For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn [that] the LORD [will have] war with Amalek from generation to generation.
16. A solemn poetical utterance of Moses, swearing war for ever on Jehovah’s part against Amalek.
Yah hath sworn ] This rendering cannot be right. The Heb. is A hand upon (or to [as Exo 9:22-23 Heb.]) the throne of Yah! i.e. I (Moses) swear, with my hand raised to Jehovah’s throne in heaven (see on Exo 6:8). So Ew. ( Hist. i. 251), Di. But many scholars, as Clericus, J. D. Mich., Ges., Kn., Bntsch, read ns ‘banner’ for the otherwise unknown ks (for kiss ’, ‘throne’), i.e. A hand on the banner ( v. 15) of Yah! let it ever be faithful to this banner, and ready to bear it in the future battles against Amalek. This reading has the advantage of bringing Moses’ words into direct relation with the name of the altar in v. 15.
This unfriendliness of Amalek to Israel was remembered afterwards with some bitterness. In 1Sa 15:2 f. it is assigned as the ground for Saul’s expedition against them; and in Deu 25:17-19 Moses is represented as exhorting Israel to remember it, and, when their possession of Canaan is secured, to be careful to recollect the injunction of Exo 17:14, and ‘blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ Cf. also Num 24:20. Saul’s raid, however, in spite of the terms used in 1Sa 15:8, did not exterminate the entire tribe: see 1Sa 27:7; 1Sa 30:1 ff. (where a band of them make a raid upon Ziklag, and are smitten afterwards by David, though 400 escape, v. 17), 2Sa 8:12, 1Ch 4:43 (the remnant of them smitten by 500 Simeonites, in the time of Hezekiah).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Because the Lord hath sworn – This rendering is incorrect. Our translators regard the expression as a solemn asseveration by the throne of God. However, to this the objections are insuperable; it has no parallel in Scriptural usage: God swears by Himself, not by His Throne. As the Hebrew text now stands the meaning is more satisfactorily given in the margin.
An alteration, slight in form, but considerable in meaning, has been proposed with much confidence, namely, nes, standard for ksse’, throne; thus connecting the name of the altar with the sentence. Conjectural emendations are not to be adopted without necessity, and the obvious a priori probability of such a reading makes it improbable that one so far more difficult should have been substituted for it. One of the surest canons of criticism militates against its reception. As it stands, the text was undoubtedly that which was alone known to the Targumists, the Samaritan, the Syriac, the Latin and the Arabic translators. The Septuagint appears to have had a different reading: en cheiri kruphe polemeo.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. The Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek, c.] This is no translation of the words ki yad al kes yah milckamah, which have been variously rendered by different translators and critics the most rational version of which is the following: Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of God, therefore will I have war with Amalek from generation to generation. This gives a tolerably consistent sense, yet still there is considerable obscurity in the passage. Houbigant, a most judicious though bold critic, supposes that, as Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah my ensign, was spoken of immediately before, kes, a throne, in this verse, is an error of some transcriber for nes, an ensign, which might be readily occasioned by the great similarity between the caph and the nun. He thinks farther that the two letters yah, which are supposed to be here a contraction of the word Yehovah, are separated, the yod from the nes, which should be written nissi, and the he, from milchamah, which should be written hammilchamah, and then the whole verse will run thus: For the hand shall be upon the ensigns of war unto the Lord, against Amalek for ever, i.e., God makes now a declaration of war against the Amalekites, which shall continue till their final destruction. The conjecture of Mr. Julius Bate, in his Literal Translation of the Pentateuch, deserves attention. He supposes that, as cos signifies a cup, and a cup is emblematically used for wrath, on one of the stones of the altar, mentioned in the preceding verse, a hand holding a cup was sculptured, this being a memorial, according to the custom of hieroglyphical writing, that the Lord would continue the cup of wrath, portending continual war, against Amalek for ever. I prefer Houbigant’s exposition.
1. THIS first victory of Israel must have inspired them with a considerable measure of confidence in God, and in his servant Moses. Though God alone could give them the victory, yet it was necessary to show them that it was by the influence of Moses they got it. Moses could not deliver Amalek into their hands; yet if Moses did not continue to hold up his hands, i.e., to pray, Amalek must prevail. God, therefore, wrought this work in such a way as to instruct the people, promote his own glory, and secure the true honour of his servant. The Divine Being always performs the greatest number possible of ends, by the fewest and simplest means. In every work of God there is as much of wisdom and economy, as there is of sovereign uncontrolled power.
2. It is not probable that the people whom Joshua chose out to lead against Amalek were unarmed; and we have already seen that it is not at all likely that they came armed out of Egypt. And as the whole circumstances of this case show that those who fought against the Amalekites were properly equipped for the fight, we may then safely presume that they got their arms from the Egyptians, whose bodies were thrown on the shore after having been overwhelmed in the Red Sea. Thus, what was a judgment in the one case, was a most gracious providence in the other. Judgment on God’s foes is mercy to his friends.
3. Of the efficacy of prayer we have already had the most striking examples. He who has the spirit of prayer, has the highest interest in the court of heaven; and the only way to retain it, is to keep it in constant employment. Apostasy begins in the closet: no man ever backslid from the life and power of Christianity who continued constant and fervent, especially in private prayer. He who prays without ceasing is likely to rejoice evermore.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For, or, and, as the Hebrew particle properly signifies; for these words are not a reason of the passage next preceding, but an additional sentence.
Because, or, surely, (as that particle is oft used, as Job 8:6; 20:20; Psa 10:14; 44:22, &c.) Heb. the hand upon the throne of the Lord, for the hand of the Lord upon his throne, which is perfectly the same thing, only the order of the words is a little varied after the manner of the Hebrew tongue. These words then are a paraphrastical description of a solemn oath, by the usual posture of it, viz. the lifting up the hand, which is usually put for swearing, and in that sense is ascribed both to men, as Gen 14:22, and to God, as Deu 32:40. And this hand of God lifted up upon his throne, where his majesty doth peculiarly and gloriously dwell, signifies that God swears by himself, as is said Heb 6:13. And thus the Chaldee and Arabic interpreters understand it. Others render the place thus, Because the hand (or, his hand, the pronoun being here understood, as it frequently is in the Hebrew language, of which several instances have been given before, i.e. the hand of Amalek, which may easily be understood out of the following clause, in which Amalek is named) was against the throne of the Lord, i.e. was stretched out against God himself; for so God esteems it, because it was done against that people among whom God had placed his throne, or seat, or dwelling, according to his covenant made with them; which also was well known to the Amalekites by the relation of their progenitors, who in all probability had acquainted them with their own rights, and with Jacobs arts, whereby he robbed Esau, the father of Amalek, Gen 36:15,16, of his birthright and blessing, and consequently of the land of Canaan, to which now God was bringing them, that he might plant them there, and set up his throne among them. And the Amalekites doubtless heard, as the other neighbours also did, in what a miraculous manner God had brought them out of Egypt, and over the Red Sea. And they knew better than others, by tradition from their parents, that God had promised Canaan to them, and now they saw that he was conducting them thither, and therefore to prevent this they now commence a war against them, and against God or his throne, whose presence with and conduct over them was most manifest; which was a great aggravation of their sin. And this latter translation and interpretation seems most probable,
1. Because it exactly agrees with the Hebrew words, and the order in which they are placed.
2. It makes the coherence more clear than our translation doth, the former part of the verse containing a reason of the latter, to wit, of that severe curse and everlasting war denounced against Amalek, because they attempted by force to overthrow Gods throne and people, and that with so many aggravating circumstances; of which see Deu 25:17,18.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For he said, because the Lord hath sworn,…. So some Jewish writers b take it for an oath, as we do; or “because the hand is on the throne of the Lord” c; which the Targum of Jonathan, Jarchi, and Aben Ezra, interpret of the hand of the Lord being lifted up, of his swearing by the throne of his glory; but, as Drusius observes, it is not credible that God should swear by that which is prohibited by Christ, Mt 5:24 rather the words are to be rendered, “because the hand”, that is, the hand of Amalek, “is against the throne of the Lord” d; against his people, among whom his throne was, and over whom he ruled, so against himself, and the glory of his majesty; because he was the first that made war upon Israel, when the Lord brought them out of Egypt, and unprovoked fell upon their rear, and smote the hindmost, faint and weary among them: therefore
the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation; until they are utterly destroyed; and so in fact he had, and thus it was. The Targum of Jonathan is,
“he by his word will make war against those that are of the house of Amalek, and destroy them to three generations, from the generation of this world, from the generation of the Messiah, and from the generation of the world to come;”
and Baal Hatturim on the place observes, that this phrase, “from generation to generation”, by gematry, signifies the days of the Messiah. Amalek may be considered as a type of antichrist, whose hand is against the throne of God, his tabernacle, and his saints; who, with all the antichristian states which make war with the Lamb, will be overcome and destroyed by him.
b R. Sol. Urbin. fol. 95. 1. c – “quia manus super thronum Domini”, Pagninus, Montanus; “sublata manu super solium Dei (juro)”, Tigurine version. d “Quia manus (Hamaleki) fuit contra solium Jah”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator so Ainsworth.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. For he said, Because the Lord. (194) He confirms by repetition the same declaration which he had lately pronounced from the mouth of God, viz., that God would be ever at war with the Amalekites, until He should have utterly destroyed them. Translators do not agree as to the meaning of the expression, “The hand is upon the throne of the Lord.” Some imagine it to be a form of oath, as though God swore by His throne. Others understand by His throne the Church, which is the rest of God, in which he is said to sit. But I have no doubt but that what was said as to destroying and extinguishing the memory of Amalek is confirmed by this reason, viz., 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, as if he had said, that God, who rules in power, and who by His hand and authority controls and moderates, sustains and overthrows all things, as long as He shall reign upon His throne, endued 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 divers punishments upon them, though their last great overthrow was delayed till the days of Saul.
(194) “Truly the hand is upon the throne of Jehovah.” — Lat. Margin, A. V. , “Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord, therefore, ” 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, A. V.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek.Heb,, because (his) hand is against the throne of Jehovah, (there shall be) war to Jehovah with Amalek, &c. The Hebrew can scarcely be said to be obscure. It gives plainly enough the sense which our translators have placed in the margin. Amalek, by attacking Israel, had lifted up his hand against the throne of God, therefore would God war against him from generation to generation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Because the Lord (JEHOVAH) hath sworn An obscure and much disputed verse . It is quite generally conceded that “throne” here should be read “banner,” as in Exo 17:15, being some copyist’s error for , which could very easily take place, especially as the word is nowhere else found . (Mich . , Vater, Houbig . , Ges . , Knob . ) The “because” shows that this verse gives a reason for the name of the altar, and the literal rendering would then run thus: And he said, [the name is Jehovah, my Banner,] Because the hand [of Israel is] on the banner of JAH, [there shall be] war from Jehovah with Amalek from generation to generation; that is, till he is blotted out. That is, Jehovah has reared up a standard against this heathen people, on which standard Israel has laid its hand, as Moses on this eventful day laid his hand upon the rod of God, and that standard shall not fall till Amalek is blotted out. Amalek, called by Balaam the “beginning of peoples,” most ancient among nations, the first foe of the covenant people, is the type of universal heathenism, which shall fall before Jehovah’s banner; and that banner shall not droop in the hands of his true Israel the rod will not sink on the mount, nor the sword drop on the field till all his foes are “wiped out” from under heaven. The Jehovah-Saviour “must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
Reader! while you and I pause over the relation of Israel’s unaccountable conduct, and from the part we bear in this wonderful history, feeling the same sources of unbelief, disobedience and murmuring, in ourselves, as we behold in them, which are the sad consequences of a fallen nature; may we seek grace to avoid their sin, that we may not come under their reproaches. But as we have authority to conclude that all these things happened unto them for our example, may a gracious God afford us these improvements from them, lest while we think we stand we are found to fall.
But above all other improvements from the perusal of this chapter, oh! let me leave everything to contemplate the view it gives me of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the smitten rock, may my soul lose sight of everything but Jesus. May my eye gaze with wonder and delight on what I there discover, until the ever-flowing, over-flowing stream fills my ravished heart. Dearest and ever-blessed Jesus! do thou both supply me now, and follow me through the whole of this wilderness state, as thou didst the church of old; making glad the city of our God in all ages. May I behold thee as the stone smitten by the rod of Moses, answering all the demands of God’s righteous laws for me, and flowing both in atoning and regenerating supplies for all the wants of my soul. And oh! do thou, who alone canst smite the rocky heart of sinners, and convert the flinty stone into a fountain of waters, subdue all the stubbornness of my nature. Conquer and subdue in me and for me all the Amalekites of my salvation. Work in me both to will and to do of thy good pleasure, until grace comes to be consummated in glory, and my poor faculties are all brought into a state suited to the everlasting employment, of singing praises to God and the Lamb.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn [that] the LORD [will have] war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Ver. 16. Because the Lord, &c. ] Heb., The hand upon the throne of the Lord. God’s hand is laid upon his own throne, as swearing to root out Amalek. Or Amalek’s hand is lifted up against God’s throne – that is, the Church; called God’s throne of glory, Jer 3:17 and crown of glory; Isa 62:3 therefore he will have perpetual war with him. Tua causa erit mea causa, said the Emperor Charles V to Julius Pflugius, who, being his agent, had received wrong by the Duke of Saxony. So saith God to all that belong to him.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
LORD = Jah. See App-4.
hath sworn. The margins of Authorized Version and Revised Version show the perplexity caused by the Ellipsis. of the verb. “Surely the hand [lifted up] upon the banner of Jah [is to swear]: for the war of Jehovah against Amalek is to be from generation to generation”. So it was. It was carried on by Ehud (Jdg 3:13-15), Barak (Jdg 5:14), Gideon (Jdg 6:3; Jdg 7:12-14), Saul (1Sa 15:2-9, Compare Exo 17:11), Samuel (1Sa 15:32, 1Sa 15:33), David (1Sa 27:8; 1Sa 30:1, 1Sa 30:17; 2Sa 8:12), Simeonites (1Ch 4:42, 1Ch 4:43), and Mordecai (Est 3:1-6; Est 9:7-10).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Because: etc. or, Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord, therefore, etc. the Lord, etc. Heb. the hand upon the throne of the Lord. Isa 66:1, Act 7:49
will have war: Psa 21:8-11
Reciprocal: Num 14:45 – the Amalekites Num 24:20 – the first of the nations Num 31:3 – avenge the Lord Deu 1:31 – in the wilderness Deu 25:19 – thou shalt Est 3:2 – bowed not Est 9:10 – enemy Isa 14:24 – Lord Amo 8:7 – I will Act 7:36 – and in the wilderness
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 17:16. Because the Lord hath sworn, &c. The original of this passage is variously rendered. There are two senses which appear most plausible. The one of them we have here in our text, the other in the margin. The words chi jad gnall ches Jah, are literally, Because the hand upon the throne of Jah, Or Jehovah. The text considers it as an oath: Because he (Jehovah) hath lifted up his hand upon (that is, hath sworn by) his throne. So the Chaldee paraphrast. Others apply it to Moses: Because I have lifted up my hand, or sworn, by the throne of Jehovah. There is, however, no verb in the original answering to lifted up.
Therefore, some of the interpreters prefer the sense of the margin. Because the hand (the hand of Amalek) was against the throne of Jehovah, (the verb was being often understood,) therefore Jehovah will have war with Amalek, &c. His hand is said to have been against the throne of Jehovah, because the throne of God was then among the Israelites, whose King he was in a peculiar manner; on which account Jerusalem is called his throne, Jer 3:17.