Exodus 17

Chap. XVIII. ver. 2. — after he had sent her back.] He had probably done so at her desire, when she saw how difficult his enterprise was likely to prove in Egypt. Bp. Patrick. Or perhaps from the inn mentioned chap. iv. 24. Dr. Wells, Bp. Kidder.

Exodus 17:3

3. — Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up &c.] How necessary is it to preserve in our minds the remembrance of God and of His benefits! Had this people done so, they could not have fallen a third time into such discontent, as made them speak reproachfully of their deliverer, and slight the wonderful deliverance, which God had lately vouchsafed them, from a state of cruel and severe bondage. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 17:4

4. And Moses cried unto the Lord, &c.] There is no expostulating with an unreasonable multitude. Moses has recourse to Him, who was able at once to quench their thirst and to curb their fury. It is the best way to trust God with his own causes. If we be sure we have begun our enterprises from Him, we may securely cast all events on His providence, which knows how to dispose, and how to end them. Bp. Hall.

Exodus 17:5

5. — thy rod, wherewith thou smote the river.] This circumstance is added to strengthen the faith of Moses, that he might well expect this fresh wonder from the rod, which he had before proved to be miraculous. Nothing more raises up the heart in present affiance, than the recollection of favours or wonders passed. Bp. Hall.

6. — mount of God:] Horeb, where the Israelites were now encamped, was not far from Midian: for Moses led Jethro’s flock to this mount, chap. iii. 1. Bp. Patrick.

Before CHRIST 1491. b Chap. 2. 22. a stranger there. my God is an help. them.

Exodus 17:6

6. — I will stand before thee] The pillar of cloud, the sign of My presence among you, shall stand upon the rock. Bp. Kidder.

— Horeb.] This famous mountain is called indiscriminately in Scripture, Horeb and Sinai. The former seems to be the general name of the whole mountain, signifying “a desert” the latter appropriated to its highest summit. Thus the rock at Rephidim is called “the rock in Horeb.” And the law was given “in Horeb,” Deut. v. 2; but from “mount Sinai,” Exod. xix. 18, 23. Sinai is derived from Sene, “a bush,” Exod. iii. 2; or a bramble bush. Dr. Hales. See the note on chap. xix. 3.

— thou shalt smite the rock.] The Arabs shew a rock of red granite stone on the foot of mount Serich, discoloured, as if by the running of water, and with a sort of openings, or mouths, which appear not to be the work of a tool. They suppose this to be the rock here spoken of; and they call it the stone of Moses. Bp. Pecooke. It lies tottering, as it were, and loose in the middle of the valley; and seems formerly to have belonged to mount Sinai, which hangs in a variety of precipices all over this plain. Dr. Shaw.

— there shall come water out of it.] It may throw some light on this book, as well as contribute to our general admonition of Scripture, if we observe that the events recorded to have happened under the old dispensation are often strikingly prefigurative of those

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.

Exodus 17:8

8. Then came Amalek, &c.] In their passage out of Egypt, God would not lead the Israelites the nearest way, by the Philistines’ land, lest they should repent at the sight of war: now they both see and feel it. He knows how to make the fittest choice of the times of evil; and withholds that one while, which He sends another, not without a just reason, why He sends and withholds it. And though to us they come, ever as we think, unseasonably, and at some times more unfitly than others, yet He that sends them knows their opportunities. Bp. Hall.

— Amalek.] The Amalekites were descended from the eldest son of Esau, Gen. xxxvi. 12.

Exodus 17:9

9. — Joshua.] He is first noticed on this occasion. Dr. Hales. And seems to have been an eminent person now on their coming out of Egypt. Bp. Patrick.

— Choose us out men.] Moses does not say to Joshua, “Amalek is come up against us; it matters not, whether thou go against him or not; or if thou go, whether alone or with company; or if accompanied, whether with many or few, strong or weak; or if strong men, whether they fight or not; I will pray on the hill:” but he says, “Choose us out men, and go, fight.” Then only can we pray with hope, when we have done our best. And though the means cannot effect that, which we desire; yet God will have us use the likeliest means on our part to effect it. In vain shall Moses be on the hill, if Joshua be not in the valley. Prayer without means is a mockery of God. Bp. Hall.

N 2 Moses buildeth an altar. Jethro bringeth Moses’ wife. Before CHRIST 1491.

Exodus 17:10

10. — Hur] Josephus says he was the husband of Miriam. Certainly he was a person of wisdom and piety, or he would not have been joined with Moses and Aaron. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 17:11

11. — when Moses held up his hand, &c.] Not as a standard-bearer, so much as a suppliant, does Moses lift up his hand: the gesture of the body should both express and further the piety of the soul. And that the Israelites might see the hand of Moses had more efficacy in the fight than all their’s, their success rises and falls with it. Wonderful is the power of “the prayer of faith!” All heavenly favours are derived to us through this channel of grace: to it are we beholden for our peace, preservation, and all the rich mercies of God which we enjoy. Bp. Hall.

Exodus 17:14

14. — rehearse it in the ears of Joshua:] That he, who was to be the leader of God’s people after Moses, might never enter into any league with the Amalekites. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 17:16

16. — Because the Lord hath sworn] In the Hebrew the words are, “the hand upon the throne of the Lord:” which is commonly interpreted, “The Lord hath sworn by his throne;” for laying the hand upon the throne was a form of swearing. The marginal translation is very literal, and makes the sense exceeding plain and clear:

heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;