Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 17:16

16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworne that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Or, And, as the Hebrew particle properly signifies: for these words are not a reason of the passage next preceding, but an additional sentence.

Or, surely, as that particle is oft used, as Iob 8. 6. and 20. 20. Psal. 10. 14. and 44. 22, &c. [illegible: 1 word] Heb. the hand upon the throne of the Lord, for the hand of the Lord upon his throne, which is perfectly the same thing, onely the order of the words is a little varied after the manner of the Hebrew tongue. These words then are a paraphrastical description of a solemn oath, by the usual posture of it, viz. the listing up the hand, which is usually put for swearing, and in that sence is ascribed both to men, as Gen. 14. 22. and to God, as Deut. 32. 40. And this hand of God lifted up upon his throne, where his Majesty doth peculiarly and gloriously dwell, signifies that God swears by himself, as is said, Heb. 6. 13. And thus the Chaldee and Arabick Interpreters understand it. Others render the place thus, Because the hand (or, his hand, the pronoun being here understood, as it frequently is in the Hebrew language, of which several instances have been given before, i. e. the hand of Amalek, which may easily be understood out of the following clause in which Amalek is named) was against the throne of the Lord; i. e. was stretched out against God himself; for so God esteems it because it was done against that people among whom God had placed his throne or seat or dwelling, according to his covenant made with them; which also was well known to the Amalekites by the relation of their progenitours, who in all probability had acquainted them with their own rights, and with Iacobs arts whereby he robbed Esau, the father of Amalek, Gen. 36. 15, 16. of his birthright and blessing and consequently of the land of Canaan, to which now God was bringing them, that he might plant them there and set up his throne among them. And the Amalekites doubtless heard, as the other neighbours also did, in what a miraculous manner God had brought them out of Egypt and over the Red-sea. And they knew better then others, by tradition from their Parents that God had promised Canaan to them, and now they saw that he was conducting them thither. And therefore to prevent this they now commence a War against them and against God or his throne, whose presence with and conduct over them was most manifest: which was a great aggravation of their sin. And this latter translation and interpretation seems most probable, 1. because it exactly agrees with the Hebrew words and the order in which they are placed. 2. It makes the coherence more clear than our translation doth, the former part of the verse containing a reason of the latter, to wit, of that severe curse and everlasting war denounced against Amalek, because they attempted by force to overthrow Gods throne and people, and that with so many aggravating circumstances, of which see Deut. 25. 17, 18.

Marginal references: Or, because[illegible: 1+ letters] hand of [illegible: 1 word] is against the throne of the LORD, there[illegible: 1+ letters] &c.; Heb. the [illegible: 1 word] upon th[illegible: 1+ letters]t [illegible: 1 word] of the LORD▪