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(1).
The provision of water.
In a country like Arabia water is precious, and its possession eagerly sought. Parallel
cases may be found in Gen. 21: 25, where we find Abimelech's servants violently
taking away the wells of water from Abraham. Deborah's song includes a reference to
this perennial cause of conflict:--
"Instead of the shouting of the archers among the wells, There they laud the righteous
acts of Jehovah" (Judges 5: 11, Companion Bible).
(2).
The tempting of the Lord.
"Then" reads immediately after the question, "Is the Lord among us or not?" The
flesh takes immediate advantage of the beginnings of unbelief, of murmuring and
complaining.
Amalek was overcome by two means:--
(1:)
The intercession of Moses.
(2:)
The warfare under Joshua.
Bishop Hall's comment here is:--
"I do not hear Moses say to this Joshua, Amalek is come up against us, it matters not
whether thou go up 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, whether they
fight or no: I will pray on the hill; but choose us out men, and go fight."
In the conflict with the flesh the weapons must be those of God's appointment, and
neither prayer alone, nor conflict alone can prevail. As Moses' hands were raised, so
Israel's fight succeeded. As Moses' hands sank, so Israel's fight failed.
Three noteworthy features close the narrative:--
(1:)
The command to write the record in a book.
(2:)
The revelation of the name Jehovah-nissi.
(3:)
The reason given for Amalek's extermination.
"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" (Exod. 17: 14).
Joshua was the instrument in the hand of the Lord to divide the land of promise for an
inheritance to Israel. His greatest activities were spent in the subjugation of the
Canaanites, and all those who opposed the possession of the land. This possession was
not to be considered complete until Amalek had been destroyed, Moses reminds Israel:--