Exodus 17
Commentary from 11 fathers
And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the wilderness of Sin, according to their encampments, by the word of the Lord; and they encamped in Raphidin: and there was no water for the people to drink.
ΚΑΙ ἀπῇρε πᾶσα συναγωγὴ υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου Σὶν κατὰ παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν διά ῥήματος Κυρίου καὶ παρενεβάλοσαν ἐν Ῥαφιδείν· οὐκ ἦν δὲ ὕδωρ τῷ λαῷ πιεῖν.
И҆ воздви́жесѧ ве́сь со́нмъ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ ѿ пꙋсты́ни сі́нъ по полкѡ́мъ свои̑мъ сло́вомъ гдⷭ҇нимъ и҆ ѡ҆полчи́шасѧ въ рафїді́нѣ. Не бѧ́ше же воды̀ лю́демъ пи́ти,
And the people reviled Moses, saying, Give us water, that we may drink; and Moses said to them, Why do ye revile me, and why tempt ye the Lord?
καὶ ἐλοιδορεῖτο ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγοντες· δὸς ἡμῖν ὕδωρ, ἵνα πίωμεν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς· τί λοιδορεῖσθέ μοι, καὶ τί πειράζετε Κύριον;
и҆ хꙋ́лѧхꙋ лю́дїе мѡѷсе́а, глаго́люще: да́ждь на́мъ во́дꙋ, да пїе́мъ. И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ мѡѷсе́й: что̀ хꙋ́лите мѧ̀; и҆ что̀ и҆скꙋша́ете гдⷭ҇а;
And Moses cried to the Lord, saying, What shall I do to this people? yet a little while and they will stone me.
ἐβόησε δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον λέγων· τί ποιήσω τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ; ἔτι μικρὸν καὶ καταλιθοβολήσουσί με.
Возопи́ же мѡѷсе́й ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ глаго́лѧ: что̀ сотворю̀ лю́демъ си̑мъ; є҆щѐ ма́лѡ, и҆ побїю́тъ мѧ̀ ка́менїемъ.
When [Moses] was being stoned by the people, he made intercession for them. Even more so he wished to be blotted out of God’s book sooner than that the flock committed to him should perish. He sought to imitate the Shepherd who would, he knew, carry on his shoulders even the wandering sheep.
Letter 82.3
And the Lord said to Moses, Go before this people, and take to thyself of the elders of the people; and the rod with which thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and thou shalt go.
καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· προπορεύου τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, λαβὲ δὲ σεαυτῷ ἀπὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ· καὶ τὴν ράβδον, ἐν ᾗ ἐπάταξας τὸν ποταμόν, λαβὲ ἐν τῇ χειρί σου καὶ πορεύσῃ.
И҆ речѐ гдⷭ҇ь къ мѡѷсе́ю: пойдѝ пред̾ людьмѝ си́ми, и҆ поимѝ съ собо́ю ѿ ста́рєцъ людски́хъ, и҆ же́злъ, и҆́мже пресѣ́клъ є҆сѝ мо́ре, возмѝ въ рꙋ́кꙋ твою̀, и҆ пойдѝ:
Behold, I stand there before thou [come], on the rock in Choreb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and water shall come out from it, and the people shall drink. And Moses did so before the sons of Israel.
ὅδε ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐκεῖ πρὸ τοῦ σε ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας ἐν Χωρήβ· καὶ πατάξεις τὴν πέτραν, καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ἐξ αὐτῆς ὕδωρ, καὶ πίεται ὁ λαός. ἐποίησε δὲ Μωυσῆς οὕτως ἐναντίον τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ.
а҆́зъ же ста́нꙋ та́мѡ пре́жде прише́ствїѧ твоегѡ̀ ᲂу҆ ка́мене въ хѡри́вѣ: и҆ ᲂу҆да́риши въ ка́мень, и҆ и҆зы́детъ и҆з̾ негѡ̀ вода̀, и҆ да пїю́тъ лю́дїе. Сотвори́ же мѡѷсе́й та́кѡ пред̾ сы̑ны і҆и҃левыми,
The people of the fathers thirsted, Moses touched the rock, and water flowed out of the rock. Did not grace work a result contrary to nature, so that the rock poured forth water, which by nature it did not contain?
On the Mysteries 9.51
It does not surpass faith that a virgin gave birth, when we read that even a rock poured out water and that the waves of the sea were made solid in the form of a wall.
Letter 42.7
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff and strike the rock, that it may produce water for the people.” Behold, there is a rock, and it contains water. However, unless this rock is struck, it does not have any water at all. But when it has been struck, it produces fountains and rivers, as we read in the Gospel: “He who believes in me, from within him there shall flow rivers of living water.” When Christ was struck on the cross, he brought forth the fountains of the New Testament. Therefore it was necessary for him to be pierced. If he had not been struck, so that water and blood flowed from his side, the whole world would have perished through suffering thirst for the word of God.
Sermon 103.3
And he called the name of that place, Temptation, and Reviling, because of the reviling of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?
καὶ ἐπωνόμασε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου Πειρασμὸς καὶ Λοιδόρησις, διὰ τὴν λοιδορίαν τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ διὰ τὸ πειράζειν Κύριον λέγοντας· εἰ ἔστι Κύριος ἐν ἡμῖν ἢ οὔ;
и҆ прозва̀ и҆́мѧ мѣ́стꙋ томꙋ̀ и҆скꙋше́нїе и҆ похꙋле́нїе, хꙋлы̀ ра́ди сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, и҆ зане́же и҆скꙋси́ша гдⷭ҇а, глаго́люще: а҆́ще є҆́сть въ на́съ гдⷭ҇ь, и҆лѝ нѝ;
And Amalec came and fought with Israel in Raphidin.
῏Ηλθε δὲ ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ ἐπολέμει ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν Ῥαφιδείν.
Прїи́де же а҆мали́къ и҆ воева̀ на і҆и҃лѧ въ рафїді́нѣ.
There is no vice which the divine law resists more [than pride]. That most proud spirit becomes an obstacle to things above and a mediator to things below. It thereby receives a greater power of domination, unless one avoids the secret snares he is laying by going along a different way. If he is openly raging through a sinful people, he is like Amalek. By his opposition he denies the passage to the land of promise. He then must be overcome by the cross of Christ, which was prefigured by the extended hands of Moses.
The Trinity 4.15.20
And Moses said to Joshua, Choose out for thyself mighty men, and go forth and set the army in array against Amalec to-morrow; and, behold, I [shall] stand on the top of the hill, and the rod of God [will be] in my hand.
εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ· ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παράταξαι τῷ ᾿Αμαλὴκ αὔριον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ βουνοῦ, καὶ ἡ ράβδος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου.
Рече́ же мѡѷсе́й ко і҆исꙋ́сꙋ: и҆зберѝ себѣ̀ мꙋ́жы си̑льны и҆ и҆зше́дъ ѡ҆полчи́сѧ на а҆мали́ка заꙋ́тра: и҆ сѐ, а҆́зъ ста́нꙋ на верхꙋ̀ горы̀, и҆ же́злъ бж҃їй въ рꙋцѣ̀ мое́й.
And Joshua did as Moses said to him, and he went out and set the army in array against Amalec, and Moses and Aaron and Or went up to the top of the hill.
καὶ ἐποίησεν ᾿Ιησοῦς καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἐξελθὼν παρετάξατο τῷ ᾿Αμαλήκ· καὶ Μωυσῆς καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ ῍Ωρ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ βουνοῦ.
И҆ сотворѝ і҆исꙋ́съ, ꙗ҆́коже речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ мѡѷсе́й, и҆ и҆зше́дъ ѡ҆полчи́сѧ на а҆мали́ка: мѡѷсе́й же и҆ а҆арѡ́нъ и҆ ѡ҆́ръ взыдо́ша на ве́рхъ горы̀.
And it came to pass, when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands, Amalec prevailed.
καὶ ἐγίνετο ὅταν ἐπῇρε Μωυσῆς τὰς χεῖρας, κατίσχυεν ᾿Ισραήλ· ὅταν δὲ καθῆκε τὰς χεῖρας, κατίσχυεν ᾿Αμαλήκ.
И҆ бы́сть є҆гда̀ воздвиза́ше мѡѷсе́й рꙋ́цѣ, ѡ҆долѣва́ше і҆и҃ль: є҆гда́ же ѡ҆пꙋска́ше рꙋ́цѣ, ѡ҆долѣва́ше а҆мали́къ:
For in this way, when the eyes are lifted up through thought and contemplation and the hands are lifted up in deeds which lift up and exalt the soul, as Moses lifted up his hands, one may consequently say, “The lifting up of my hands is as the evening sacrifice.” In this way the Amalekites and all the unseen enemies will be worsted, and the Israelite reasonings in us will prevail.
Commentary on the Gospel of John 28.37
For my own warfare, however, I am at a loss what course to pursue, what alliance, what word of wisdom, what grace to devise, with what panoply to arm myself against the wiles of the wicked one. What Moses did is to conquer him by stretching out his hands upon the mount, in order that the cross, thus typified and prefigured, may prevail.
Oration 2.88
But the hands of Moses were heavy, and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it; and Aaron and Or supported his hands one on this side and the other on that, and the hands of Moses were supported till the going down of the sun.
αἱ δὲ χεῖρες Μωυσῆ βαρεῖαι· καὶ λαβόντες λίθον ὑπέθηκαν ὑπ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ ῍Ωρ ἐστήριζον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, ἐντεῦθεν εἷς καὶ ἐντεῦθεν εἷς· καὶ ἐγένοντο αἱ χεῖρες Μωυσῆ ἐστηριγμέναι ἕως δυσμῶν ἡλίου.
рꙋ́цѣ же мѡѷсе́ѡвы тѧ̑жки бѣ́ша: и҆ взе́мше ка́мень, подложи́ша є҆мꙋ̀, и҆ сѣдѧ́ше на не́мъ: а҆арѡ́нъ же и҆ ѡ҆́ръ поддержа́ста рꙋ́цѣ є҆мꙋ̀, є҆ди́нъ ѿсю́дꙋ, а҆ дрꙋгі́й ѿтꙋ́дꙋ: и҆ бы́ша мѡѷсе́ови рꙋ́цѣ ᲂу҆крѣплє́ны до захожде́нїѧ со́лнца:
For it was not because Moses so prayed that the people were stronger, but because, while one who bore the name of Jesus (Joshua) was in the forefront of the battle, he himself made the sign of the cross. For who of you knows not that the prayer of one who accompanies it with lamentation and tears, with the body prostrate, or with bended knees, propitiates God most of all? But in such a manner neither he nor any other one, while sitting on a stone, prayed. Nor even the stone symbolized Christ, as I have shown.
Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter XC
For it was not without design that the prophet Moses, when Hur and Aaron upheld his hands, remained in this form until evening. For indeed the Lord remained upon the tree almost until evening, and they buried Him at eventide; then on the third day He rose again.
Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter XCVII
But, to come now to Moses, why, I wonder, did he merely at the time when Joshua was battling against Amalek, pray sitting with hands expanded, when, in circumstances so critical, he ought rather, surely, to have commended his prayer by knees bent, and hands beating his breast, and a face prostrate on the ground; except it was that there, where the name of the Lord Jesus was the theme of speech—destined as he was to enter the lists one day singly against the devil—the figure of the cross was also necessary, [that figure] through which Jesus was to win the victory?
Answer to the Jews 10.10
Moses showed this when his hands became so heavy that Joshua the son of Nun could hardly hold them up. For that reason the people conquered when they performed works not carelessly but with full consideration and virtue—not with faltering souls nor with a wavering disposition but with the stability of a firm mind.
Letter 7 (37).33
See how the type was given through Moses but the truth came through Jesus Christ. And again, on Mt. Sinai, when the Amalekites were waging war on the Hebrews, the hands of Moses were propped up, held by Aaron and Hur standing on either side. But Christ, when he came, himself held his hands extended on the cross by his own power. Do you see how the type “was given” and “the truth came”?
Homilies on the Gospel of John 14
When Moses’ hands were lifted up Amalek was conquered; when they came down a little he grew strong. The sailyards of ships and the ends of the sailyards move about in the form of our cross. The very birds, too, when they are borne to the heights and fly through the air, imitate the cross with their wings outstretched. Trophies themselves are crosses, and so are adorned victories of triumphs. These we ought to have not only on our foreheads but also on our souls so that, thus armed, we may trample upon the adder and the serpent, in Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever.
Sermon 45.3
When Moses sat on the stone, it prefigured the law resting on the church. But this law had heavy hands, because it did not deal mercifully with those who were sinners but treated them with extreme harshness. “Aaron” means “mountain of strength,” and “Hur” means “fire.” Who is meant by “mountain of strength”? Our Redeemer, of whom the prophet said, “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains.” And who is prefigured by “fire” but the Holy Spirit, of whom our Redeemer said, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth”? Aaron and Hur support the heavy hands of Moses and make them lighter by their support. Similarly the “Mediator between God and men,” coming with the fire of the Holy Spirit, revealed that the heavy commandments of the law, which cannot be borne when taken literally, become more tolerable for us when they are understood spiritually. It is as if he made the hands of Moses light when he changed the weight of the law’s commandments into the strength that comes from confession.
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 33
And Joshua routed Amalec and all his people with the slaughter of the sword.
καὶ ἐτρέψατο ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας.
и҆ преѡдолѣ̀ і҆исꙋ́съ а҆мали́ка и҆ всѧ̑ лю́ди є҆гѡ̀ ᲂу҆бі́йствомъ меча̀.
And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and speak [this] in the ears of Joshua; for I will utterly blot out the memorial of Amalec from under heaven.
εἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· κατάγραψον τοῦτο εἰς μνημόσυνονἐν βιβλίῳ καὶ δὸς εἰς τὰ ὦτα ᾿Ιησοῦ, ὅτι ἀλοιφῇ ἐξαλείψω τὸ μνημόσυνον ᾿Αμαλὴκ ἐκ τῆς ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν.
Рече́ же гдⷭ҇ь къ мѡѷсе́ю: впишѝ сїѐ на па́мѧть въ кни̑ги и҆ вда́й во ᲂу҆́шы і҆исꙋ́сꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ па́гꙋбою погꙋблю̀ па́мѧть а҆мали́ковꙋ ѿ поднебе́сныѧ.
And Moses built an altar to the Lord, and called the name of it, The Lord my Refuge.
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε Μωυσῆς θυσιαστήριον Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐπωνόμασε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Κύριος καταφυγή μου·
И҆ созда̀ мѡѷсе́й ѻ҆лта́рь гдⷭ҇ꙋ и҆ прозва̀ и҆́мѧ є҆мꙋ̀ гдⷭ҇ь прибѣ́жище моѐ:
For with a secret hand the Lord wages war upon Amalec to all generations.
ὅτι ἐν χειρὶ κρυφαίᾳ πολεμεῖ Κύριος ἐπὶ ᾿Αμαλὴκ ἀπὸ γενεῶν εἰς γενεᾶς.
ꙗ҆́кѡ рꙋко́ю та́йною ра́тꙋетъ гдⷭ҇ь на а҆мали́ка ѿ ро́да въ ро́дъ.
And the people thirsted there for water, and there the people murmured against Moses, saying, Why is this? hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to slay us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
ἐδίψησε δὲ ἐκεῖ ὁ λαὸς ὕδατι, καὶ διεγόγγυζεν ἐκεῖ ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγοντες· ἱνατί τοῦτο; ἀνεβίβασας ἡμᾶς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἀποκτεῖναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν καὶ τὰ κτήνη τῷ δίψει;
Возжажда́ша же та́мѡ лю́дїе воды̀ и҆ ропта́хꙋ на мѡѷсе́а, глаго́люще: вскꙋ́ю сїѐ; и҆зве́лъ є҆сѝ на́съ и҆з̾ є҆гѵ́пта ᲂу҆мори́ти на́съ и҆ ча̑да на̑ша и҆ скоты̀ жа́ждею;