Battles & Wars › Ancient world › Wars of the Hebrew Bible
Battle of Rephidim: Moses vs. Amalek (according to the Bible)
set soon after the Exodus (tradition)· Battle· Middle East & Africa
Legend & traditionA traditional account not confirmed by evidence.
In the Book of Exodus, Israel's first battle after leaving Egypt: Joshua fights Amalek while Moses holds up his hands.
See it on the Battles & Wars map →What happened
According to Exodus 17, the Amalekites, desert nomads, attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, on the way to Mount Sinai. Moses sent Joshua to lead the fighting men and stood on a hilltop holding the staff of God. While his hands were raised, Israel prevailed; when they dropped, Amalek did. Aaron and Hur held up his arms until sunset, and Joshua won. God then declared lasting war on Amalek, a theme taken up again in Deuteronomy and 1 Samuel.
Why it matters
It is the Bible's first account of Israel fighting as an army, introduces Joshua as a commander, and made Amalek a lasting symbol of an implacable enemy in Jewish tradition.
How we know
Only the biblical text. No archaeological evidence for the battle, for the Amalekites as a people, or for the site of Rephidim has been found.
Still debated
Rephidim's location is unknown; proposals include oases in southern Sinai such as Wadi Feiran. Whether the Amalekites were a real people is also uncertain.
Connections (2)
▸Battle of Rephidim: Moses vs. Amalek (according to the Bible) follows soon after Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea (according to the Bible)Legend & tradition
The connection
In the Exodus story, after crossing the sea the Israelites travel into the wilderness, complain about water, and reach Rephidim. There they fight their first battle with their own soldiers, against Amalek. At the sea God fought alone; at Rephidim Israel fights, with God's help.
When and how
Exodus 17:8–16, a few chapters after the sea crossing in Exodus 14–15.
How sure are we?
Literary only: the order of the biblical text. No outside evidence confirms either event.
Debates and open questions
Scholars debate whether these wilderness stories formed one early tradition or were collected from separate local tales.
▸Battle of Rephidim: Moses vs. Amalek (according to the Bible) introduces Joshua, later commander in the Battle of Jericho: Joshua's conquest (according to the Bible)Legend & tradition
The connection
Rephidim is where Joshua first appears in the Bible, chosen by Moses to lead the fighting men. After Moses's death, Joshua leads Israel across the Jordan and takes Jericho, so the first battle introduces the commander of the conquest.
When and how
Exodus 17 introduces Joshua; Deuteronomy 34 and Joshua 1–6 show him succeeding Moses and taking Jericho.
How sure are we?
The link is within the biblical text, which presents Joshua as Moses's assistant and successor.
Debates and open questions
Some scholars think Joshua's figure grew over time, perhaps from a tribal hero of the Ephraim hill country, with his Exodus scenes added later.