Exodus 17:8–16

War with the Amalekites

⁸The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. ⁹Moses said to Joshua, “Pick out some men to go and fight the Amalekites tomorrow. I will stand on top of the hill holding the stick that God told me to carry.” ¹⁰Joshua did as Moses commanded him and went out to fight the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹As long as Moses held up his arms, the Israelites won, but when he put his arms down, the Amalekites started winning. ¹²When Moses’ arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur brought a stone for him to sit on, while they stood beside him and held up his arms, holding them steady until the sun went down. ¹³In this way Joshua totally defeated the Amalekites.

^14*Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write an account of this victory, so that it will be remembered. Tell Joshua that I will completely destroy the Amalekites.” ¹⁵Moses built an altar and named it “The Lord is my Banner”. ¹⁶He said, “Hold high the banner of the Lord!^r The Lord will continue to fight against the Amalekites for ever!”