New Living Translation
Exodus 17:9
9Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”
Exodus 17:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
- New International Version (NIV)Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
Context of Exodus 17:9
7Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?” 8While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” 10So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. 11As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.
Read all of Exodus 17Exodus 17:9 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ בְּחַר־לָ֣נוּ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְצֵ֖א הִלָּחֵ֣ם בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק מָחָ֗ר אָנֹכִ֤י נִצָּב֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וּמַטֵּ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
- Choose us outבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
- menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- and go outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
- with Amalekעֲמָלֵק‛ămâlêq · AmalekH6002
- to morrowמָחָרmâchâr · tomorrowH4279
- I will standנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
- on the topרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: topH7218
- of the hillגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · hillH1389
- with the rodמַטֶּהmaţţeh maţţâh · tribe: rodH4294
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- in mine handיָדyâd · handH3027
Cross-references for Exodus 17:9
- Exodus 17:13As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
- Exodus 24:13So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.
- Numbers 11:28Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since his youth, protested, “Moses, my master, make them stop!”
- Numbers 13:16These are the names of the men Moses sent out to explore the land. (Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by the name Joshua.)
- Deuteronomy 32:44So Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song to the people.
- Acts 7:45Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.
- Hebrews 4:8Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come.
- Numbers 31:3So Moses said to the people, “Choose some men, and arm them to fight the Lord’s war of revenge against Midian.
- Exodus 4:2Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.
Commentaries on Exodus 17:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Moses said unto Joshua - This is the first place in which Joshua the son of Nun is mentioned: the illustrious part which he took in Jewish affairs, till the settlement of his countrymen in the promised land, is well known. He was captain-general of the Hebrews under Moses; and on this great man's death he became his successor in the government. Joshua was at first called Hoshea, Numbers 13:16, and afterwards called Joshua by Moses. Both in the Septuagint…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Joshua - This is the first mention of the great follower and successor of Moses. He died at the age of 110, some 65 years after this transaction. His original name was Hosea, but Moses calls him by the full name, which was first given about forty years afterward, as that by which he was to be known to succeeding generations. From this it may perhaps be inferred that this portion of Exodus was written, or revised, toward the end of the sojourn in the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-16Verses 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 up, as the banner to encourage the soldiers. Also to God, by way of appeal to him. Moses was tired. The strongest arm will fail with being long held out; it is God only whose hand is stretched out still. We do not find that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Joshua was the trusted assistant of Moses (33:11). Joshua would later become his successor (Deuteronomy 31:7–8). This early experience was important training for leading the people during the conquest of the land. The Hebrew name Joshua, which means “savior,” is equivalent to the Greek name Jesus (see also study note on Hebrews 4:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Moses said unto Joshua--or, "Jesus" (Ac 7:45; He 4:8). This is the earliest notice of a young warrior destined to act a prominent part in the history of Israel. He went with a number of picked men. There is not here a wide open plain on which the battle took place, as according to the rules of modern warfare. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe, making an irregular attack on a multitude probably not better trained than themselves, and for such a…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 17:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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