Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. Why chide ye with me?] God is your leader, complain to him; Wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? As he is your leader, all your murmurings against me he considers as directed against himself; why therefore do ye tempt him? Has he not given you sufficient proofs that he can destroy his enemies and support his friends? And is he not among you to do you good? ver. 7. Why therefore do ye doubt his power and goodness, and thus provoke him to treat you as his enemies?
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The children of Israel journeyed according to the commandment of the Lord, led by the pillar of cloud and fire, yet they came to a plac where there was no water for them to drink. We may be in the way of duty, yet may meet with troubles, which Providence brings us into, for the trial of our faith, and that God may be glorified in our relief They began to question whether God was with them or not. This is calle their "tempting God," which signifies distrust of him after they ha received such proofs of his power and goodness. Moses mildly answere them. It is folly to answer passion with passion; that makes bad worse God graciously appeared to help them. How wonderful the patience an forbearance of God toward provoking sinners! That he might show his power as well as his pity, and make it a miracle of mercy, he gave the water out of a rock. God can open fountains for us where we leas expect them. Those who, in this wilderness, keep to God's way, ma trust him to provide for them. Also, let this direct us to depend of Christ's grace. The apostle says, that Rock was Christ, 1Co 10:4, it was a type of him. While the curse of God might justly have bee executed upon our guilty souls, behold the Son of God is smitten for us. Let us ask and receive. There was a constant, abundant supply of this water. Numerous as believers are, the supply of the Spirit of Christ is enough for all. The water flowed from the rock in streams to refresh the wilderness, and attended them on their way towards Canaan and this water flows from Christ, through the ordinances, in the barre wilderness of this world, to refresh our souls, until we come to glory A new name was given to the place, in remembrance, not of the mercy of their supply, but of the sin of their murmuring: "Massah," Temptation because they tempted God; "Meribah," Strife, because they chid with Moses. Sin leaves a blot upon the name.
Original Hebrew וירב7378 העם5971 עם5973 משׁה4872 ויאמרו559 תנו5414 לנו מים4325 ונשׁתה8354 ויאמר559 להם משׁה4872 מה4100 תריבון7378 עמדי5978 מה4100 תנסון5254 את853 יהוה׃3068
