Moses Strikes the Rock at Meribah

The whole community of Israel came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month and stayed at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried. Soon the people faced another trouble: there was no water for the congregation.

The people gathered against Moses and Aaron and quarrelled with Moses. They said they might die there, along with their animals. They complained that this place had no seed, figs, vines, or pomegranates, and no water to drink.

Moses and Aaron went from the people to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and fell with their faces to the ground. Yahweh's glory appeared to them. Yahweh told Moses to take the rod, gather the people with Aaron, and speak to the rock before their eyes so that it would pour out water for the people and their livestock.

Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he had been commanded. Then he and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock. Moses spoke sharply to them and said that water would be brought from the rock. Then he lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod.

Water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. But Yahweh said that Moses and Aaron had not believed him and had not treated him as holy before the people of Israel. Because of this, they would not bring the assembly into the land he was giving them. These were called the waters of Meribah, because the people of Israel strove with Yahweh there, and he showed himself holy among them.