trust in an "arm of flesh," while, ne,·ertheless, Ver. ~3.-Amalek and his people-i.e. " the he sent his soldiers to the combat. Amalekites proper, and the tribes subject to Yer. 10.-Xur. Hur hRS not been men- them, who fought on their side." tioned hitherto. According to one Jewish Ver. 14.-Write this in a book. The tradition, he was the son, according to original has, "Write this in t.he book." It is another, the husband of Miriam. Scripture clear that a book already existed, in which onlv tells us of him, that he was descended Moses entered events of interest, and thst now from Judah, through Caleb the son of Hezron he W>IS divinely commanded to record in it (l Chr. ii. 18-20), and that his grandson, the great victory over Amalek, and the three.t Beza.lee!, was the artificer of the tabernacle utt~red against them. The record was to be (Ex. xxxi. 2). He is a.gain associated with for a memorial-I. that the victory itself Aaron in eh. xx.iv. 14. might be held in remembrance through all Ver. 11.-Wben Moses held up his hand, future ages, as a very signal instance of God's . . . Israel prevailed. The elevation of mercy ; and 2, that when the falfilment of Moses· hand, with the rod held in it, was an the threat cs.me (1 Chr. iv. 43), God m,ight appeal to God for aid, and mnst be supposed have his due honour, and his name be glorified. to ha'l'e been accompanied by fervent prayer Behea.rse it in the ears of Joshua. "He.nd to God. that he would help his people and down," i.e., to thy successor, Joshua, the gi"e them nctory over their enemies. So tradition of perpetual hostility with Amalek, long as the hand was upraised, the Israelites and the memory of the promise now made, prevailed; not because they saw it, and took that the whole nation shall be utterly blotted it as directing them to continue the fight out from under heaven. (Compare Dent. xxv: (Kalisch), but because God gave them 19.) The special sin of Amalek was, l. That strength, and 'l'igour and courage, while Moses he attacked God's people, not fearing God interceded, and left thE'JII to themselves when ( ib. ven;e 18) ; 2. That he had no compassion the intercession ceased. It may be said. that on his own kindred ; and 3. That he fell on Moses might h.an continned to pray, though them when they were already suffering afflic- his hands were weary; but only those who tion, and were " feeble, and faint and weary •· have tried. know how difficult a thing it (ib.) is to pray with any intensity for a con- Ver. 15.-lloses built an altar. An altar tinue.nee. Probably Moses' spiritual and naturally implies a sacrifice, and Moses may physical powers coll.e.psed together; and when well have thought thst the signal victory he dropped his hand through physical fatigue, obtained required to be acknowIedged, and e.s he rested also from his mental effort. To im- it were requited, by offerings. In giving his press upon Israel the importance of interces- altar a name, he followed the example of sory prayer, God made success and failure Jacob, who called an altar which he built, El- alternate with its continuance and discon- Elohe-Isra.el (Gen. x::x.xiii. 20). Moses' name tinuance, thus teaching his people a lesson of for his altar, J' ehova.h-nissi, meant " the Lord inestimable 'l'alue. is wy banner," and was intended to mark his Ver. 12.-But 11itoses' hands were heavy. ascription of the entire honour of the victory Moses, no doubt, held the rod alternately with to Jehovah but had probably no reference to one hand and the oth~r, until both were so the particular mode in which the victory was tired that he coald hold them up no longer. gained. It is this natural weariness which is expressed Ver. 16.-Beoause the Lord hath sworn. bv the word&--" his hands were heavy." Bather, as in the margin, "Because the hand \\'hen Aaron and Hur perceived this, they of A.malek was against the throne of the brought a stone for him to sit on, and then, Lord"-" because," i.e., "in attacking Israel, standing one on either side of him, alternately Amalek had as it were lifted up his band supported his handl until the sun set and the against God on his throne," therefore should battle was over. To reward the faith and there be war against Amalek from generation perseverance of the three, God gave Israel in to generation the end a complete victory.
HOMILETICS. , ers. 8-13.-Tlie usekssness of fighting against God. .A.malek was "the first of the nations" in audacity, in venturesomeness, perhaps in . ~lita.rr qualities, ~ut '"arcely in prudence or longsightedness. Amalek _must prec1p1t~te its quarrel w1_th lsrael must" come to Rephidim" and offer•battle, mstead of lettmg Israel go· on its uwn ;ay unmolested, and shunning a conteHt. They might have known that they were about to fight against Goo, and that to do so is usel~ss. None can contend with him , ucces,fully. It is curious that sinners do not see this. Some of them seem to hope t•J e:,ca1,e the notice of God; others appear t-0 doubt his power; a few seem to dis- Cll. XVII, 9-13,] THE IlOOK 01<' EXODC'S. i3