Exodus chapter 17

After reading chapter 17:

*The Israelite hordes travelled from place to place as Yahweh directed. At Rephidim, there was no water and they quarreled with Moses. Moses shifts the blame to God. God told him to walk ahead of the people, along with some of the elders. He was to take the magic staff and strike a certain rock so water would flow out if it. He did as God said and it worked; there was enough water for all those people. I don't understand why it is so shocking that people would get upset and doubt god's providential care when they don't have enough food or water.

*While they were in Rephidim, the Amalekites attacked Israel. It doesn't say why. We are now introduced to Joshua, who Moses tells to take some men to go fight the Amalekites. Moses went to stand on a hill with the magic staff. While Joshua fought the Amalekites, Moses would hold up his hands and the battle would be in favor of the Israelites. When Moses lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. His arms got tired. So, Aaron and Hur stood on each side and held up his hands til sunset. Joshua's army won the fight. I guess that was to prove that the Israelites needed Moses.

*Yahweh told Moses to write this on a scroll, but he doesn't say what "this" is. Then he says he will completely blot out the memory of Amalekites and Yahweh will be at war with the Amalekites for many generations. The Amalekites will appear again later.

*After reading the Wikipedia article on the Amalekites, it seems to me that there is no definite concrete evidence for their existence.

Edited.