their faith in God, Amalek conquered. But it was hard for Moses
constantly to raise his hands. This was God's way of punishing him
for being somewhat negligent in the preparations for the war
against Amalek. Hence Aaron and Hur were obliged to hold up his
arms and assist him in his prayer. As, furthermore, he was unable
to stand all that time, he seated himself on a stone, disdaining a
soft and comfortable seat, saying, "So long as Israel is in distress, I
shall share it with them." [145]

At evenfall, the battle was not yet decided, therefore Moses prayed
to God that He might stay the setting of the sun and thus enable
Israel to draw the battle to a close. God granted this prayer, for the
sun did not set until Israel had completely destroyed their enemy.
Thereupon Moses blessed Joshua with the words, "Some day the
sun shall stand still for thy sake, as it did to-day for mine," and this
blessing was later fulfilled at Gibeon, when the sun stood still to
help Joshua in his battle against the Amorites. [146]

Although Amalek had not received the merited punishment from
the hands of Joshua, still his enterprise against Israel had not been
entirely unavailing. The miraculous exodus of Israel out of Egypt,
and especially the cleaving of the sea, had created such alarm
among the heathens, that none among them had dared to approach
Israel. But this fear vanished as soon as Amalek attempted to
compete in battle with Israel. Although he was terrible beaten, still
the fear of the inaccessibility of Israel was gone. It was with
Amalek as with that foolhardy wight who plunged into a
scalding-hot tub. He scalded himself terribly, yet the tub became
cold through his plunge into it. Hence God was not content with
the punishment Amalek received in the time of Moses, but swore