Water from the Rock

The Israelites left the wilderness of Sin and journeyed by stages, as Yahweh commanded, until they came to Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, saying, "Give us water to drink." Moses answered, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?" The people thirsted greatly and grumbled against Moses. Yahweh told Moses to take the staff with which he had struck the Nile, to take some elders of Israel, and go to the rock at Horeb. Yahweh said, "Behold, I will stand before you on the rock. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel, and water came out of the rock. Moses called the place Massah and Meribah, because the people of Israel quarreled there and tested Yahweh, saying, "Is Yahweh among us, or not?"