Exodus 17 · Verse 8

Exodus 17:8

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Exodus 17:8, King James Version

Exodus 17:8 in other translations

BSBAfter this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
WEBThen Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
ASVThen came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
YLTAnd Amalek cometh, and fighteth with Israel in Rephidim,
DARBYAnd Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
BBEThen Amalek came and made war on Israel in Rephidim.
WebsterThen came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

What does Exodus 17:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ex 17:8-16. Attack of Amalek.

8. Then came Amalek--Some time probably elapsed before they were exposed to this new evil; and the presumption of there being such an interval affords the only ground on which we can satisfactorily account for the altered, the better, and former spirit that animated the people in this sudden contest. The miracles of the manna and the water from the rock had produced a deep impression and permanent conviction that God was indeed among them; and with feelings elevated by the conscious experience of the Divine Presence and aid, they remained calm, resolute, and courageous under the attack of their unexpected foe. fought with Israel--The language implies that no occasion had been furnished for this attack; but, as descendants of Esau, the Amalekites entertained a deep-seated grudge against them, especially as the rapid prosperity and marvellous experience of Israel showed that the blessing contained in the birthright was taking effect. It seems to have been a mean, dastardly, insidious surprise on the rear (Nu 24:20; De 25:17), and an impious defiance of God.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel - The Amalekites seem to have attacked the Israelites in the same way and through the same motives that the wandering Arabs attack the caravans which annually pass through the same desert. It does not appear that the Israelites gave them any kind of provocation, they seem to have attacked them merely through the hopes of plunder. The Amalekites were the posterity of Amalek, one of the dukes of Eliphaz, the son of Esau, and consequently Israel's brother, Gen 36:15, Gen 36:16. Fought with Israel - In the most treacherous and dastardly manner; for they came at the rear of the camp, smote the hindmost of the people, even all that were feeble behind, when they were faint and weary; see Deu 25:18. The baggage, no doubt, was the object of their avarice; but finding the women, children, aged and infirm persons, behind with the baggage, they smote them and took away their spoils.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16
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 Joshua's hands were heavy in fighting, but Moses' hands were heavy in praying; the more spiritual any service is, the more apt we are to fail and flag in it. To convince Israel that the hand of Moses, whom they had been chiding, did more for their safety than their own hands, his rod than their sword, the success rises and falls as Moses lifts up or lets down his hands. The church's cause is more or less successful, as her friends are more or less strong in faith, and fervent in prayer. Moses, the man of God, is glad of help. We should not be shy, either of asking help from others, or of giving help to others. The hands of Moses being thus stayed, were steady till the going down of the sun. It was great encouragement to the people to see Joshua before them in the field of battle, and Moses above them on the hill. Christ is both to us; our Joshua, the Captain of our salvation, who fights our battles, and our Moses, who ever lives, making intercession above, that our faith fail not. Weapons formed against God's Israel cannot prosper long, and shall be broken at last. Moses must write what had been done, what Amalek had done against Israel; write their bitter hatred; write their cruel attempts; let them never be forgotten, nor what God had done for Israel in saving them from Amalek. Write what should be done; that in process of time Amalek should be totally ruined and rooted out. Amalek's destruction was typical of the destruction of all the enemies of Christ and his kingdom.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Exodus 17:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'and it cameH935
עֲמָלֵ֑ק'a.ma.LekAmalekH6002
וַיִּלָּ֥חֶםvai.yi.La.chemand it joined battleH3898
עִם\־'im-withH5973
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
בִּרְפִידִֽם\׃bir.fi.Dimat RephidimH7508

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 17:8

  • Deuteronomy 25:17-19

    Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.

  • Genesis 36:12

    And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.

  • Numbers 24:20

    And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

  • 1 Samuel 15:2

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

  • 1 Samuel 30:1

    And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

  • Genesis 36:16

    Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.

  • Psalms 83:7

    Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ge 36:12,16; Nu 24:20; De 25:17; 1Sa 15:2; 30:1; Ps 83:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 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?

  • Exodus 17:8

    Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

  • Exodus 17:9

    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.

Read all of Exodus 17

Exodus 17:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vino Amalec, y peleó con Israel en Rephidim.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Amalek vint, et combattit contre Israël, à Rephidim.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es kam Amalek und stritt wider Israel in Rephidim.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Venit autem Amalec, et pugnabat contra Israël in Raphidim.