doing what he did until the time Moses passed from the scene — Joshua served the LORD and Moses faithfully.
Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill: They did this so they could see, so they could be seen, and so that they could pray. Aaron was the brother of Moses, and some think Hur was his brother-in-law.
I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven: Amalek had a special guilt and shame in their attack against Israel.
- Amalek had the shame of being the first nation to make war against Israel.
- Amalek had the shame of going out of their way to attack Israel.
- Amalek had the shame of actually fighting against God.
Esau's grandson led the first attack against the Israelites.
The Israelites, according to the commentaries, had never been attacked before. Joshua had no real experience. He turned out to be a military genius, with the backing of God, of course.
The commentaries say, no one considers Joshua when reading these verses. The commentaries say everyone gets enthralled by Moses, Aaron and Hur. Apparently, Hur was the brother-in-law of Moses. So, Moses' brother and brother-in-law held Moses' arms up so the stick he carried would somehow encourage the troops that God was leading the battle.
Once again... do you think the Israelites thought God was leading the victory? Or do they think that stick was ruling the battlefield? Do you think some of the Israelites considered grabbing a stick of their own to have as a personal god? They had been in Egypt for a long time.
So, Esau's grandson attacked Jacob's family as Jacob's tribes left the bondage of Egypt to go back to Canaan, the land Jacob stole from his older brother Esau.
Esau and Jacob were Isaac's sons. Jacob stole Esau's inheritance and his blessing when Isaac was on his deathbed. Esau vowed to murder Jacob. He didn't get the opportunity. Now the grandkids are duking it out in the desert between Egypt and Canaan.
Nobody remembers Joshua's heroics on the battlefield. They only remember how Moses had to hold up the stick. They only remember how tired poor Moses got.
So, Esau's grandkids battled Jacob's grandkids in the desert between Egypt and Canaan.
A lot of family died that day. Esau's family lost again.
And Moses had to have help...
Holding up the stick.
