This passage is chocked full of irony:
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” – Exodus 17:14-16
I can’t mention irony in the Bible without mentioning this one:
“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” – Numbers 12:3
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Matt, I literally just got back from teaching, partly about this passage. It is ironic, like leaving myself a note for something I want to forget.
I think it is an unusual bit of foreshadowing, too. It’s strange that the Lord is so insistent on Joshua hearing this, unless it is subtly looking forward to Joshua’s succession of Moses, which is a long time from being decided in Exodus 17. This story of Amalek is the first appearance of Joshua in the text, yet it seems like the Lord already has him pegged for leadership.