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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Exodus 17:11

When Moses held up his hand... Israel prevailed, &c. — In order to teach the lesson of the value of intercessory prayer, God made the fortunes of the fight to vary according as Moses “held up his hand,” or allowed it to sink down. It is not probable that the Israelites were directly affected by the bodily movements of Moses, or indeed could discern them, but Moses, Aaron, and Hur were struck by the fact that the fluctuations in the battle coincided with the motions of Moses’ hands.

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See also Exodus 17:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Exodus 17:11. _WHEN MOSES HELD UP HIS HAND_] We cannot understand this transaction in any _literal_ way; for the lifting up or letting down the hands of Moses could not, humanly speaking, influ...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The act represents the efficacy of intercessory prayer - offered doubtless by Moses - a point of great moment to the Israelites at that time and to the Church in all ages....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 17 AT REPHIDIM _ 1. The water from the rock (Exodus 17:1)_ 2. The conflict with Amalek (Exodus 17:8) From Sin they went to Dophkah and Alush before they came to Rephidim (Numbers 33:12). Aga...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 27. WATER FROM THE ROCK (Exodus 17 :1 P (Rephidim), Exodus 17:1 b - Exodus 17:2 a (strove, strive) E, Exodus 17:3 and Exodus 17:2 b (tempt) J,...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHEN. according as. HAND. Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint read "hands". Compare Exodus 17:12....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 90 THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS TYPICAL OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE Exodus 17:11. _And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek pre...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 17 And all the congregation of the children of Is-ra-el journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Je-ho-vah, and encamped...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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, that Israel prevailed ... The object of the le...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The holding up of Moses' hands signified an appeal to God in intercession. His holding up the 'rod of God' in his hand was, at the same time, an appeal to his fighting men to remember what God had alr...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    REPHIDIM. MURMURING FOR WATER. OPPOSITION OF AMALEK Leaving the maritime plain the Israelites now strike inland, and after halting at Dophkah and Alush (see Numbers 33:12) they come to Rephidim. This...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION THE *ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT EXODUS CHAPTER S 1 TO 18 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 17 WATER AT HOREB – VERSES 1-7 V1 All the *Israelites left the *dese...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ הָיָ֗ה כַּ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ים מֹשֶׁ֛ה יָדֹ֖ו

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WATER FROM THE ROCK; VICTORY OVER AMALEK Exodus 17:1 From the smitten rock flowed the water for the thirsty hosts. So the Rock of Ages was smitten, and from His riven side has flowed out blood and wa...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Another trial of their faith came to the people in the lack of water. In view of the fact that they had been provided with bread and flesh, it would seem as if they would have learned enough to be abl...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let (g) down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (g) So that we see how dangerous a thing it is to cease in prayer....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    And when Moses lifted up his hands. Here Moses was a figure of Christ on the cross, by whose power and mediation we overcome our spiritual enemies. (Challoner) --- Hands, forming the sign of the cross...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Moses was both a standard bearer and an intercessor for Israel, and as such represented the Lord Jesus. Isaiah 55:4....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is hardly a book of the Old Testament that stands out in more decided contrast with the book of Genesis than the one which follows it most closely. And this is the more striking, because God emp...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 16 AND 17. But now the difficulties of the way arrive. They travel three days without water-a sad effect, in appearance, of such a deliverance; and then the w...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN MOSES HELD UP HIS HAND, THAT ISRAEL PREVAILED,.... With his rod in it as a banner displayed, as some think, which inspired the Israelites with courage to fight, and they had...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Ver. 11. _When Moses held up his hand._] The push of Moses's prayers did more...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Hur_ A person of eminence, no doubt, but who he was is uncertain. Josephus, however, tells us, he was the husband of Miriam, _Antiq._, 50:3, chap. 2. _And when Moses held up his hand_ in prayer (so t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    The people murmure for water at Rephidim. 5 God sendeth him for water to the rocke in Horeb. 8 Amalek is ouercome by the holding vp of Moses hands. 15 Moses buildeth the Altar IEHOVAH Nissi. [MURM...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, in the attitude of fervent supplication, THAT ISRAEL PREVAILED, the tide of battle went in their favor; AND WHEN HE LET DOWN HIS HAND, AMALEK PREVAILE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE BATTLE WITH THE AMALEKITES...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FIFTH SECTION The journey through the wilderness to Sinai. Want of water. Marah. Elim. The Wilderness of Sin. Quails. Manna. Rephidim (Massah and Meribah). The Amalekites. Jethro and his advice, a hu...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    WATER FROM THE ROCK (vs.1-7) Bread has been provided for the people. Can God provide water also? Why did they not simply appeal to Him in fullest confidence that He would answer just as fully as He...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    MOSES HELD UP HIS HAND, with the rod of God in it. This gesture, though fervent prayer was doubtless joined with it, seems not to have been the gesture of praying, which is the lifting up of both hand...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 17:11 Moses H4872 up H7311 (H8686) hand H3027 Israel H3478 prevailed H1396 (H8804) down H5117 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A SUDDEN ATTACK FROM AN UNEXPECTED FOE (EXODUS 17:8). Up to this point the problems of the journey have been physical problems arising from the environment, but now the children of Israel are reminded...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Smitten rock at Meribah. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Hur. CONCLUSION: Fed by the Bread of Life; refreshed by the Water of Life (John 7:37) means victory for the believer in ever...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 17:1. _Rephidim._ The plain before Horeb, where the Israelites encamped before they removed to the plain opposite Sinai. Exodus 17:6. _Thou shalt smite the rock._ Horeb was the place where God...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 17:8 While Israel is camped at Rephidim (v. Exodus 17:8; compare v. Exodus 17:1), they are attacked by

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 17:9 The focus on Moses’ HAND(S) (vv. Exodus 17:9,...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 17:16. The Lord hath sworn.]—A far-fetched if not an impossible rendering. The words are literally— “For (or because) a hand upon (or against) the throne of Jah; War for Jeho...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE WAR WITH AMALEK. The Amalekites seem to have been descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:12). They separated themselves off from the other Edomites at an early date, an...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and they pitched in Rephidim: and there was no...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Psalms 56:9 Luke 18:1 1 Timothy 2:8 James 5:16...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And when Moses held vp his hand in prayer (so the Chaldee explains it) Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hand from prayer, Amalek prevailed — To convince Israel that the hand of Moses (with w...

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