- Book: [[Exodus]] - Previous chapter: [[Exodus 16]] - Next chapter: [[Exodus 18]] > [!summary] Summary > - [[Israel]] quarrels with [[Moses]] over water at [[Rephidim]]; [[Yahweh]] provides water from a rock at [[Horeb]] > - The place is named [[Massah]] ("testing") and [[Meribah]] ("quarreling") — [[Israel]]'s question: "Is the Lord among us or not?" > - [[Joshua]] fights the [[Amalekites]] while [[Moses]], [[Aaron]], and [[Hur]] keep [[Moses]]' hands raised; [[Israel]] wins > [!info] Why is this here? > - The water crisis reveals [[Israel]]'s persistent doubt in God's provision despite repeated evidence > - The question "Is the Lord among us or not?" sits at the heart of the wilderness period — and points forward to the [[Tabernacle]] as [[Yahweh]]'s answer > - The [[Amalek]] battle is won not by [[Joshua]]'s tactics but by [[Moses]]' upraised hands — intercession and dependence on God # Overview ## v. 1-7: Water from the rock - [[Israel]] camps at [[Rephidim]] with no water; they quarrel with [[Moses]] and test God - [[Moses]] cries out to God: "They are almost ready to stone me" - God instructs [[Moses]] to strike the rock at [[Horeb]] with his staff; water flows - [[Moses]] names the place [[Massah]] ("testing") and [[Meribah]] ("quarreling") > [!note] "Is the Lord among us or not?" > This question — born of thirst — is the fundamental wilderness question. It will be answered definitively when God's glory fills the [[Tabernacle]] in [[Exodus 40]]. The whole second half of Exodus is God constructing his answer to [[Massah]]/[[Meribah]]. ## v. 8-13: Battle with the [[Amalekites]] - [[Amalek]] attacks [[Israel]] at [[Rephidim]] - [[Moses]], [[Aaron]], and [[Hur]] go to the hilltop; [[Joshua]] leads the fighting force - When [[Moses]]' hands are raised, [[Israel]] wins; when they drop, [[Amalek]] advances - [[Aaron]] and [[Hur]] hold up [[Moses]]' hands — one on each side — until sunset; [[Joshua]] wins ## v. 14-16: Memorial and divine war - God commands the victory to be written and read to [[Joshua]] — a lasting record - [[Moses]] builds an altar: "The Lord is my Banner" - God declares eternal war against [[Amalek]]