John Calvin Commentary Exodus 17:16

"And he said, Jehovah hath sworn: Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." — Exodus 17:16 (ASV)

For he said, Because the Lord.¹⁹⁴ He confirms by repetition the same declaration which he had recently pronounced from the mouth of God, namely, that God would be continually at war with the Amalekites, until He had utterly destroyed them.

Translators do not agree regarding the meaning of the expression, “The hand is upon the throne of the Lord.” Some imagine it to be a form of oath, as if God swore by His throne. Others interpret His throne as the Church, which is the rest of God, in which He is said to sit.

However, I have no doubt that what was said regarding destroying and extinguishing the memory of Amalek is confirmed by this reason: namely, that as God is omnipotent, He will contend with this wicked nation. Therefore, the hand is said to be upon the throne of God because He does not sit idly in heaven (as the Epicureans imagine) but exercises His dominion in the government of the world. It is as if to say that God—who rules in power, and who by His hand and authority controls, moderates, sustains, and overthrows all things—as long as He reigns upon His throne, endowed with supreme and formidable might, will never cease to pursue the Amalekites with His just vengeance.

And indeed, it may have been the case that He inflicted various punishments upon them, though their last great overthrow was delayed until the days of Saul.

¹⁹⁴ “Truly the hand is upon the throne of Jehovah.” — Lat. Margin, Margin, A. V., “Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord, ., “Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord, therefore,” etc. ,” etc. Heb.,” The hand upon the throne of the Lord.” Holden agrees with Rosenmuller, and, as he says, the most eminent Biblical critics, in preferring the explanation of the margin, .,” The hand upon the throne of the Lord.” Holden agrees with Rosenmuller, and, as he says, the most eminent Biblical critics, in preferring the explanation of the margin, A. V.