Exodus 17:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe said to Y'hoshua, "Choose men for us, go out, and fight with 'Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with God's staff in my hand."

Berean Standard Bible:

So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”

American Standard Version:

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 my hand.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} said^{H559} unto Joshua^{H3091}, Choose us out^{H977} men^{H582}, and go out^{H3318}, fight^{H3898} with Amalek^{H6002}: to morrow^{H4279} I will stand^{H5324} on the top^{H7218} of the hill^{H1389} with the rod^{H4294} of God^{H430} in mine hand^{H3027}.

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Commentary for Exodus 17:9

**Exodus 17:9 Summary:**

**Themes:**
- **Divine Leadership and Delegation:** Moses, the leader of the Israelites, instructs Joshua, his military commander, to engage in battle against the Amalekites. This reflects Moses' role as a divinely appointed leader who delegates responsibility, entrusting Joshua with a significant task.
- **Faith and Trust in God:** Moses' plan involves a symbol of faith—holding the rod of God—indicating trust that God will intervene in the battle's outcome. This theme of faith is central to the narrative, as the Israelites must rely on God's power rather than their own strength.
- **Spiritual Warfare:** The conflict with the Amalekites is not just a physical battle but also a spiritual one, with Moses' actions on the hill symbolizing a supernatural element to the fight.
- **The Importance of Remembrance:** The Amalekites' attack on Israel becomes a historic event that God commands the Israelites to remember, as it symbolizes the perpetual enmity between the forces of good and evil.

**Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus Journey:** This event occurs during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. They have already crossed the Red Sea and received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.
- **The Amalekites:** They were a nomadic tribe known for their aggressive actions against the Israelites. This unprovoked attack is the first of many conflicts between Israel and Amalek, making it a significant event in Israel's history.
- **The Role of Joshua:** Joshua, later to succeed Moses as the leader of Israel, is here depicted as a loyal and capable lieutenant, foreshadowing his future leadership.
- **The Rod of God:** This staff, which Moses uses to part the Red Sea and bring water from a rock, is a symbol of God's power active in the world through His chosen instruments.

In this verse, Moses sets the stage for a battle that will test the Israelites' faith and demonstrate God's protection and provision for His people. The narrative underscores the importance of trusting in God and following His chosen leaders during times of conflict and uncertainty.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3091
   There are 199 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהוֹשׁוּעַ
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-shoo'-ah
   Description: or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ; from יְהֹוָה and יָשַׁע; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader; Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare הוֹשֵׁעַ, יֵשׁוּעַ.
   
4. Strong's Number: H977
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּחַר
   Transliteration: bâchar
   Pronunciation: baw-khar'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select; acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
   
5. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3898
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָחַם
   Transliteration: lâcham
   Pronunciation: law-kham'
   Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
   
8. Strong's Number: H6002
   There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֲמָלֵק
   Transliteration: ʻĂmâlêq
   Pronunciation: am-aw-lake'
   Description: probably of foreign origin; Amalek, a descendant of Esau; also his posterity and their country; Amalek.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4279
   There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָחָר
   Transliteration: mâchâr
   Pronunciation: maw-khar'
   Description: probably from אָחַר; properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter; time to come, tomorrow.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5324
    There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָצַב
    Transliteration: nâtsab
    Pronunciation: naw-tsab'
    Description: a primitive root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively); appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.
    
11. Strong's Number: H7218
    There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רֹאשׁ
    Transliteration: rôʼsh
    Pronunciation: roshe
    Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1389
    There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גִּבְעָה
    Transliteration: gibʻâh
    Pronunciation: ghib-aw'
    Description: feminine from the same as גֶּבַע; a hillock; hill, little hill.
    
13. Strong's Number: H4294
    There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַטֶּה
    Transliteration: maṭṭeh
    Pronunciation: mat-teh'
    Description: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe.
    
14. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
    
15. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.