Exodus 17:14

“And the Lord said unto Moses, etc.] After the battle was over, and the Israelites had got the victory: write this for a memorial in a book: not in loose papers, but in a book, that it might continue; meaning that the account of this battle with Amelek should be put down in the annals or journal of Moses, in the book of the law he was writing, or was about to write, and would write, as he did, (see <060107> Joshua 1:7,8) that so it might be kept in memory, and transmitted to the latest posterity; it being on the one hand an instance of great impiety, inhumanity, and rashness, in Amalek, and on the other a display of the goodness, kindness, and power of God on the behalf of his people: and…”

“Write this for a memorial--If the bloody character of this statute seems to be at variance with the mild and merciful character of God, the reasons are to be sought in the deep and implacable vengeance they meditated against Israel (Psa 83:4). Next: Exodus Chapter 18”

“In a book - in the book, i. e. the book which contained the history of God’s dealings with His people. Moses was further instructed to impress the command especially on the mind of Joshua, as the leader to whom the first step toward its accomplishment would be entrusted on the conquest of Canaan. The work was not actually completed until the reign of Hezekiah, 1 Chronicles 4:43. return to 'Top of Page'”

“17:14-16 By their unprovoked attack on the people through whom God was extending his blessing, the Amalekites incurred the unending wrath of God. God’s hand can be extended in blessing, or it can be extended in curse. Those who reject the hand of blessing experience the curse (see 1 Sam 15).”

“memorial: Exo 12:14, Exo 13:9, Exo 34:27; Deu 31:9; Jos 4:7; Job 19:23; Hag 2:2, Hag 2:3 for I will: Num 24:20; Deu 25:17-19; Sa1 15:2, Sa1 15:3, Sa1 15:7, Sa1 15:8, Sa1 15:18, Sa1 27:8, Sa1 27:9, Sa1 30:1, Sa1 30:17; Sa2 1:1, Sa2 1:8-16, Sa2 8:12; Ch1 4:43; Ezr 9:14 the remembrance: Job 18:17; Psa 9:6; Pro 10:7 Exodus 17:15”

“As this battle and victory were of such significance, Moses was to write it for a memorial בּסּפר, in "the book" appointed for a record of the wonderful works of God, and "to put it into the ears of Joshua," i.e., to make known to him, and impress upon him, that Jehovah would utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; not "in order that he might carry out this decree of God on the conquest of Canaan, as Knobel supposes, but to strengthen his confidence in the help of the Lord against all the enemies of Israel. In Deu 25:19 the Israelites are commanded to exterminate Amalek, when God should have given them rest in the land of Canaan from all their enemies round about. Exo…”