John Calvin Commentary Exodus 17:8

"Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim." — Exodus 17:8 (ASV)

Then came Amalek. These were the first enemies whom God brought against Israel after delivering them from Egypt and keeping them for some time in peace and quiet. It was mainly for two reasons that He chose them now to be involved in war: either to punish them for their recent sin, or as a correction of their idleness, lest it ensnare them into iniquity. For, just as sedition often arises among soldiers from inactivity, so also the more God spared this people and indulged them, the more their presumption increased. It is no wonder, then, that they were roused by war, since they had used their state of tranquillity to become undisciplined.

However, some imagine that the Amalekites were driven to take up arms with this intention: first, to avenge¹⁹⁰ the rejection of their ancestor; and secondly, because they were unwilling for the descendants of Jacob to enjoy the inheritance of which Esau—the grandfather of Amalek, the founder of their nation—had been deprived. And certainly, it is probable that the memory of the injury inflicted on their ancestor still remained, and that they were instigated by the devil, so that the promise of God, by which the right of primogeniture had been transferred from Esau to Jacob, would be thwarted and fail to take effect.

This might, indeed, have been their reason for the war, but God had another objective: namely, to make the people more obedient to Him by humbling their pride. Perhaps it was on that account that He withdrew Moses from the leadership and substituted Joshua, as some sign of His indignation. For although the help He gave them was sufficiently clear, and their victory was obtained by His grace and the prayers of Moses, yet He would have them reminded by Moses’ absence of their recent transgression, so that, being humbled by their fear, they might submissively ask for pardon and turn more earnestly to Him for His help.

He orders chosen men to go out, partly to embolden the whole people and encourage them to hope for victory—because He does not see fit to use the whole army to repel their enemies—and partly in consideration of the cowardice of this unwarlike crowd, lest they faint with terror if the enemies should make an attack into the middle of their camp.

For Moses does nothing of himself, but occupies the position assigned to him by God on the top of the hill to contend with the enemy from a distance; he sends the others down to fight hand to hand before him, since it had pleased God to arrange the battle this way. It is plain that he did not avoid the fight to spare himself, but because God had given him a different task. This is apparent from his wielding the rod of God, like their general and standard-bearer, and promising the successful outcome of the battle, of which he had been assured. For that single rod was more effective than if they had gone into the field preceded by a thousand banners.

I have already observed that this is sometimes called the rod of God, sometimes of Moses, and sometimes of Aaron, depending on the circumstances, because God used it as an instrument to exercise His power through His ministers. Thus, God does not diminish His own honor when He works effectively through His ministers. It is a prelude to Joshua’s future call, which we will note in its proper place, that he should be appointed commander of the troops. For he had not yet reached the position of second-in-command to Moses, unless a special commission had been given to him by God.

¹⁹⁰ Ut paternae abdicationis ultores essent. — Lat. Pour venger l’opprobe de leur pere, de ce qu’il avait ete desherite —Pour venger l’opprobe de leur pere, de ce qu’il avait ete desherite — Fr. This, This, Willet in loco paraphrases: “to revenge their father Esau’s quarrel for the loss of the birthright.” The Jews themselves appear to have recognized the double cause of this war, viz., the jealousy of Amalek, and the sin of Israel, referred to by Calvin. “After they had passed through the sea, they murmured for waters: then came against them Amalek, who hated them for the first birthright and blessing which our father Jacob had taken from Esau; and he came and fought against Israel, because they had violated the words of the law,” etc. — paraphrases: “to revenge their father Esau’s quarrel for the loss of the birthright.” The Jews themselves appear to have recognized the double cause of this war, viz., the jealousy of Amalek, and the sin of Israel, referred to by Calvin. “After they had passed through the sea, they murmured for waters: then came against them Amalek, who hated them for the first birthright and blessing which our father Jacob had taken from Esau; and he came and fought against Israel, because they had violated the words of the law,” etc. — Targum on on Song 2:15, quoted by Ainsworth , quoted by Ainsworth in loco. For a popular account of the origin of Amalek see For a popular account of the origin of Amalek see Illustrated Commentary on on 1 Samuel 15..