Moses Smote the Rock of Meribah and Water Came Out

Near the beginning of Israelite’s 40 years of wandering they came to a waterless place near a city called Kadesh. After moaning and complaining to Moses, he was instructed to gather the people around the rock of Meribah (Hebrew meaning: Quarrel, Strife, Contention):

“And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.” Numbers 20:10-11 (emphasis added).

Because Moses and Aaron said “we” instead of “God” they unthinkingly took credit credit for God’s work, and missed a teaching opportunity. Therefore God pronounced that Moses and Aaron would not lead the Children of Israel into the promised land:

“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” Numbers 20:12.

The traditional location where Moses struck the rock is at ‘Ain Musa, in Jordan. ‘Ain Musa is Arabic for “spring of Moses.” However, the Biblical text clearly states that before the waters of Meribah incident the King of Edom had denied them crossing his territory. ‘Ain Musa lies in the center of Edom (near Petra) so it cannot be the correct location. The spring is fun for a quick stop to review Numbers 20. The real location is likely near the border of the Sinai and the Negev Deserts, in the vicinity of Kadesh-Barnea, in Israel near the border with Egypt. But the exact site, wherever it is, has not been identified.