Exodus 17:10, commentary and pictures

Joshua obeyed Moses by leading chosen soldiers from the tribes to fight Amalek the next day, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill overlooking the battle. On the hill Moses stood with God's rod and raised his hands toward heaven in prayer, so that fighting in the valley below was joined with intercession above. As long as his hands were stretched upward Israel prevailed and drove the enemy back, but when fatigue let them fall Amalek prevailed, showing that success came not from human power or the rod itself but from God fighting for His people and giving victory in answer to prayer. Yet divine strength was joined with human effort, for Joshua and his men fought actively with the sword below while Aaron and Hur held up Moses' weary hands until sunset, until Amalek was defeated and put to flight. The uplifted hands declared openly that Israel's help and destiny were in God alone as their acknowledged Leader and Guide, calling His people to take no glory to themselves but to look to Him continually in faith and to hold up His workers today by prayer.

Battle Setting and Background

Joshua acted exactly as Moses had told him, taking command of soldiers chosen from the tribes to meet Amalek in battle on the next day, while Moses with Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill overlooking the field where the fighting could be watched. The arrangement divided the work between the valley and the height, with Joshua leading Israel's soldiers against the Amalekites below as Moses directed, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur taking their place on the hill above. Action in the battle below was thus joined from the outset with intercession above, as Moses stood with God's rod and raised his hands toward heaven in prayer for Israel.

This engagement was the first war between Israel and Amalek in the wilderness, in which the Amalekites were the first to attack Israel there. The attack came after Israel murmured over its need for water, and God allowed their enemies to make war with them because of their unbelief. The purpose in permitting the war was to show Israel that its strength came from Him rather than from itself.

Amalek's course was marked by cruelty, defiance of God, and idolatry, which led God to pronounce sentence against them through Moses. They also boasted that Israel's God could not deliver His people, and for that defiant boast God appointed their destruction by the very people they had despised.

Victory Through Trusting God

On the hill Moses stood with the rod of God and lifted his hands toward heaven in prayer, entreating God for help, so that the fighting in the valley below was joined with intercession above. While his hands were held up Israel prevailed and drove the enemy back, and only as long as they were stretched upward did that advantage continue. When weariness let them fall, Amalek prevailed and gained the advantage.

The outcome shows that Israel's success depended not on its own power but on God's direction and support, with God himself fighting for his people, subduing their enemies, and giving strength and victory in answer to prayer. The strength was not in the rod nor in human power, and letting go of hold on God to trust in self would leave his people weaker than those who did not know him. The uplifted hands openly declared to Israel, to its enemies, and to all around that Israel's help was in God, that God alone held Israel's destiny and was its acknowledged leader. To him they were to look as their guide in the pillar of cloud and to trust the living God for help and victory.

While the hands were up Israel had vitality, strength, and power, and the victory was given by the angels of God, the principalities and powers. Divine strength still had to be joined with human effort and preparation, for Joshua and his followers actively fought with the sword below while Moses prayed above. In that union of prayer and action Joshua defeated Amalek.

Support and Present Duty

Aaron and Hur stayed beside Moses on the hill and held up his weary hands, keeping them steady until sunset until Israel won completely and the enemy was put to flight. Aaron's part in holding up the leader's hands in the battle with Amalek is the same service remembered elsewhere.

Their support showed Israel its duty to sustain Moses in his arduous work of receiving God's word for them and leading them. It teaches the value of faithful companions who sustain a weary servant through faith and prayer. The verse means that when God's workers today go forth into the harvest field, those who remain at home must hold up their hands by prayer for them and must not neglect this duty.

The lesson is to take no glory to self but to reach up both hands of faith to God and look to Him and trust Him continually. That trust does not set aside effort, for the battle is still to be pressed to the gate as though having something to do.