John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. Take thy rod , etc.] The rod of miracles, as the Targum of Jonathan; not the rod of Aaron, miraculous for its blossom and fruit, as some Jewish writers think; but the rod of Moses, with which he had done many wonders in Egypt, and at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, and particularly by smiting the rock at Horeb, when the Israelites wanted water, as they did now: and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother ; not only the heads of the people, but the body of them, as many as could be got together to see the miracle, and to receive the benefit of it: and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes ; which was near, but a little way off, within sight, and might be pointed to: it was not the same rock that was smote before; that was in Horeb, this in the extremity of the land of Edom, as Aben Ezra observes; this was to be spoken to, and by a word speaking it would give out water; which was a trial of the faith of Moses and Aaron, as well as of the people, before whom, in a public manner, the rock was to be addressed, as if it was intelligent and all-sufficient: and it shall give forth his water ; not as though there was a fountain of water in it, but that water should flow from it, or God by it give water: and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock ; by speaking to it: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink; sufficient for them both.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - After thirty-eight years' tedious abode in the wilderness, the armie of Israel advanced towards Canaan again. There was no water for the congregation. We live in a wanting world, and wherever we are, mus expect to meet with something to put us out. It is a great mercy to have plenty of water, a mercy which, if we found the want of, we shoul more own the worth of. Hereupon they murmured against Moses and Aaron They spake the same absurd and brutish language their fathers had done It made their crime the worse, that they had smarted so long for the discontent and distrusts of their fathers, yet they venture in the sam steps. Moses must again, in God's name, command water out of a rock for them; God is as able as ever to supply his people with what is needfu for them. But Moses and Aaron acted wrong. They took much of the glor of this work of wonder to themselves; "Must we fetch water?" As if it were done by some power or worthiness of their own. They were to spea to the rock, but they smote it. Therefore it is charged upon them, tha they did not sanctify God, that is, they did not give to him alone tha glory of this miracle which was due unto his name. And being provoke by the people, Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips. The same pride of man would still usurp the office of the appointed Mediator; and becom to ourselves wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption Such a state of sinful independence, such a rebellion of the sou against its Saviour, the voice of God condemns in every page of the gospel.
Original Hebrew קח3947 את853 המטה4294 והקהל6950 את853 העדה5712 אתה859 ואהרן175 אחיך251 ודברתם1696 אל413 הסלע5553 לעיניהם5869 ונתן5414 מימיו4325 והוצאת3318 להם מים4325 מן4480 הסלע5553 והשׁקית8248 את853 העדה5712 ואת853 בעירם׃1165
