The Egyptian Influence On Exodus 17:8–16

The battle between Israel and Amalek recorded in Exod 17:8–16 is perhaps one of the most unique battle reports in the Hebrew Bible. In the brief account, victory comes when Moses stands on a hill overlooking the battlefield with his hands raised while Aaron and Hur support each arm. Scholars have offered many suggestions as to what may have influenced the author when recording this account. This article offers an alternate view by proposing that the author may have been influenced by the common Egyptian cosmological scene depicting the air god Shu holding aloft the goddess Nut while being aided by two spirit-deities.