WORD STUDY – HAND יד
Exodus 17:11: “And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.”
Some have suggested that Moses holding his hand up was sort of like a battle flag. In the heat of battle, you are not sure whether you are winning or not, you are just concentrating on the business of staying alive. In the American Civil War each regiment had two flags, the flag of the country and the flag of the regiment. The carriers of the flag were called color guards. They had no weapon and had to stand in the midst of battle. It took a brave person to be a color guard. The flags would be a rallying point for the soldiers when things got very confusing in battle. It also served to show that if the flag was still flying your team was still playing. I am not sure if that was the practical reason for Moses keeping his hand holding his rod up in the air. Be that as it may, the use of certain Hebrew words here, would indicate something a little deeper, particularly the word yad (hand). Exodus 17:11 suggests that it was Moses hand being held up that was important rather than his rod.
Let’s take a look at this word for hand. If this were a battle sign, the Hebrew should have used the word for arms. To use the word yad or hand would suggest something quite spiritual was taking place. The word yad is spelled Yod, Daleth. This combination of letters suggest that the hand is a doorway through which the power of God would flow. When Moses worshipped God, as did all Jews, he did it with uplifted hands.
I read something interesting in the Talmud today in Rosh Hashanah 29a. Here we learn that it was not only the physical act of holding up his hand that initiated God’s help. Holding up his hand was the means by which Moses communicated to the Israelites to keep their thoughts turned to the above and to subject their hearts to God. It was the tuning of their thoughts to the above, and the subjecting of their hearts to the will of God that was the direct cause for God’s help.
The word yad can also mean to certify, ensure, verify, confirm or authenticate. The hand certifies the power of God. Hence we perform the act of lying on of hands to certify or authenticate the power of God.
When Moses’s hand was uplifted the army of Israel prevailed. The word prevailed is gavar which means to become strong. When Moses lifted up his hand the army of Israel became strong. The word for prevailed is spelled Gimel, Beth, Resh and shows that this strength is a spiritual strength, this is strength to helps others (Gimel) that comes from the power of God (Resh) that fills our heart (Beth). These men were not fighting for themselves, they were fighting for their families, and their people. With that intent, God filled them with His power or strength.
Another important point, however, is that when Moses lowered his hand, the Israelites started to lose strength. The word lower is navach which is in a Hiphil imperfect form. In this case it would mean to cause to rest. When something caused his hand to rest, the army started to lose.
Moses was not putting his life on the line like the men fighting the battle, yet, his very actions controlled the outcome. I think this is very significant for us. We may not be on front lies of the spiritual battle, but that does not give us cause to sit back and take it easy. Just as Moses stayed in worship with God during the battle, interceding on behalf of his army, so too are we required to intercede on behalf of those who are fighting spiritual warfare.
I have seen Christians who are very eager to throw rocks at their pastor or other Christian leaders when that leader succumbs to a lust of the flesh. But the enemy knows that if he can attack your leader and defeat your leader, you will be easy pickings. If you have not had your hands lifted up to God, interceding on that leader’s behalf for the spiritual battle, then you are just as much to blame and held accountable for that leader’s defeat.
When Moses grew so weary that he could not hold his hands up any longer, two friends, Hur and Gideon put their hands in his and held them up. Their hands in his hand in Hebrew is yadiyad. The ancients believed your heart was in the palm of your hand. Hence they were joining their hearts with the heart of Moses. To join hands with another believer to uphold a third in spiritual warfare is true yadiyad. For you see the word yadiyad in Hebrew which is literally hand in hand and means Beloved Friend.
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