Exodus 17:8 - Meaning and Application

Here we have the account of the war with Amalek. It was likely the first battle recorded in “the book of the wars of the Lord” (Numbers 21:14). Amalek was the first nation Israel fought against (Numbers 24:20).

First, notice Amalek’s attack. “They came out and fought with Israel” (Exodus 17:8). The Amalekites were descendants of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birthright and blessing. This attack was part of that inherited hostility, a lasting hatred that had been passed down. It may also have grown stronger because God’s promise to Jacob was moving toward fulfillment.

This attack was Israel’s trouble, but it was also Amalek’s sin. Israel had been arguing with Moses (Exodus 17:2), and now God allowed Amalek to quarrel with them. Wars outside often punish strife and unrest inside. Amalek did not face Israel openly like a fair enemy. Instead, without any provocation, they struck the rear, where the weak and weary were left behind, and attacked those who could not defend themselves or escape.

In doing this, Amalek mocked the power that had just destroyed Egypt. But they were foolish to attack a camp protected and supplied by miracles. They did not understand what they were doing.

Next, consider Israel’s defense against Amalek. Joshua, the first time he is mentioned here, was given command in this battle. He was chosen to lead a group of picked men, so he could be trained for the work he would later do after Moses died. He was to be a warrior from his youth. At one time, when the Egyptians chased Israel, the people were told to stand still and watch what God would do. Now they were told to act. God must be trusted, but he also uses means, including human effort.

Moses took his place on the hill with the rod of God in his hand (Exodus 17:9). God gives different kinds of service for the good of his church: Joshua fought, and Moses prayed. Both served Israel. Moses likely stood where the people could see him, lifting the rod that had worked signs in Egypt and had led Israel out of slavery. He raised it before the people to encourage them. They could look up and remember the great things God had already done for them.

He also held up the rod toward God, as if appealing to him: “Is not the battle the Lord’s?” The rod seemed to say, “Lord, put on your strength” (Isaiah 51:9-10). Moses was not only a banner-bearer, but also an intercessor, asking God for success and victory. When God’s people go out against the enemy, earnest prayer should rise to the God of armies for his presence with them. The prayerful force is the one that truly thunders. In the place where prayers are made, victory is won (Psalm 76:2-3).

Moses grew weary. His hands became heavy (Exodus 17:12). Even a strong arm grows tired if held up long enough. Only God’s hand remains stretched out without failing. Joshua’s hands are not said to have grown weary in battle, but Moses’s hands grew weary in prayer. Spiritual work often wears us out most. Prayer, when done with real focus and strong feeling, is hard work. Though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. Our great Intercessor in heaven never tires, though he is always at this very work.

Moses’s raised hand affected the battle (Exodus 17:11). When he held up his hand in prayer, Israel prevailed. When he lowered it, Amalek prevailed. This showed Israel that Moses’s hand, not just their own weapons, was helping their safety. His rod mattered more than their sword. For a time, the outcome shifted back and forth. Even the best cause may suffer setbacks along the way. Though the battle belongs to the Lord, Amalek may seem to win for a time. That happened because Moses let down his hands. In general, the church’s cause is more or less successful as its friends are stronger in faith and more earnest in prayer.

Moses was also supported in his weakness. When he could stand no longer, he sat on a stone, not in a seat of honor (Exodus 17:12). When he could not keep his hands up, others held them for him. Aaron, Moses’s brother, and Hur, likely his brother-in-law and the husband of Miriam, helped him. We should not be unwilling to ask for help or to give it, since we belong to one another. Moses’s hands stayed up until sunset. Though it took great effort for him to endure, God accepted his willing heart. It must have encouraged the people to see Joshua in the field below and Moses above on the hill. Christ is like both for us, our Joshua, the captain of our salvation who fights for us, and our Moses, who lives above and keeps interceding so that our faith will not fail.

Amalek was finally defeated. The battle had swung back and forth between the two camps, but Israel won the day (Exodus 17:13). Joshua fought under many disadvantages. His men were untrained, poorly armed, long used to slavery, and quick to complain. Yet God gave them a great victory and made Amalek pay for his arrogance. Weapons formed against God’s people cannot succeed forever. In the end, God’s cause and his people will win. Though God gave the victory, it says Joshua defeated Amalek, because Joshua was a picture of Christ. In Christ, we are more than conquerors. It was Christ’s power alone that stripped away the powers and rulers and broke their strength.

Moses also made sure that God would receive the glory for the victory.

Instead of setting up a victory arch to honor Joshua, though that would have been fitting, Moses built an altar to honor God. We can suppose that sacrifice was offered there as well, but what is most carefully recorded is the name on the altar, Jehovah-nissi, meaning, “The Lord is my banner.” This likely points to the rod of God being lifted up like a banner in the battle. The Lord’s presence and power were the banner under which Israel fought, the strength that united them and kept them going, and so they raised that banner on the day of victory. In the name of our God, we must always lift up our banners (Psalm 20:5). It is right that the One who does the work should receive all the praise.

God also made sure future generations would benefit from what happened. He said, “Write this as a memorial,” not on loose scraps of paper, but in a book. Moses was to write it down and then repeat it in Joshua’s hearing, entrusting Joshua with the memory so it could be passed on to later generations. This is the first clear mention of writing in Scripture, and the command may have come after the law was written on the stone tablets. It was to be written so the event would be remembered forever, because what is written remains.

Moses was to write what had already happened, what Amalek had done against Israel. He was to record Amalek’s bitter hatred and cruel attack, and also God’s saving help for Israel. Future generations were to know that God fights for his people, and that anyone who touches them touches the apple of his eye.

He was also to write what would happen later. Amalek would in time be completely ruined and wiped out (Exodus 17:14), so that he would be remembered only in history. Amalek had wanted to cut off Israel’s name so it would no longer be remembered (Psalm 83:4, Psalm 83:7), but God turned that plan back on him and cut off his own name. This was written to encourage Israel whenever the Amalekites troubled them, so they would know that Israel would finally triumph when Amalek fell. This judgment was carried out in part by Saul (1 Samuel 15) and completely by David (chapter 30; 2 Samuel 1:1; 2 Samuel 8:12). After that, we do not read even of Amalek’s name.

In the meantime, God would keep up a lasting conflict with Amalek. The reason given is that Amalek laid his hand on the throne of the Lord, meaning he attacked the camp of Israel, where the Lord ruled and was present among his people. That camp was the place of God’s sanctuary, and Scripture calls it a glorious high throne from the beginning (Jeremiah 17:12). So the Lord declared that he would have war with Amalek from generation to generation. This was written to warn Israel never to make peace with the Amalekites, but to treat them as enemies set for destruction. Amalek’s downfall pointed ahead to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his kingdom. Whoever makes war against the Lamb will be overcome by the Lamb.