Arabic, a _digger_) on lead, or on a rock.[2] [Footnote 1: "Jehovah said to Moses, Write this as a memorandum on a roll, and let it be read to Joshua, that I intend to obliterate entirely the memory of Amalek here below. And Moses built an altar and called it _Jehovah Nissi_ (Jehovah is my banner). The reason he assigned for the name was that a hand (power) opposed to the throne of Jah was (the cause of) Jehovah's perpetual warfare against Amalek." This is the _sense_ of the Hebrew as it stands, in the current language of our day, and not a copy of the words merely,--an error, it is conceived, into which most of the translators, from the Seventy downwards, have often fallen. If a conjectural criticism might be offered, let כ, _caf_, be inserted for נ, _nun_, and instead of Jehovah _Nissi_ (banner), read Jehovah _Cissi_, "Jehovah is my _throne_;" then the reason assigned by Moses for the name becomes intelligible, which it certainly is not in the existing text, undoubtedly very ancient, being confirmed by the Samaritan.] [Footnote 2: The word, correctly translated _for ever_, according to the Masoretic system, means "as a witness or testimony," if pointed with _Tsereh_ instead of _Pathach_. The general sense of this chapter, in some respects obscure, appears to be, "I seek for justice, but cannot obtain it. Every obstacle is put in my way. Neither my own kindred nor servants obey me. Look at my most wretched condition; although I call you friends, you all hate me. You are not satisfied with persecuting my body, but you afflict my soul also. Oh that I could make an impression upon you. I would set forth my petition for relief from your persecutions on a roll, on lead, or on a rock, as a constant memorial in testimony of my sufferings and your hate; as I know that my Goel (Redeemer or Avenger) lives, and will at length ascend from the dust (sand or soil). (In his approach he raises a cloud of dust.) Then arise and destroy this (memorial), for, living, I shall get a judgment on my case, being personally present and not by representative, although I may be hardly able to attend from mental anxiety. Then you will say, why did we persecute him, we were all wrong. And you will fear punishment because you will learn that justice must be satisfied." Divested of its highly poetic diction, the above gives the subject matter in the vernacular.]