Exodus 17:12
ESV
But Moses ' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
NIV
When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
NASB
And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set.
CSB
When Moses’s hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.
NLT
Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.
KJV
But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
NKJV
But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
What does Exodus 17:12 mean?
The recently-freed nation of Israel (Exodus 12:40–41; 14:21–28) has been attacked by the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8). Moses takes his staff to the top of a nearby hill while Joshua leads men into battle (Exodus 17:9–10). On the hill, Moses holds up his hand, with the staff, and Israel experiences success in their fight. But when he lowers his hand, the battle turns against his people. Eighty-year-old Moses (Exodus 7:7) cannot hold his staff up forever.In the famous Lord of the Rings books and films, a character named Frodo is tasked with carrying a powerful, evil ring. Near the end of the story, he drops from exhaustion and cannot continue. His only companion, Sam, cannot take Frodo's place as the ringbearer. Since Sam cannot carry the ring, he carries Frodo, bringing them to their destination. This part of the story may have been inspired in part by this part of the book of Exodus.
The power Israel needs comes only through a designated channel, which is Moses and his staff (Exodus 3:15; 4:17). Apparently, neither Aaron nor Hur can take the staff and hold it themselves. So, they find a rock on which Moses can sit, and the two men hold Moses' arms up for him. This gives Israel the needed power for victory (Exodus 17:13). The incident emphasizes the nation's dependence on their God (Zechariah 4:6).
