Exodus 17

1The whole community of the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sin, traveling in stages as Yahweh commanded, and they camped at Rephidim. But there was no water for the people to drink.

2So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”

3But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

4Then Moses cried out to Yahweh, “What am I to do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!”

5Yahweh said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

6I will stand 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 in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7He named the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested Yahweh by saying, “Is Yahweh among us or not?”

8Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.

9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some men for us, and go out and fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

10So Joshua did as Moses had told him and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel was winning, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek was winning.

12When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands stayed steady until the sun went down.

13So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.

14Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a reminder, and make sure Joshua hears it, for I will completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

15Moses built an altar and named it Yahweh Is My Banner.

16He said, “A hand upon the throne of Yah! Yahweh will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation.”