And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink. Ver. 1. _After their journeys,_] i.e., After they had first been at Dop... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? Ver. 2. _The people did chide with Moses._] As they did before for bread. And as thirst is the more eager appetite, so they are more... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? Ver. 3. _Murmured against Moses._] Magistrates have many times a weary life with the mut... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. Ver. 4. _Ready to stone me._] Well might he ask with our Saviour, "For which of my good works do ye stone me?" Joh 10:32 But the belly hath no ears.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Ver. 5. _Take with thee of the elders._] As witnesses of this great work of God; which the people for their unbelief might no... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _Upon the rock._] If God had not stood upon the rock, in vain had Moses struc... [ Continue Reading ]
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Ver. 7. _Is the Lord among us?_] As if that could not be, and they athirst. But he is most present when he afflicts. "H... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. Ver. 8. _Then came Amalek._] Not having the fear of God before his eyes, Deu 25:18 but carried on by the ancient enmity: for Amalek was Esau's grandchild.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. Ver. 9. _I will stand on the top._] Where the people might see him with that ensign in his hand, and be encouraged. Xerxes used to pitch his... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _Aaron, and Hur._] This Hur, saith Josephus, was husband to Miriam, and Moses's deputy. Exo 24:14 _ Went up to the top of a hill._] To pray together. In the congregati... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Ver. 11. _When Moses held up his hand._] The push of Moses's prayers did more than the pikes of all Israel besides. _Moses orat et vincit, cessat et vincitur,_ saith one. Great... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 12. But Moses's hands were heavy.] It... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Ver. 13. _And Joshua discomfited._] How should he do otherwise when he fought with such weapons Prayers are the _bombardae et instrumenta bellica Christianorum,_ saith Luther i the great guns and warlike weapons of the saints.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Ver. 14. _In a book._] Or, In the book that thou art now in writing, viz., the Pentateuch, the most ancient book that... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: Ver. 15. _And Moses built an altar._] As a lasting monument of God's great mercy in that first victory. The Romans had a custom, that the conqueror in his triumphant chariot rode to the capitol, and offered a white ox to Jupiter. _a_... [ Continue Reading ]
For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn [that] the LORD [will have] war with Amalek from generation to generation. Ver. 16. _Because the Lord, &c._] Heb., The hand upon the throne of the Lord. God's hand is laid upon his own throne, as swearing to root out Amalek. Or Amalek's hand is lifted up aga... [ Continue Reading ]