Intecessory prayer
Verse 11. When Moses held up his hand— We cannot understand this
transaction in any literal way; for the lifting up or letting down the hands
of Moses could not, humanly speaking, influence the battle. It is likely
that he held up the rod of God in his hand, Exodus 17:9, as an ensign to the
people. We have already seen that in prayer the hands were generally lifted
up and spread out, (See Clarke’s note on "Exodus 9:29",) and therefore it
is likely that by this act prayer and supplication are intended. The
Jerusalem Targum says, "When Moses held up his hands in prayer, the
house of Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands from prayer, the
house of Amalek prevailed." We may therefore conclude, that by holding
up the hands in this case these two things were intended: 1. That hereby a
reference was made to God, as the source whence all help and protection
must come, and that on him alone they must depend. 2. That prayer and
supplication to God are essentially necessary to their prevalence over all
their enemies. It is indisputably true that, while the hands are stretched
out, that is, while the soul exerts itself in prayer and supplication to God,
we are sure to conquer our spiritual adversaries; but if our hands become
heavy-if we restrain prayer before God, Amalek will prevail-every
spiritual foe, every internal corruption, will gain ground. Several of the
fathers consider Moses, with his stretched-out hands, as a figure of Christ
on the cross, suffering for mankind, and getting a complete victory over sin
and Satan.
Verse 13. Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people— Amalek might
have been the name of the ruler of this people continued down from their
ancestor, (see Clarke on "Exodus 17:8",) as Pharaoh was the name of all
succeeding kings in Egypt. If this were the case, then Amalek and his
people mean the prince and the army that fought under him. But if Amalek
stand here for the Amalekites, then his people must mean the confederates
he had employed on this occasion.
Verse 11. When Moses held up his hand— We cannot understand this
transaction in any literal way; for the lifting up or letting down the hands
of Moses could not, humanly speaking, influence the battle. It is likely
that he held up the rod of God in his hand, Exodus 17:9, as an ensign to the
people. We have already seen that in prayer the hands were generally lifted
up and spread out, (See Clarke’s note on "Exodus 9:29",) and therefore it
is likely that by this act prayer and supplication are intended. The
Jerusalem Targum says, "When Moses held up his hands in prayer, the
house of Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands from prayer, the
house of Amalek prevailed." We may therefore conclude, that by holding
up the hands in this case these two things were intended: 1. That hereby a
reference was made to God, as the source whence all help and protection
must come, and that on him alone they must depend. 2. That prayer and
supplication to God are essentially necessary to their prevalence over all
their enemies. It is indisputably true that, while the hands are stretched
out, that is, while the soul exerts itself in prayer and supplication to God,
we are sure to conquer our spiritual adversaries; but if our hands become
heavy-if we restrain prayer before God, Amalek will prevail-every
spiritual foe, every internal corruption, will gain ground. Several of the
fathers consider Moses, with his stretched-out hands, as a figure of Christ
on the cross, suffering for mankind, and getting a complete victory over sin
and Satan.
Verse 13. Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people— Amalek might
have been the name of the ruler of this people continued down from their
ancestor, (see Clarke on "Exodus 17:8",) as Pharaoh was the name of all
succeeding kings in Egypt. If this were the case, then Amalek and his
people mean the prince and the army that fought under him. But if Amalek
stand here for the Amalekites, then his people must mean the confederates
he had employed on this occasion.