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Exodus 17
1 The whole community of the sons of Israel moved from their camp in the desert of Zin at Yahweh’s command, to travel the further stages; and they pitched camp at Rephidim[*a] where there was no water for the people to drink.
2 So they grumbled against Moses. ‘Give us water to drink’ they said. Moses answered them. ‘Why do you grumble against me? Why do you put Yahweh to the test?’
3 But tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses. ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt?’ they said. ‘Was it so that I should die of thirst, my children too, and my cattle?’
4 Moses appealed to Yahweh. ‘How am I to deal with this people? he said. ‘A little more and they will stone me!’
5 Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go.
6 I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.’ This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 The place was named Massah and Meribah[*b] because of the grumbling of the sons of Israel and because they put Yahweh to the test by saying, ‘Is Yahweh with us, or not?’
A battle against the Amalekites
8 The Amalekites[*c] came and attacked Israel at Rephidim.
9 Moses said to Joshua, ‘Pick out men for yourself, and tomorrow morning march out to engage Amalek. I, meanwhile, will stand on the hilltop, the staff of God in my hand.’
10 Joshua did as Moses told him and marched out to engage Amalek, while Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage; when he let his arms fall, the advantage went to Amalek.
12 But Moses’ arms grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him and on this he sat, Aaron and Hur supporting his arms, one on one side, one on the other; and his arms remained firm till sunset.
13 With the edge of the sword Joshua cut down Amalek and his people.
14 Then Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Write this action down in a book to keep the memory of it, and say in Joshua’s hearing that I shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’
15 Moses then built an altar and named it Yahweh-nissi
16 because he said, ‘Lay hold of the banner of Yahweh! Yahweh is at war with Amalek from age to age!’