Exodus 17:2-7 ▼

2 So the people complained to Moses, “ Give us water to drink.”“ Why are you complaining to me ? ” Moses replied to them. “ Why are you testing the LORD? ”

3 But the people thirsted there for water, and grumbled against Moses. They said, “ Why did you ever bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? ”

4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD , “What should I do with these people? In a little while they will stone me! ”

5 The LORD answered Moses, “ Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go.

6 I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the LORD , saying, “ Is the LORD among us or not ? ”