Exodus 17:1-7 ▼

1 And all the congregation of the sons of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sin on their journeys, according to the mouth of YHWH. And they camped in Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.

2 And the people contended with Moses and said, “Give to us water, that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you? contend with me? Why do you? test YHWH?”

3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why is this—you have brought us up from Egypt to kill me and my sons and my livestock with thirst?”

4 And Moses cried out to YHWH, saying, “What shall I do for this people? A little longer and they will stone me!”

5 And YHWH said to Moses, “Pass on before the face of the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel. And your staff with which you struck the River, take in your hand and go.

6 Behold, I am standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out from it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so in the eyes of the elders of Israel.

7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the sons of Israel, and because of their testing of YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?”