17 So that is what the Israelites did. Some gathered more, some less. 18 They measured it into two-quart containers. Those who had gathered more didn't have too much. Those who had gathered less didn't have too little. They gathered as much as they could eat.

19 Then Moses said to them, "No one may keep any of it until morning."

20 But some of them didn't listen to Moses. They kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and smelled bad. So Moses was angry with them.

21 Each morning they gathered as much food as they could eat. When the sun was hot, it melted away. 22 But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts per person. All the leaders of the community came to Moses and told him about it.

23 He said to them, "This is what Yahweh said: Tomorrow is a day of worship, a holy day of worship dedicated to Yahweh. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Save all that's left over, and keep it until tomorrow morning."

24 So they saved it until the next morning as Moses had commanded, but it didn't smell or have worms in it. 25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a day of worship dedicated to Yahweh. You won't find anything on the ground today. 26 You can gather food on six days, but on the seventh day, the day of worship, you won't find any."

27 On the seventh day some people went out to gather food, but they didn't find any. 28 Yahweh said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to do what I have commanded and instructed you to do? 29 Remember: Yahweh has given you this day of worship. That's why he gives you enough food on the sixth day for two days. On the seventh day you may not leave. Everyone, stay where you are." 30 So the people never worked on the seventh day of the week.

31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was like coriander seeds. It was white and tasted like wafers made with honey.

32 Moses said, "This is what Yahweh has commanded: Take two quarts of manna to be kept for your descendants. This way they will see the food that I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt."

33 Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar, put two quarts of manna in it, and put it in Yahweh's presence to be kept for your descendants." 34 Aaron put the jar of manna in front of the words of God's promise to be kept there, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

35 The Israelites ate manna for 40 years until they came to a place to settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of Canaan.

36 (Now, the standard dry measure at that time held 20 quarts.)

Aaron

The brother of Moses and first priest of the nation of Israel used this term for God.

Yahweh (Exod. 16:6)

The LORD Provides Water for the Israelites from a Rock 17 1 The whole community of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as Yahweh commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they complained to Moses by saying, "Give us water to drink!"

Moses said to them, "Why are you complaining to me? Why are you testing Yahweh?"

3 But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses and asked, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?"

4 So Moses cried out to Yahweh, "What should I do with these people? They're almost ready to stone me!"

5 Yahweh answered Moses, "Bring some of the leaders of Israel with you, and go to where the people can see you. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile River. 6 I'll be standing in front of you there by a rock at Mount Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink."

Moses did this while the leaders of Israel watched him.

7 He named that place Massah [Testing] and Meribah [Complaining] because the Israelites complained and because they tested Yahweh, asking, "Is Yahweh with us or not?"

God Defeats the Amalekites 8 The Amalekites fought Israel at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men. Then fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold in my hand the staff Elohim told me to take along."

10 Joshua did as Moses told him and fought the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel would win, but as soon as he put his hands down, the Amalekites would start to win. 12 Eventually, Moses' hands felt heavy. So Aaron and Hur took a rock, put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron held up one hand, and Hur held up the other. His hands remained steady until sunset. 13 So Joshua defeated the Amalekite army in battle.

14 Yahweh said to Moses, "Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth."

15 Moses built an altar and called it Yahweh Nissi. 16 He said, "Because a hand was lifted against Yah's throne,a Yahweh will be at war against the Amalekites from one generation to the next."

Moses' Father-in-law Visits Israel's Camp 18 1 Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything Elohim had done for Moses and his people Israel and how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 When Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had taken her in, 3 along with her two sons. The one son was named Gershom [Foreigner], because Moses said, "I was a foreigner living in another country." 4 The name of the other was Eliezer [My God Is a Helper], because he said, "My father's Elohim was my helper. He saved me from Pharaoh's death sentence."

5 Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought Moses' sons and wife to Moses in the desert where he was camped near the mountain of Elohim. 6 Jethro had sent word to Moses, "I'm coming to visit you, and I'm bringing your wife and her two sons."

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed with his face touching the ground and kissed Jethro. After they asked each other how they were, they went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel, all the hardships they had had on the way, and how Yahweh had saved them.

9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things Yahweh had done for Israel in rescuing them from the Egyptians. 10 He said, "Thank Yahweh! He rescued you from the Egyptians and their Pharaoh and rescued these people from the control of the Egyptians, 11 who treated Israel with contempt. Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all other gods."

12 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to Elohim. Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came to eat the meal with Moses' father-in-law in Elohim's presence.

13 The next day Moses was settling disagreements among the people. The people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "Why are you doing this for the people? Why do you sit here alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"

15 Moses answered his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to find out Elohim's will. 16 Whenever they have a disagreement and bring it to me, I decide which person is right, and I tell them Elohim's laws and instructions."

17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you're doing is not good. 18 You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You can't do it alone! 19 Now listen to me, and I'll give you some advice. May Elohim be with you! You must be the people's representative to Elohim and bring their disagreements to Elohim. 20 You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings, show them how to live, and tell them what to do.

21 "But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear Elohim, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 22 Let them be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all important cases to you, but they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. 23 If Elohim commands you, and you do this, you will be able to continue your work, and all these people will have their disagreements settled so that they can go home."

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses chose capable men from all the Israelites and put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. 26 These men were the ones who usually settled disagreements among the people. They would bring difficult cases to Moses, but they settled all minor ones themselves.

27 Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. So Jethro went back to his own country.

YAHWEH NISSI.

THE LORD IS MY BANNER.

Ancient armies carried standards or banners that served as marks of identification and as symbols that embodied the ideals of a people. Like a flag, a banner was something that could be seen from afar, serving as a rallying point for troops before a battle. Banners were first used in Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, and Persia. The Israelites carried them on their march through the desert.

Unlike fabric flags, ancient banners were usually made out of wood or metal and shaped into various figures or emblems that could be fastened to a staff or a long pole. Depicting birds, animals, or gods, they often glistened brightly in the sun so that they could be seen from far off.

A banner carried at the head of an army or planted on a high hill served as a rallying point for troops before battle or as an announcement of a victory already won. When Moses held up the staff of God in the battle with the Amalekites, he was holding it like a banner, appealing to God's power. By building an altar and naming it Yahweh Nissi (yah-WEH nis-SEE),the LORD Is My Banner (Exodus 17:15), he created a memorial of God's protection and power.

Praying to Yahweh Nissi I went to a tough junior high when I was in seventh grade, so tough that even the girls got into fistfights. Though most women I know have never duked it out on the playground, all have had their share of battles. And then there are the spiritual and emotional battles we all face regardless of our sex.

When it comes to fighting, the name Yahweh Nissi reminds us of at least two things. First, that we are in a war, and second, that we are going to win it. Let's look at this battle scene from Exodus-the first fight the Israelites face after leaving Egypt (see Exodus 17:8-16). The outcome will indelibly mark them as victors or vanquished, influencing the course of their history.

Under the circumstances, you would expect Moses to act like a good general, surveying the battle from a strategic vantage point, deploying histroops, and then communicating a tactical plan as the battle advances. So it's not surprising that he ascends a hill to watch the battle unfold. But Moses has more than a good military brain. He has a secret weapon, three secret weapons to be exact.

Notice, first of all, that the Bible says Moses held the staff of God in his hands, the one representing God's authority. This is the same staff he threw down in front of Pharaoh's magicians, the same staff he held above the Red Sea, commanding the churning waters to part.

But what's the second secret weapon? Instead of issuing nonstop commands to his men, Moses raises his hands and calls out to God in prayer. Whenever he tires and lowers his hands, the battle goes to the enemy. Whenever he raises them, it goes to the Israelites. So the second secret weapon is prayer-persistent, ongoing prayer.

But what about the third secret weapon? When Moses gets tired of holding up his hands, he asks two of his leading men to stand alongside him and hold up his hands. Aaron and Hur could have been out on the field commanding troops, but instead they are standing still, holding up the hands of their leader. So the third secret weapon is community, specifically a community of prayer.

Whether our own battles are sudden attacks or prolonged sieges, we need to remember that we have authority over the spiritual realm because of our relationship with Christ. The battles we face can only be won with God's help.

So pray. And make sure you are part of a community of Christians, large or small, who are committed to praying together.

Yahweh Nissi, prepare me for the battles that will inevitably come. Help me to hold up the cross of your Son as a banner over my life. Let the victories I enjoy be credited to you so that all may rally to your cause.

Promises Associated with the Name YAHWEH NISSI.

Yet, you have raised a flag for those who fear you so that they can rally to it when attacked by bows and arrows. (Psalm 60:4) At that time the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people to gather around. The nations will come to him. His resting place will be glorious. At that time Adonay will use his power again to recover what remains of his people. . . He will raise a banner for the nations to gather around. (Isaiah 11:10-12)

Israel at Mount Sinai 19 1 Two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the desert of Sinai. 2 Israel had moved from Rephidim and had come into the desert of Sinai. They had set up camp there in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up the mountain to Elohim, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, "This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, 4 'You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to my mountain. 5 If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise,a then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. 6 You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.' These are the words you must speak to the Israelites."

7 So Moses went down and called for the leaders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Yahweh had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, "We will do everything Yahweh has said." So Moses brought their answer back to Yahweh.

9 Yahweh said to Moses, "I am coming to you in a storm cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always believe you." Moses told Yahweh what the people had said.

10 So Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people, and tell them they have two days to get ready. They must set themselves apart as holy. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the day after tomorrow. On that day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary around the mountain for the people, and tell them not to go up the mountain or even touch it. Those who touch the mountain must be put to death. 13 No one should touch them. They must be stoned or shot with arrows. No matter whether it's an animal or a person, it must not live. The people may go up the mountain only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast."

14 After Moses went down the mountain to the people, he had them get ready, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then Moses said to the people, "Be ready two days from now. Don't disqualify yourselves by having sexual intercourse."

16 On the morning of the second day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram's horn was heard. All the people in the camp shook with fear. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with Elohim, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because Yahweh had come down on it in fire. Smoke rose from the mountain like the smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking, and the voice of Elohim answered him.

20 Yahweh came down on top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. 21 Yahweh said to him, "Go down and warn the people not to force their way through the boundary to see Yahweh, or many of them will die. 22 Even the priests who are allowed to come near Yahweh must set themselves apart as holy, or Yahweh will violently kill them."

23 Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai, because you warned us yourself to mark off a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy."

24 Yahweh said to him, "Go down, and bring Aaron back with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through the boundary to come up to Yahweh , or he will violently kill them."

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments-Deuteronomy 5:6-21 20 1 Then Elohim spoke all these words: 2 "I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

3 "Never have any other god. 4 Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water. 5 Never worship them or serve them, because I, Yahweh your Elohim, am El Kanna . I punish children for their parents' sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. 6 But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

7 "Never use the name of Yahweh your Elohim carelessly. Yahweh will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.

8 "Remember the day of worship by observing it as a holy day. 9 You have six days to do all your work. 10 The seventh day is the day of worship dedicated to Yahweh your Elohim. You, your sons, your daughters, your male and female slaves, your cattle, and the foreigners living in your city must never do any work on that day. 11 In six days Yahweh made heaven, earth, and the sea, along with everything in them. He didn't work on the seventh day. That's why Yahweh blessed the day he stopped his work and set this day apart as holy.

12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live for a long time in the land Yahweh your Elohim is giving you.

13 "Never murder.

14 "Never commit adultery.

15 "Never steal.

16 "Never lie when you testify about your neighbor.

17 "Never desire to take your neighbor's household away from him.

"Never desire to take your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to him."