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The Israelites Murmur for Water. (b. c. 1491.)
THE ISRAELITES MURMUR FOR WATER. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, I. The strait that the children of Israel were in for want of water; once before the were in the like distress, and now, a second time, Exodus 17:1. They journeyed…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7
Trial and failure. I. THE PURPOSE OF RECURRING TRIALS. Israel, tried before at Marah, is now led from the comforts of Elim to the thirsty land of Rephidim. They might have learned something of their own heart and of God…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7
EXPOSITION THE SECOND MUMURING FOR WATER. When the Israelites had come to Rephidim which was probably in the Wady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady Esh-Sheikh, complaint arose, not, as at Marah (Exodus 15:23), tha…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1
From the wilderness of Sin. See the comment on Exodus 16:1. The sandy coast tract (El Murka) was probably quitted in lat. 28° 42' nearly, and the Wady Feiran entered on at its south-western extremity. Two stations, Doph…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7
Water out of the rock. "They did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4). When man is at his last gasp, perishing for…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7
The giving of water in Rephidim. I. OBSERVE HOW THE PEOPLE CAME TO REPHIDIM. There is a distinct intimation that it was according to the commandment of Jehovah. He it was who led them where there was no water to drink,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7
Christ our Spring. "They drank of that spiritual rock," etc. (1 Corinthians 10:4). Introduction may deal with the following important items, as all leading up to the theme of the homily—the journey from Sin to Rephidim…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:1-7
The water from the rock. The Israelites pursued their journey to the mount of God. It was— 1. By stages—"after their journeys." It is well to discipline the mind to look at life as a succession of stages. "Most people c…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:2
The people did chide. I.e. "quarrelled," made open murmurs and complaint—as before frequently (Exodus 14:11, Exodus 14:12; Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2, Exodus 16:3). Give us water. As Moses had already given them flesh (t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:3
The people thirsted there for water. There is probably no physical affliction comparable to intense thirst. His thirst was the only agony which drew from the Son of Man an acknowledgment of physical suffering, in the wo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:4
And Moses cried unto the Lord. It is one of the most prominent traits of the character of Moses, that, at the occurrence of a difficulty, he always carries it straight to God. (See Exodus 15:25; Exodus 24:15; Exodus 32:…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:5
Go on before the people. "Leave the people," i.e; "where they are, in Rephidim, and go on in front of them, with some of the elders as witnesses, that the miracle may be sufficiently attested." On the other occasion, wh…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:6
That rock was Christ. In the statement of Paul—"They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4)—we have a clear assertion of the typical character of this transaction…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand before thee there. A visible Divine appearance seems to be intended, which would guide Moses to the exact place where he should strike. The rock in Horeb must have been a remarkable object, already…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:7
He called the name of the place Massah. Massah is from the root nasah, "to try," or "tempt," and means "trial" or "temptation." Meribah is from rub, "to chide, quarrel," and means "contention, chiding, strife." Moses ga…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:7
They tempted God in the desert. Illustration. Child cries; parent sends for doctor; pleasant medicine is prescribed. Later the child cries again; cry is apparently addressed to parent, but real aim is to see if the doct…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 17:8-16
Israel engaged with Amalek in their own necessary defence. God makes his people able, and calls them to various services for the good of his church. Joshua fights, Moses prays, both minister to Israel. The rod was held…
The Conflict with Amalek; The Defeat of Amalek. (b. c. 1491.)
THE CONFLICT WITH AMALEK; THE DEFEAT OF AMALEK. (B. C. 1491.) We have here the story of the war with Amalek, which, we may suppose, was the first that was recorded in the book of the wars of the Lord, Numbers 21:14. Ama…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16
EXPOSITION THE WAR WITH AMALEK. The Amalekites seem to have been descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:12). They separated themselves off from the other Edomites at an early date, and became the predom…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:8
Then came Amalek. The bulk of the Amalekites would have been passing the spring in the lower plains, where herbage is abundant after the early rains, while later in the year it dries up. They would hear of the threatene…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:8-13
The uselessness of fighting against God. Amalek was "the first of the nations" in audacity, in venturesomeness, perhaps in military qualities, but scarcely in prudence or longsightedness. Amalek must precipitate its qua…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16
Christ our Banner. "Jehovah-Nissi." Exodus 17:15. Historical introduction: The Amalekites—their territory—reasons why they barred Israel's way. 1. Fear. 2. Religious animosity—incidents of the engagement—the two memoria…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16
Amalek. Various circumstances are to be noted in connection with this attack of Amalek on Israel. 1. It was unprovoked. "Then came Amalek" (Exodus 17:8). 2. It was unfriendly. The Amalekites were descended from a grands…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16
The discomfiture of Amalek in Rephidim. I. AMALEK'S IGNORANCE OF THE RESOURCES OF ISRAEL. Amalek attacked Israel in Rephidim. Rephidim stands very well as the type of all places and positions where human resources appea…