Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Exodus 17:1
CHAPTER XVII
The Israelites journey from the wilderness of Sin to
Rephidim, 1,
where they murmur for lack of water, 2, 3.
Moses asks counsel of God, 4,
who commands him to take his rod and smite the rock, 5,
and promises that water should proceed from it for the people to
drink, 6.
The place is called Massah and Meribah, 7.
The Amalekites attack Israel in Rephidim, 8.
Joshua is commanded to fight with them, 9.
Moses, Aaron, and Hur go to the top of a hill, and while Moses
holds up his hands, the Israelites prevail; when he lets them down,
Amalek prevails, 10, 11.
Moses, being weary, sits down, and Aaron and Hur hold up his
hands, 12.
The Amalekites are totally routed, 13,
and the event commanded to be recorded, 14.
Moses builds an altar, and calls it JEHOVAH-NISSI, 15.
Amalek is threatened with continual wars, 16.
NOTES ON CHAP. XVII
Verse Exodus 17:1. Pitched in Rephidim] In Numbers 33:12-4 it is said, that when the Israelites came from Sin they encamped in Dophkah, and next in Alush, after which they came to Rephidim. Here, therefore, two stations are omitted, probably because nothing of moment took place at either. Numbers 33:12, Numbers 33:12; and "Numbers 33:13".