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Ordinary Time · Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year C

Exodus 17:8-13

As Long As Moses Kept His Hands Raised

October 22, 2028

Victory O Lord!, John Everett Millais
Victory O Lord!, John Everett Millais, 1871Manchester Art Gallery
Millais paints the three men on the hilltop: Moses with his arms held up and Aaron and Hur each supporting one, all of them visibly exhausted.Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. So they held up his hands until the sun set.John Everett MillaisA Pre-Raphaelite prodigy who entered the Royal Academy schools at eleven, scandalised Dickens, and ended as its president.Manchester Art GalleryA free civic gallery in a Greek Revival building, with a strong Pre-Raphaelite collection.Manchester Art Gallery
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 18:1-8Lk 18:1-8
Second Reading2 Tim. 3:14–4:22 Tm 3:14–4:2
First ReadingExod. 17:8-13Ex 17:8-13
Responsorial PsalmPs. 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (cf. 2)Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (cf. 2)

Overview & Insights

"As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight" (Exodus 17:11).

As Amalek attacks Israel at Rephidim, Joshua leads the fighting below while Moses holds up his hands on a hilltop, with Aaron and Hur supporting his arms when he tires. Israel prevails only as long as Moses' hands stay raised, tying military victory to sustained intercession, the theme paired with the persistent widow in this Sunday's Gospel.

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Commentary

Exodus 17 Commentary: God's Provision and ProtectionEx 17 Commentary: God's Provision and Protection Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse commentary covering both the water from the rock and the battle with Amalek.

Exodus 17 CommentaryEx 17 Commentary Precept Austin

Word-by-word study notes on Moses' raised hands and the battle.

Exodus 17:11 CommentariesEx 17:11 Commentaries BibleHub

Several classic commentators side by side on the connection between raised hands and victory.

Exodus 17 (Geneva Study Bible)Ex 17 (Geneva Study Bible) StudyLight

A concise Reformation-era commentary on the whole chapter.

Exodus 17:11 InterlinearEx 17:11 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew text with Strong's numbers for 'raised' and 'prevailed.'

Background & Word Study

Exodus 17 in Hebrew and EnglishEx 17 in Hebrew and English Sefaria

Read the passage in the original Hebrew alongside an English translation.

Exodus Overview Video, Part 1Ex Overview Video, Part 1 BibleProject

An animated overview of the first half of Exodus, including the wilderness narratives.

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