And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
7. Massah ] i.e. ‘Proving,’ from nissh, to ‘prove,’ v. 2.
Meribah ] i.e. ‘Strife’ (Gen 13:8), from rb, to ‘strive,’ v. 2. In Num 20:1-13 (J and P) there is a similar account, which reads like a variant tradition, of water produced by Moses from a rock ( sla‘, not r as here) at Kadesh (‘Ain adish, 50 miles S. of Beersheba), the spring being afterwards called, from the fact that the Israelites ‘strove’ there with Jehovah, the ‘waters of Meribah ’ ( vv. 3, 13 al.), or ‘of Meribath-Kadesh’ (Num 27:14, Eze 48:28 al.). It is strange in the present narrative that one place should receive two names; it is doubtless due, as suggested above, to the combination of two narratives. Massah is mentioned besides in Deu 6:16; Deu 9:22; Deu 33:8 (|| ‘the waters of Meribah,’ Numbers 20.), Psa 95:8 (|| ‘Meribah’).
tempted the Lord ] put Jehovah to the proof: see on v. 2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Massah …Meribah – See the margin. On the importance of this lesson see our Lords words, Mat 4:7.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Exo 17:7
Is the Lord among us, or not?
Evidences of the Divine presence
I. We observe an increase of spiritual enlightenment is an evidence of the Divine presence among a people.
II. We observe spiritual-mindedness is an evidence of the Divine presence among a people.
III. We observe Christian love is an evidence of the Divine presence among a people.
IV. Activity and devotedness in the cause of Christ is an evidence of the Divine presence among a people. We have three remarks in conclusion–
1. The unrenewed may learn from this subject that there is no hope for him of any radical improvement save in the grace of God. The Holy Spirit is the sole agent for this work.
2. The Church of God should learn from this subject that the grace and presence of the Lord in the midst of them is the one thing needful.
3. Let all know that the Lord is to be found in the power and sufficiency of His grace by all who seek Him through the Saviour. (H. F. Holmes.)
Is the Lord among us, or not?-a false inference
Notwithstanding all the other tokens of Gods presence they thought that their renewed difficulties were a proof that God was no longer amongst them. And are not our hearts far too apt to come to the same conclusion on the same grounds? We enter on some new path, on some fresh work, because we think that the hand of God is leading us to it, and, almost unconsciously to ourselves, we suppose that His presence will secure us from any great and discouraging difficulties. Our expectations are disappointed–one difficulty after another presents itself–one door after another is closed. What follows? Too often doubts begin to arise in our minds whether God is really with us. But these doubts should not be encouraged. It is altogether a false inference, that because our path is one of difficulty or trial, therefore the Lord is not among us. The very reverse will usually be found to be the true conclusion. (G. Wagner.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah] Massah signifies temptation or trial; and Meribah, contention or litigation. From 1Co 10:4, we learn that this rock was a type of Christ, and their drinking of it is represented as their being made partakers of the grace and mercy of God through Christ Jesus; and yet many who drank fell and perished in the wilderness in the very act of disobedience! Reader, be not high minded, but fear!
On the smiting of the rock by the rod of Moses, Mr. Ainsworth has the following pious note: “This rock signified Christ, and is therefore called a spiritual Rock, 1Co 10:4. He being smitten with Moses’s rod, and bearing the curse of the law for our sins, and by the preaching of the Gospel crucified among his people, Ga 3:1, from him floweth the spiritual drink wherewith all believing hearts are refreshed.” Joh 7:37, and Isa 53:1-3.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
viz. To protect and provide for us according to his word given to us. Will God be as good as his word, or will he not? For it is to us very doubtful.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. called the name of theplaceMassah (“temptation”); Meribah (“chiding,””strife”): the same word which is rendered “provocation”(Heb 3:8).
Ex17:8-16. ATTACK OFAMALEK.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah,…. The former signifies “temptation”, and the latter “contention”: the reason of which names being given by Moses, or whoever was the name of the place, follows: “because of the chiding of the children of Israel”; that was the reason why it was called by the last name, Meribah, because here, the Israelites chid and contended with Moses, and used him opprobriously:
and because they tempted the Lord; therefore it had the former name of Massah:
saying, is the Lord among us or not? as if they should say, if we perish through thirst, the Lord is not among us, nor takes any care of us; nor was it he that brought us out of Egypt, but Moses; nor is he in the pillar of cloud and fire, as is said; but if he works a miracle, and gives us water, for us, our children, and cattle, then it will appear he is among us; and thus they tempted the Lord, though without this they had full proof, by many instances, that he was among them, and even in a very extraordinary manner.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. And he called the name of the place. The verb here might be taken indefinitely, as if it were said, that this name was given to the place; but it is more probable that Moses, at God’s command, so called the place, in order that the Israelites might be more ready to acknowledge their crime, when thus it was marked with double infamy. Although it was not only His intention to impress this feeling upon their minds, but also to hand down the memory of it to posterity. The same reproof is afterward repeated at Cades, as we shall see; because the former notice had been buried in oblivion by these foolish people. The very name of the place (189) was as much as to say that the earth itself cried out, that the people, in their perverse nature, were rebellious, and given to unbelief. Now, temptation is the mother of contentions; for as soon as anything occurs contrary to the wishes of one who distrusts God, he has recourse to murmuring and dispute. When Moses relates that the Israelites “tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?” he does not mean that they openly spoke rims; but that this was the tendency of their cries, when on account of the want of water they rose against Moses, and complained that they were deceived by him, as though God had no power to help them. But though God branded the people for their malignity and perversity, with a lasting mark of ignominy, yet did He afford them an extraordinary proof of His goodness, not only in bestowing on them the drink by which their bodies might be refreshed, but by honoring their souls also with spiritual drink, as Paul testifies, (1Co 10:4,) “that rock was Christ,” and therefore he compares the water which flowed from it to the cup of the holy supper. So do we see how God’s immeasurable bounty surpasses all the wickedness of man, and how, by turning their vices to salvation, He brings light out of darkness; so far is He from giving them the reward of their deservings, when He confers upon them what is profitable. But we must remember the warning which is here interposed, that it availed many of them nothing to drink of that spiritual drink, because they profaned by their crimes that excellent gift.
(189) Massah, i.e., temptation.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Massah means trial, or temptation, being formed from the root used in Exo. 17:2 (Wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ?) It is the word translated by trial in Job. 9:23, and by temptation in Deu. 4:34; Deu. 7:19; Deu. 29:3, and Psa. 95:8.
Meribah means chiding, or quarrel, and is from the root rub, or rib, translated chide in Exo. 17:2, and rendered elsewhere generally by strive, or contend. The name Meribah was given also to the place where water was again produced miraculously by Moses striking the rock (Num. 20:13.) It is this latter Meribah to which reference is made in Deu. 33:8, and Psa. 81:7, and which is called by way of distinction in Deu. 32:51, Meribah-Kadesh.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Massah Temptation .
Meribah Strife .
Exo 17:7. He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah The meaning of which names is, as usual, given in the context; Meribah, chiding, or strife, because of the chiding of the children of Israel; Massah, temptation, because they tempted the Lord. See Exo 17:2. Mat 16:1. Psa 78:18-19. “After we had descended, with no small difficulty, down the other or western side of Mount Sinai,” says Dr. Shaw, “are came into the plain, or wilderness, of Rephidim, where we saw that extraordinary antiquity, the rock of Meribah, which has continued down to this day without the least injury from time or accidents. This is rightly called, from its hardness, (Deu 8:15.) a rock of flint; though, from the purple or reddish colour of it, it may be justly termed the rock of amethyst, or the amethystine, or granite rock. It is about six yards square, lying tottering, as it were, and loose, near the middle of the valley; and seems to have been formerly a part or cliff of Mount Sinai, which hangs, in a variety of precipices, all over this plain. The waters which gushed out, and the streams which overflowed withal, (Psa 78:20.) have hollowed across one corner of this rock, a channel about two inches deep, and twenty wide, all over incrustated, like the inside of a tea-kettle which has been long used. Besides several mossy productions, which are preserved by the dew, we see all over this channel a great number of holes, some of them four or five inches deep, and one or two in diameter; the lively and demonstrative tokens of their having been formerly so many fountains. Neither could art or chance be concerned in the contrivance, inasmuch as every circumstance points out to us a miracle; and, in the same manner with the rent in the rock of Mount Calvary at Jerusalem, never fails to produce the greatest seriousness and devotion in all who see it. The Arabs, who were our guard, were ready to stone me for attempting to break off a corner of it.”
REFLECTIONS.In the way of duty we may meet with difficulties.
1. The children of Israel again want water; and as before, but too impatient, quarrel with their best friend, and question, after all they had seen, the reality of God’s care and providence. Note; (1.) It is no uncommon thing for the greatest kindnesses to be thus ill requited. (2.) Who has not at some time felt the same provoking questions of unbelief under distressing circumstances, some even to the very doubt of the providence, perhaps of the being of God? Such is man’s fallen nature.
2. Moses rebukes their unbelief, flies to God, casts his burdens upon him, for they threatened his life, and begs the Lord’s assistance in their present perilous situation. Such dangers must they sometimes run, who stand up eminently for God. Note; Prayer is the best means to compose our spirits under every disturbance, and to obtain direction in all our difficulties.
3. God hears and answers. Instead of pouring out his wrath upon the rebellious, he pours out his water upon the thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. Moses is commanded to smite the rock; instant the copious torrent flows, and deep drink the parched Israelites of these refreshing streams. Note; (1.) God can open in our deepest distresses the most abundant supplies. Every believer spiritually experiences the same favour. This rock is Christ, smitten by the rod of God for our offences, opening a fountain in his side, quenching the thirst of the guilty soul, satisfying it with the abundance of his consolations, and springing up in our hearts as a well of water unto everlasting life.
4. We have the name of the place. Note; We should long remember our sins, and the places where and the times when committed, for our constant humiliation, and for our future caution.
Massah means temptation, and Meribah strife. Monuments of mercy should be set up accompanied with monuments of our unworthiness. Psa 81:7 . David refers to this: Psa 95:8-9 .
Exo 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
Ver. 7. Is the Lord among us? ] As if that could not be, and they athirst. But he is most present when he afflicts. “He knows our souls in adversity.” Psa 31:7
Massah = Temptation. Tempting of God. Meribah = Strife. Striving with Moses.
tempted. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. (i.e. tempting Jehovah to cut them off).
Massah: i.e. Temptation, Num 20:13, Deu 9:22
Meribah: that is, Chiding or Strife, Exo 17:2, Psa 81:7
chiding: Exo 17:2
tempted: Psa 95:8, Heb 3:8, Heb 3:9
Is the Lord: Exo 34:9, Deu 31:17, Jos 22:31, Isa 12:6, Mic 3:11, Joh 1:14, Act 7:37-39
Reciprocal: Num 27:14 – Meribah Deu 6:16 – tempted him Deu 33:8 – prove at Jos 3:10 – among Psa 78:20 – he smote Psa 106:13 – They soon forgat Mat 4:7 – Thou Mar 8:11 – tempting Act 5:9 – to tempt 1Co 10:9 – tempt
Exo 17:7. Is the Lord among us or not? To protect and provide for us according to his word; will he be as good as his word, or will he not? Words which implied that to them it was very doubtful. Against doubts of this kind we ought constantly to guard. For, whatever may be suggested to our minds by the enemy of our souls, we ought never to question whether God will be gracious to those that desire and endeavour to follow him in the ways of his appointment.
17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the {d} LORD among us, or not?
(d) When in adversity we think God is absent, then we neglect his promise and make him a liar.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes