1The whole company of the children of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sin. They travelled stage by stage, as the LORD commanded, and they camped at Rephidim. But there was no water there for the people to drink.
2So the people argued with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you argue with me? Why do you test the LORD?"
3The people were thirsty for water there, and they complained against Moses. They said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt? Was it to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?"
4So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me."
5The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people. Take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the rod you struck the river with, and go."
6"Look, I will stand in front of you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." Moses did so, while the elders of Israel watched.
7He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the children of Israel had argued there, and because they tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us, or not?"
8Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.
9Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand."
10So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11When Moses held up his hand, Israel won; and when he let his hand down, Amalek won.
12But Moses' hands grew heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun went down.
13And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14The LORD said to Moses, "Write this in a book, so it will be remembered, and say it aloud for Joshua to hear: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
15Moses built an altar, and he called it Jehovahnissi.
16For he said, "Because the LORD has sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."