Study Desk

And there was no water for the assembly, - so they gathered together against Moses and against Aaron.

And the people contended with Moses, - and spake saying, Would then we had died a when our brethren died, before Yahweh!

Wherefore then hast thou brought the convocation of Yahweh into this desert, - to die there, we, and our cattle?

And wherefore did ye cause us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? - not a place of seeds, and figs, and vines and pomegranates, even water, is there none to drink.

And Moses and Aaron went in from the presence of the multitude unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces, - and the glory of Yahweh appeared unto them.

Then spake Yahweh unto Moses, saying:

Take the staff and gather together the assembly, thou, and Aaron thy brother, then shall ye speak unto the cliff before their eyes and it shall give forth it waters, - so shalt thou bring forth unto them water, out of the cliff, and shalt cause the assembly, and their cattle to drink.

And Moses took the staff from before Yahweh, - as he commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron gathered together the convocation before the cliff, - and he said unto them: Hear I pray you ye rebels! Out of this cliff, must we bring forth for you water?

And Moses lifted high his hand and smote the cliff with his staff, twice, - and there came forth water in abundance, and the assembly and their cattle, did drink.

Then said Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to hallow me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore, shall ye not bring in this convocation into the land which I have given unto them.

The same, were the waters of Meribah that is "Contention"in that the sons of Israel contended with Yahweh, - and so he hallowed himself among them.