k² v¹ 17:1-3. Coming of Israel & chiding of People. w¹ 4. Moses and Yahaveh. x¹ 5,6. Giving of water by Yehovah. y¹ 7. Memorial of Massah and Meribah. v² 8. Coming of Amelek and fighting with Israel. w² 9. Moses and Joshua. x² 10-13. Giving of victory by Yahaveh. y² 14-16. Memorial of victory. v³ 18:1-5. Coming of Jethro and message to Moses. w³ 6-12. Moses an Jethro. x³ 13-16. Giving of judgement by Moses. y³ 17-27. Memorial of Jethro's visit.
1: And all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment (Heb. "mouth", put for what is spoken by it) of the Lord (Yahaveh), and pitched in Rephidim (=reclining place. Two stations omitted here. Cp.17:1. Num.33:12-14): and there was no water for the People to drink.
2: Wherefore the People did chide with Moses (murmering was good policy. They would not "dig" [as at Beer and Elim] to "beg" they were not ashamed "Give us water"), and said, "Give us water that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you all chide with me? and why do you all put to the proof the Lord (Yahaveh)?"
3: And the People thirsted there for water; and the People murmured against Moses, and said, "Why is this that you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our sons and our cattle with thirst?"
4: And Moses cried to the Lord (Yahaveh), saying, "What shall I do to this People? they be almost ready to stone me (Heb. = "yet in a little while they will stone me". Moses, David, Jeremiah, Stephen, Paul, and the Lord Jesus suffered from stoning or its threatening).
5: And the Lord (Yahaveh) said to Moses, "Go on before the People,
and take with you of the elders of Israel; and your rod,
wherewith you smote the River, take in your hand, and go.
6: Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock
(A type of Christ. Frequently referred to [Deut.32:4,15,18,31,37. 1 Sam.2:2. Ps.18:2]. Rock of life [Deut.32:18]: Salavtion [2 Sam.22:47, &c.]: Refuge
[Ps.27:5; 62:6,7]: Rest and refreshment [Isa.32:2]. This is the anointed rock of Jacob's Pillar-Gen.28:18) in Horeb (see 3:1); and you shall smite the rock (Smitten only once. When you ask for forgiveness of your sins, only ask once for those particular sins. To ask twice is to doubt whether Christ's shed blood and sacrifice is able to purchace forgiveness. Cp. Isa.53:4. Zech.13:7. Yahaveh on the Rock = God in Christ [2 Cor.5:19]. No water till
smitten [Ps.78:20. John 7:38,39; 12:24), and there shall come water out of it (Water from the rock. Fire out of the rock [Judg.6:21]. Honey from the rock [Ps.81:16]. Oil from the rock [Deut.32:13]), that the People may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7: And he called the name of the place Massah (=temptation. Temptation of God), and Meribah, (=strife. Strife with Moses) because of the chiding of the sons of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord (Yahaveh) (i.e. tempting Yahaveh to cut them off), saying, "Is the Lord (Yahaveh) among us, or not?"
8: Then came Amalek (Cp. Gen.21:25 and Judg.5:11. Amalek came to fight for the water. Cp. Deut.25:17,18. Amalek was behind and attacked the rear, and he "feared not God", Deut.25:8. Amelek put for the Amalekites by Fig. Synecdoche. At Rephidim, they got water plus Amalek; and Meribah, water plus Edom. A type of Anti-Christ), and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9: And Moses said to Joshua (first occ. [250 times in all]. Heb. Yahshua. Now 53 years of age. Hence a bondman in Egypt.27 years younger than Moses. Type of Christ), "Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek (there was a large population in the peninsula at this time. A wilderness, a place of pasture, not a desert): tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God (Elohim) in my hand."
10: So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought
with Amalek: and Moses (prophet), Aaron (priest), and Hur (royal tribe, Judah. Heb. noble or well-born. The son of Caleb, the son of Hezron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah [1 Chron.2,3,4,5,18,19]. Josephus makes him the husband of Miriam and grandfather of Bezaleel [Ex.31:2; 35:30; 38:22) went up to the top of the hill.
11: And it came to pass, according as Moses held up his
hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12: But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone,
and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the
going down of the sun.
13: And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Heb. "mouth". Sword in the Plain: Rod of God on the mount [v.9]: Yehovah above all v.6)
14: And the Lord (Yahaveh) said to Moses, "Write (first occ. The tablets found at Lachish and Tel-el-Amarna show that writing of a high order was fully developed before the time of Moses) this for a memorial in the book (This writng afterward ordered for "the Book of the Law" [24:4,7]. See notes below, where the history of that Book is traced from this passage to Malachi), and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven."
It is an allegation of the "Higher" Criticism (which dispences with documentary and/or Manuscript evidence, and therefore differs altogether from "Textual" Criticism) that the five Books known as the Pentateuch were not written by, or during the time of Moses, but in the time of king Manasseh, or even a late as Ezra.
But a definate "book" is spoken of throughout the Old Testament as being constantly written in, with directions how it was to be added to and kept up by the prophets raised up from time to time for that purpose, among others.
The first occurance is in Exodus 17:14. To this, in the margin, all the others are referred back. They are given below, so that the chain may be examined link by link and its completeness and perfection seen.
1. Ex.17:14. Written by Yahaveh's command (cp. deut.25:19). Heb. "the book" (bassapher).
2. Ex.24:4,7. Written by Moses, and "the book of the covenant sprinkled", with the people.
3. Ex.35:27. Yahaveh's command, "Write you."
4. Num.33:1,2. Written by Mses "by the commandment of Yahaveh." From the first three onths of the first year to last quarter of the 40th year (cp. Deut.1:2,3 with 2:14).
5. Deut.1:5. The word "declare" = set forth plainly, and implies writing (the word occurs only in Deut.27:8 and Hab.2:2), and includes Deut.1:6 to 33:29.
6. Deut.4:8 includes more than his book of Deuteronomy, and 4:2 must refer to what was written (cp. 26:16; 29:21).
7. Deut.17:18. The book kept "before the priests the Levites", and to be copied by the king. This was the standard copy (31:9,25,26); to be read at the Feast of Tabernacles in the Sabbatic years (31:10-13).
8. Deut.31:19,22,24. "The song of Moses" to be written (cp. the reason, vv.16-18). Ascribed to Yahaveh.
9. Josh.1:8. "This book of the law" came into the custody of Joshua cp. 1-8) as distinct from the book of Joshua, and containing, not Deuteronomy merely, but he whole "book of the Law" as thus traced above (cp. Ps.1:2. Luke 24:44).
10. Josh.8:30-35. A copy of the law made from "the book" on the rocks in mount Ebal.
11. Josh.23:6,7 again referred to.
12. Josh.24:26. Joshua himself "wrote in the book", and doubtlessly added Deut.34.
13. 1 Sam.10:25. Samuel continued the writing in "the book". (So the Hebrew).
14. 1 Kings 2:1-4. David charges Solmon with regard to this "written" law of Moses.
15. 2 Chron.17:7-9. Jehosaphat sent the princes, Levites, and priests, and they "taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of Yahaveh with them."
16. 2 Chron.23:11 (2 Kings 11:12). It was gven to Joash according to Deut.17:18.
17. 2 Chron.25:4 (2 Kings 14:6) Amaziah spared the children of his father's murderers according to "that which was written in the book of the law of Moses." (cp. Deut.24:4).
18. 2 Chron.30:2,5,18. Hezehiah's passover kept in second month as "It was written". This was written in Num.9:6-14.
19. 2 Chron.35:12. Josiah's passover kept "as it is written in the book of Moses."
* 20. 2 Kings 17:37. "The law...which He wrote for you", i.e. Yehovah (cp. v.35).
21. 2 Kings 22:8. "hilkiah, the high priest...found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." In v.10 "Shaphan read it before the king" (Josiah). Huldah the prophetess confirms this reference (vv.14-20). In 2 Chron.34:14 it is described as "the book of the law of Yehovah by the hand of Moses."
22. Jeremiah referrs to this event when he speaks, as in ch.15:16.
23. Isiah refers to this book as, in his day, a "sealed" book (29:11-3). The Lord Jesus refers to this as opposed t the "precepts of man" (Matt.15:1-9. Mark 7:1-13).
24. Ezra ascribes the law to Moses. Cp. 3:2 (Num.28:29); 6:18; 7:6,10,14,21,25. And all is to be done according to it (cp. 10:3 with 9:11,12. Lev.18:24-30, and Deut.23:3-6).
25. In Esther 3:8, the laws were extant (existed), and known as "diverse from all people."
26. Nehemiah (1:7-9) speaks to Yahaveh of the "statutes and judgements He gave by Moses."
27. Neh.8:8. The book is read according to its requirements.
28. Neh.8:14,17. The Feast of Tabernacles was kept according to Lev.23:39-43.
29. Neh.10:2,29. A solemn covenant was made "to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God."
30. Neh.13:1. "They read in the book of Moses" conserning the law as written in Deut.23:4.
31. Daniel in his prayer (9:11) refers tot he curse fulflled on the nations as "written i the law of Moses the servant of God."
32. Mal.4:4 completes the cycle, and refers all to Horeb where the people recieved the law (as distinct from Sinai, where Moses recieved it), and to Moses by whom it was given (not to Ezra or some "Redactors" of a latter day).
15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it
Yahaveh-nissi: (="Yahaveh is my banner". One of the Yahaveh Titles)
16: For he said, "Because GOD (Yah) has sworn that the Lord
(Yahaveh) will have war with Amalek from generation to
generation." (The margins of the A.V. & R.V. show the perplexity caused by the Ellipsis of the verb. "Surely the hand lifted up upon the banner of Yah is to swear: for the war of Yehovah against Amelek is to be from generation to generation". So it was. It was carried on by Ehud [Judg.3:13,15], Barak [Judg.5:14], Gideon [Judg.6:3; 7:12-14], Saul [1 Sam. 15:2-9, cp. v.11], Samuel [1 Sam.15:32,33], David [1 Sam.27:8; 30:1,17. 2 Sam8:12],
Simeonites [1 Chron.4:42,42], and Mordecai [Est.3:1-6;
9:7-10)
(This chapter is a parenthesis. Introduced here because, Jethro, though he lived among the Amalakites, yet was not under their curse [17:14-16]. The event occured between vv.10 & 11 of Num.10. Jethro's counsel was given, and taken, when Israel was ready to depart from Sinai [Deut.1:7-14]. )
6: And one said to Moses, "Behold, your father in law
Jethro comes to you, and your wife, and her two sons with
her."
7: And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did
obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of
their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8: And Moses told his father in law all that Yahaveh had
done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake,
and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord (Yahaveh) delivered them.
9: And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord (Yahaveh) had done to Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand
of the Egyptians.
10: And Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord (Yahaveh) (Fig. Benedicto. An expression of feeling by way of benidiction or blessing), Who has delivered you out of the hand (put for power, 3 times mentioned) of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the People from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11: Now I know that the Lord (Yahaveh) is greater (magnitude attrbuted to God) than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly He was above them."
12: And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt
offering and sacrifices for Elohim: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in
law before God (Elohim).
13: And it came to pass on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the People: and the People stood by Moses from the morning even until the evening.
14: And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to
the People, he said, "What is this thing that you do to the People? why do you sit yourself alone, and all the People stand by you from morning even until evening?"
15: And Moses said to his father in law, "Because the
People come to me to enquire of God (Elohim):
16: When they have a matter, they come to me; and I
judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God (Elohim) (i.e. those before Sinai), and His laws."
17: And Moses' father in law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.
18: You will surely wear away, both you, and this People
that is with you: for this thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it yourself alone.
19: Listen now to my voice, I will give you counsel,
and God (Elohim) shall be with you: Be you for the people to Go-ward
(Elohim), that you may bring the causes to (Elohim):
20: And you shall teach them the Ordinances and the Laws, and shall shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21: Moreover you shall provide out of all the People able men, such as revere God (Elohim), men of truth, hating
covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of
thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and
rulers of tens:
22: And let them judge the People at all seasons: and it
shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to
you, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it
be easier for yourself, and they shall bear the burden
with you.
23: If you shall do this thing, and God (Elohim) command you
so, then you shal be able to endure, and all this
People shall also go to their place in peace."
24: So Moses listened to the voice of his father in law,
and did all that he had said.
25: And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made
them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of
hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26: And they judged the People at all seasons: the hard
causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they
judged themselves.
27: And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went
his way into his own land.}
2: For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
3: And Moses went up to God (Elohim) (Heb. ha-’Elohim = Supreme God. Moses' first ascent. See note below), and the Lord (Yehovah) called (the only occ. of this
expression in Exodus. In 3:4 it is "Elohim called") to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the house of Israel;
It will be seen that we have here the first occurance of this expression, and the first six ascents and descents of Moses to recieve and give His [God's] Laws and ordinances. The following is a summary:-4: 'You all have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings (cp. Deut.32:11,12), and brought you to Myself.
Ascents Descents
19:3-6. 1st 19:7,8.
19:-8-13. 2nd 19:14-19.
19:20-24. 3rd 19:25.
24:9-32:14. 4th 32:15-30.
32:31-33. 5th 32:34-34:3.
34:4-28. 6th 34:29-35.
Note that the two sets of three each are marked by the two great events: the giving of the Law, and the setting up of the Tabernacle; while the 4th and 6th ascents are marked by the giving of the first and second tables.
The 4th an 6th ascents are the fullest, and recieve special expansion.
God's People:- A seperated People. Ex.33:16. A People of inheritance. Deut.4:20. A special People. Deut.7:6. A purchased People. Ex.15:16; Ps.74:2. A holy People. Deut.7:6; 14:1. A redeemed People. Ex.15:13. A sanctified People. Isa.63:18.6: And you all shall be to Me a kingdom of priests (not the genitive of chacter, which would be priestly kingdom. But the Fig. Antiptosis = "a royal priesthood", as explained in 1 Pet.2:9. The whole nation being a priest with resect to other nations, as the tribe of Levi for Israel. Now in abeyance, because Israel did not fulfil the condition in v.5. But in the future it will be realized-Isa.61:6; 66:21), and an holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the house of Israel."
7: And Moses came (Moses' first descent) and called for the elders of the People, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord (Yahaveh) commanded him.
8: And all the people answered together, and said, "All
that the Lord (Yahaveh) has spoken we will do."
And Moses returned (Moses' second ascent) the words of the People to the Lord (Yahaveh).
9: And the Lord (Yahaveh) said to Moses, "Lo, I come to you in a
thick cloud, that the People may hear when I
speak with you, and believe you forever."
(Cp. Rom.10:7. "Faith comes by hearing.") And Moses told the words of the People to the Lord (Yahaveh).
10: And Yahaveh said to Moses, "Go to the People, and
sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their
clothes,
11: And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord (Yehovah) will come down in the sight of all the People upon
mount Sinai.
12: And you shall set bounds to the people round about, saying, "Take heed to yourselves, that you all go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death:
13: There shall not an hand touch it (=him, i.e. not arrested or seized lest trespass on mount incurred), but he shall surely be stoned (cp. Gen.26:28), or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live:' when the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount."
14: And Moses went down (second descent) from the mount to the People, and sanctified the People; and they washed their clothes.
June 5-6th.
15: And he said to the People, "Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives."
June 6-7th.
16: And it came to pass on the third day in the morning,
that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud
upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding
loud; so that all the People that was in the camp
trembled.
17: And Moses brought forth the People out of the camp to meet with God (Elohim); and they stood at the lower part of the
mount.
18: And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord (Yahaveh) descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof
ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount
quaked greatly.
19: And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and
waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God (Elohim) answered him by a voice. (Heb. denotes repeated speaking, and thus tells us how the next and following chapters were given to Moses)
25: So Moses went down (Moses' third descent) to the People, and repeated these things to the People.