The Waters of Marah and Elim

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(A) of Shur.(B) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(C) 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](D)) 24 So the people grumbled(E) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(F)

25 Then Moses cried out(G) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(H) 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.(I) 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(J) all his decrees,(K) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(L) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(M) you.”

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

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.

The Lord Provides Water

22 (A)Then Moses [a]led Israel from the [b]Red Sea, and they went out into (B)the wilderness of (C)Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to (D)Marah, they could not drink the waters [c]of Marah, because they were [d]bitter; for that reason it was named [e]Marah. 24 So the people (E)grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then he (F)cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him (G)a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.

There He (H)made for them a statute and regulation, and there He (I)tested them. 26 And He said, “(J)If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen (K)to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, (L)I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, (M)the Lord, am your healer.”

27 Then they came to (N)Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:22 Lit caused Israel to journey
  2. Exodus 15:22 Lit Sea of Reeds
  3. Exodus 15:23 Lit from
  4. Exodus 15:23 Heb Marim
  5. Exodus 15:23 I.e., bitterness