Exodus 17
1 The whole community of the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded, and camped at Rephidim. But there was no water for the people to drink.
2 The people argued with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why are you arguing with me? Why are you putting the LORD to the test?”
3 The people were thirsty there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why did you bring us up from Egypt, to make me, my children, and my livestock die of thirst?”
4 Moses cried out to the LORD, “What am I to do with this people? A little longer, and they will stone me.”
5 The LORD said to Moses, “Go ahead of the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
6 I will be standing there before you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, and the people will drink.” Moses did this before the eyes of the elders of Israel.
7 He named that place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled there and put the LORD to the test, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.
9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some men for us and go out to fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
10 Joshua did as Moses had told him and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 Whenever Moses held his hand up, Israel prevailed; whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 Moses’ hands grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on each side. In this way his hands remained steady until sunset.
13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.
14 The LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a reminder, and make sure Joshua hears it: ‘I will completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’”
15 Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.
16 He said, “A hand is raised against the throne of the LORD: the LORD will wage war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
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