1The entire community of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, moving from place to place as Yahweh commanded, and set up camp in Rephidim. But there was no water for the people to drink.
2So the people argued with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink!" Moses said to them, "Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing Yahweh?"
3The people there were thirsty for water. They complained to Moses, saying, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, only to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"
4Moses cried out to Yahweh, "What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."
5Yahweh said to Moses, "Walk ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff you used to strike the Nile, and go.
6Look, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. You will strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." Moses did this in front of the elders of Israel.
7Moses named the place Massah and Meribah because the people of Israel argued and tested Yahweh. They asked, “Is Yahweh with us or not?”
8Then the Amalekites came and fought against Israel in Rephidim.
9Moses told Joshua, “Choose some men for us and go fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with God’s staff in my hand.”
10So Joshua did what Moses told him and fought against the Amalekites. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11When Moses raised his hands, Israel started winning. When he lowered his hands, the Amalekites started winning.
12But Moses’ hands grew tired. So they brought a stone for him to sit on. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on each side, and his hands remained steady until sunset.
13Joshua defeated the Amalekites and their people with the sword.
14Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this as a reminder in a book and tell Joshua that I will completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from the earth.”
15Moses built an altar and named it Yahweh our Banner.
16He said, “Yah has sworn: ‘Yahweh will fight against Amalek generation after generation.’”