²¹ Miriam sang^(A) to them:

The Waters of Marah and Elim

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert^(D) of Shur.^(E) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.^{(F) 23} When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.^[a](G)) ²⁴ So the people grumbled^(H) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”^(I)

²⁵ Then Moses cried out^(J) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw^(K) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.^{(L) 26} He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep^(M) all his decrees,^(N) I will not bring on you any of the diseases^(O) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals^(P) you.”

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped^(Q) there near the water.

Water From the Rock

17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,^(A) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,^(B) but there was no water^(C) for the people to drink. ² So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water^(D) to drink.”^(E)

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”^(F)

³ But the people were thirsty^(G) for water there, and they grumbled^(H) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die^(I) of thirst?”

⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone^(J) me.”

⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff^(K) with which you struck the Nile,^(L) and go. ⁶ I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.^(M) Strike^(N) the rock, and water^(O) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ And he called the place Massah^[a](P) and Meribah^[b](Q) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”