Exodus 17:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is the deliberate instruction to "rehearse it in the ears of Joshua." This isn't just about recording history; it's about passing a solemn charge and a divine strategy directly to the next generation's leader, ensuring Amalek's eventual erasure wasn't accidental but a planned, generational endeavor rooted in God's justice.
Following a fierce battle where Moses' raised hands secured victory for Israel against the Amalekites, God commands Moses to record this event as a significant memorial. This record is not only to be preserved in writing for future generations but also specifically entrusted to Joshua, the one designated to lead Israel in the coming conquest. This sets the stage for a perpetual, divinely ordained conflict against Amalek, promising their utter destruction from under heaven.
Why did God command Moses to write down this victory and specifically tell Joshua about the impending doom of Amalek?
The battle against Amalek wasn't just a one-off skirmish; it marked the beginning of a divinely ordained, multi-generational conflict. God's command to write this event and 'rehearse it in the ears of Joshua' establishes a historical and theological precedent. It's a reminder that serving God often means facing opposition from those who refuse to acknowledge Him. This wasn't about a temporary threat, but a fundamental clash between God's people and those who actively oppose His will.
The Purpose of the Record
What was so terrible about Amalek's attack that it warranted God's decree to 'utterly blot out their remembrance'?
The Amalekites weren't just another enemy; their attack on Israel was uniquely wicked. They were descendants of Esau, who had a complex relationship with Jacob (Israel). Yet, instead of kinship, they chose malice. They attacked the weakest and most vulnerable – the stragglers, the sick, the elderly – who were exhausted from their journey and recent miracles.
A Sin Against God's People
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His eternal existence, faithfulness, and self-revelation to His people.
machah · Hebrew Verb
An act of total destruction or eradication, often associated with divine judgment against the enemies of God. It signifies the complete removal of a corrupting influence.
This command to remember and record the enmity against Amalek, given immediately after their first battle, shows God's unwavering commitment to judging sin and protecting His people, a commitment that would span generations and require future leaders like Joshua to carry out.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after 400 years of slavery, were miraculously led out of Egypt by God through Moses.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Battle of Rephidim
The Amalekites, descendants of Esau's grandson Amalek, launched a surprise attack on the vulnerable rear of the Israelite camp as they journeyed through the wilderness.
c. 1446 BC
Divine Intervention and Victory
With Moses praying on the mountaintop, hands raised with the staff of God, Israel gained the upper hand. When Moses' hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur supported them, ensuring victory until sunset.
c. 1446 BC
God's Command for Remembrance
Following the victory, God instructed Moses to record the event in a book and to specifically tell Joshua, His chosen successor, of His eternal enmity towards Amalek.
This passage directly commands Israel to remember and act upon the sin of Amalek, echoing the memorialization commanded in Exodus 17 and expanding on the severity of Amalek's actions.
1 Samuel 15:1-3This passage details God's command through Samuel to Saul to remember what Amalek did and to utterly destroy them, showing the long-term consequence of Amalek's initial aggression.
Psalm 83:3-5This psalm calls for God to act against Israel's enemies, explicitly mentioning Amalek among them and their desire to 'blot out the name of Israel,' highlighting the perpetual conflict and Amalek's role as a persistent adversary.
1 Corinthians 10:11This verse reflects on Israel's history as an example, including events like the conflict with Amalek, reminding believers that these past occurrences were written down for their instruction.
clarkeExodus 17:14: "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."
Write this for a memorial in a book - This is the first mention of writing on record: what it signified, or how it was done, we cannot tell. But it is evident that either this passage is introduced here instead of Deuteronomy 25:17 , by way of anticipation, or that by the words כתב שפר kethob and sepher…
calvinExodus 17:8-16: "Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim."
But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hut 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.
Manus autem Mosis erant graves: itaque tulerunt lapidem et supposuerunt ei, et sedit super ilium, Aharon vero et Hur sustentaverunt manus ejus, alter hinc et alter inde…
What's easy to miss here is the deliberate instruction to "rehearse it in the ears of Joshua." This isn't just about recording history; it's about passing a solemn charge and a divine strategy directly to the next generation's leader, ensuring Amalek's eventual erasure wasn't accidental but a planned, generational endeavor rooted in God's justice.
Following a fierce battle where Moses' raised hands secured victory for Israel against the Amalekites, God commands Moses to record this event as a significant memorial. This record is not only to be preserved in writing for future generations but also specifically entrusted to Joshua, the one designated to lead Israel in the coming conquest. This sets the stage for a perpetual, divinely ordained conflict against Amalek, promising their utter destruction from under heaven.
Following a fierce battle where Moses' raised hands secured victory for Israel against the Amalekites, God commands Moses to record this event as a significant memorial. This record is not only to be preserved in writing for future generations but also specifically entrusted to Joshua, the one designated to lead Israel in the coming conquest. This sets the stage for a perpetual, divinely ordained conflict against Amalek, promising their utter destruction from under heaven.
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c. 1077 BC
Saul's Partial Destruction of Amalek
Centuries later, King Saul was commanded by God to utterly destroy the Amalekites, but he partially obeyed, sparing King Agag and the best livestock.
c. 1010 BC
David's Campaigns Against Amalek
David, during his time as a fugitive and later as king, fought against and defeated the Amalekites on several occasions.
c. 715 BC
Hezekiah's Final Destruction of Amalekites
The final eradication of the Amalekites occurred during the reign of King Hezekiah, fulfilling God's long-standing decree.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”" — What's easy to miss here is the deliberate instruction to "rehearse it in the ears of Joshua." This isn't just about recording history; it's about passing a solemn charge and a divine strategy direct…
