And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:
Amalek was the first people to attack Israel in the wilderness, beginning the conflict to which the altar belongs. In that battle Israel prevailed while Moses held up his hands and Amalek prevailed when they fell, showing that victory depended on God. After the victory Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi, meaning the Lord is my banner, marking the Lord as Israel's banner.
The altar commemorated that the Lord fought for Israel and served as a memorial of his sworn continuing war and judgment against Amalek from generation to generation. The victory taught that Israel prevailed by trusting God and relying on his strength rather than their own power, but were overcome when they trusted in themselves. Israel's strength and destiny rested in God alone as its leader and ruler, not in Moses or the rod.
Amalek's hostility was directed against God and his throne as well as Israel, mocking his deliverance, boasting he could not save them, and vowing to wipe them out. God marked those words and declared Amalek would be utterly destroyed, appointing Israel to bring about its end so all nations would see the fate of a proud and powerful people. That cruelty and sentence were remembered when the later judgment was carried out.
Amalek was the first people to attack Israel in the wilderness, beginning the conflict to which the altar belongs. In that battle Israel prevailed while Moses held up his hands and Amalek prevailed when they fell, showing that victory depended on God. After the victory Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi, meaning the Lord is my banner, marking the Lord as Israel's banner.
The altar commemorated that the Lord fought for Israel and served as a memorial of his sworn continuing war and judgment against Amalek from generation to generation. The victory taught that Israel prevailed by trusting God and relying on his strength rather than their own power, but were overcome when they trusted in themselves. Israel's strength and destiny rested in God alone as its leader and ruler, not in Moses or the rod.
Amalek's hostility was directed against God and his throne as well as Israel, mocking his deliverance, boasting he could not save them, and vowing to wipe them out. God marked those words and declared Amalek would be utterly destroyed, appointing Israel to bring about its end so all nations would see the fate of a proud and powerful people. That cruelty and sentence were remembered when the later judgment was carried out.