Exodus 17
A battle with the Amalekites

Amalek was Esau's grandson. His descendants were called the Amalekites. The Amalekites fought with the Israelites at the place called Rephidim.
[8] Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.


Joshua was a young man who helped Moses. Moses told Joshua to get some other men and go fight the Amalekites. The Israelites were not good soldiers. They had never been in a war or fight before. But Moses said he would be standing on top of the hill to help.
[9] 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.


Joshua did what Moses told him to do. Moses, Aaron, and another man named Hur went up on top of the hill where they could watch the fight. Moses had his rod in his hand (the same rod that God used to work the miracles in Egypt and in the Red Sea). When Moses held his hand and the rod up, Israel was winning the fight. When Moses moved his hand down, the Amalekites were winning the fight.
[10] So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
[11] And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.


The fight was long, and Moses was getting tired. He was too tired to hold his arms up. So Aaron and Hur helped him. Aaron held up one of Moses' arms, and Hur held up the other arm.
[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.


Joshua and his army of Israelites defeated the Amalekites. The Lord told Moses to write down in a book about this battle. God said He would destroy the Amalekites. Moses built an altar to God and named the altar Jehovah-nissi. This name means "The Lord is my banner."
[13] And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
[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.
[15] And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:
[16] For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from  generation to generation