Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Exodus 17

Exo 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

tempt the LORD

Temptation. vs. 2, 7; Num 14:22. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:2.)

Exo 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

the rock

The rock, type of life through the Spirit by grace:

1. Christ the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4).
2. The people utterly unworthy (Exodus 17:2; Ephesians 2:1-6).
3. Characteristics of life through grace:
   1. free (John 4:10; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-6);
   2. abundant (Romans 5:20; Psalm 105:41; John 3:16);
   3. near (Romans 10:8);
   4. the people had only to take (Isaiah 55:1).
   The smitten-rock aspect of the death of Christ looks toward the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a result of accomplished redemption, rather than toward our guilt. It is the affirmative side of John 3:16. "Not perish" speaks of atoning blood; "but have" speaks of life bestowed.

Christ (as Stone). 1Co 10:4. (Exo 7:16; 1Pe 2:8.)

smite the rock

Cf. Num 20:8; Psa 105:41; 114:8; Zec 13:7, 8; 1Co 10:4, 6.

shall come water out of it

Miracles (O.T.). vs. 5-7; Lev 10:1, 2. (Gen 5:24; Jon 2:1-10.)

Exo 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Massah

Deu 6:16.

Exo 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Amalek

Gen 36:12; Num 24:20; Deu 25:17; 1Sa 15:2.

Amalek, grandson of Esau (Gen 36:12), who was "born after the flesh" (Gal 4:22-29) and progenitor of the Amalekites, Israel's persistent enemy, is a type of the flesh in the believer (Gal 4:29). But the conflict with Amalek in chapter 17 sets forth the resources of the man under law, rather than those of the believer under grace. The man under law could fight and pray (Exo 17:9-12). Under grace the Holy Spirit gains the victory over the flesh in the believer's behalf (Rom 8:2-4; Gal 5:16, 17); but this victory is only as the believer walks in the Spirit. Acting in independency or disobedience, Amalek gains an easy victory (Num 14:42-45). Like Saul we are prone to spare the flesh (1Sa 15:8, 9), forgetting Rom 7:18. See "Flesh," Scofield John 1:13; Jude 1:23.

Exo 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

when Moses held up his hand

Heb 7:25.

Exo 17:12 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.

stayed up his hands

Deu 33:27; Isa 40:28-31.

Exo 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Write this for a memorial in a book

Inspiration. Exo 19:6, 7. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Exo 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

altar

Sacrifice (typical). Lev 1:3-17. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)