Exodus 17:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They questioned why they had been led into this wilderness, where both they and their livestock faced certain death. They bemoaned their departure from Egypt, questioning the wisdom of bringing them to a desolate place devoid of crops, fruit trees, and even drinkable water.

Moses and Aaron departed from the congregation to the entrance of the tent of meeting, where they fell prostrate, and the glory of the Lord manifested before them. The Lord spoke to Moses, instructing him to take the rod and assemble the people. He was to speak to the rock in their presence so that it would yield water, thereby providing for the assembly and their livestock. Moses, obedient to the Lord's command, took the rod. He and Aaron gathered the people around the rock and addressed them, rebuking their disobedience. Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the rod, resulting in an abundant flow of water for the people and their animals. However, the Lord then spoke to Moses and Aaron, declaring that because they had not believed Him and failed to uphold His holiness in the sight of the Israelites, they would not lead the congregation into the land He intended to give them. This incident at Meribah illustrates the contention the children of Israel had with the Lord, who demonstrated His holiness (Num. 20:1-13).

As they traversed a parched land, enduring hardships on their journey, they cried out in frustration against Moses and Aaron amidst the usual trials they faced. Despite witnessing numerous miraculous signs from God and having experienced His immense power, they were concerned that He might grow weary of providing their essential needs, including food and water from various sources.

Although their reasoning had merit, the main flaw in this interpretation was the considerable distance of this location from Sinai and one of its peaks, Sinai-Horib. In a prior note in chapter 3, we considered the viewpoint of A. C. B., based on the latest surveys, that Mount Horeb, referred to by its common name, is the northeastern peak of the Sinai mountain range, known for its rich pastures (Exod. 3). In the northeastern area of Sinai, there exists a gorge known as Wadi el-Sheik, which connects to another gorge named Wadi Zaal. Close to where these gorges meet lies a narrow pass called Al-Watyeh, which A. K. B. asserts corresponds well with Rephidim. Al-Watyeh serves as a crucial military position for controlling access to the gorges surrounding Sinai, and it has become the primary route to the mountain pastures. To its north, there is a vast dry area that aligns with the camp where the Israelites voiced their complaints about the absence of water. Additionally, near this pass stands an elevation from which the commander could observe the battle (v. 6). Furthermore, Arabian tradition now indicates the presence of the rock near this gorge, from which water flowed when Moses struck it with his rod (v. 6). Cross-referencing the journey of the Israelites with a map of the Sinai Peninsula, we see that after stopping at Debbet-er-Ramla (the desert of Sin), adjacent to the limestone formations of the Tn ridge, they proceeded eastward toward the Egyptian road, traces of which have been discovered. They navigated through the small gorge of El-Kine and entered the granite mountain formation, which already belongs to the Sinai range, ultimately reaching Rephidim. It is likely that after first securing the mountain pass and pastures, they remained there for an extended period around Sinai (Chap. 19, 2).