Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 17:3

Verse 3. And the people murmured] The reader must not forget what has so often been noted relating to the degraded state of the minds of the Israelites. A strong argument however may be drawn from this in favour of their supernatural escape from Egypt. Had it been a scheme concerted by the heads of the people, provision would necessarily have been made for such exigencies as these. But as God chose to keep them constantly dependent upon himself for every necessary of life, and as they had Moses alone as their mediator to look to, they murmured against him when brought into straits and difficulties, regretted their having left Egypt, and expressed the strongest desire to return. This shows that they had left Egypt reluctantly; and as Moses and Aaron never appear to have any resources but those which came most evidently in a supernatural way, therefore the whole exodus or departure from Egypt proves itself to have been no human contrivance, but a measure concerted by God himself.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

And the people thirsted there for water,…. They saw there was no water when they first came thither, and therefore chid Moses for bringing them to such a place, where they could not subsist; and having stayed some little time here, and all the water they brought with them from Alush being spent, and having none to drink, began to be very thirsty:

and the people murmured against Moses; became more impatient and enraged, and threw out their invectives against him with much acrimony and severity:

wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt? where it would have been much better for us to have continued:

to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst: which is intolerable to any, and especially to children and cattle, which require frequent drinking: they could not suppose that Moses had such a murderous view in bringing them out of Egypt, or that this was his intention in it, but that this would be the issue and event of it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(3) To kill us.This was no exaggeration. Thirst kills as surely as hunger, and more quickly. Whole armies have died of it. (Herod. iii. 26.) Ships crews have perished of it on the ocean, with water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. Unless a supply could somehow or other have been provided speedily, the whole people must have been exterminated.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Peter explains to us, how such conduct towards God’s servants comes under the sin of tempting the Lord. Act 5:3-9 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Exo 17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Ver. 3. Murmured against Moses. ] Magistrates have many times a weary life with the mutinous multitude. Seneca observeth of Egypt, – it proved true of this people newly come out of Egypt, – that it was loquax et ingeniosa in contumeliam praefectorum provincia: in qua, qui vitaverit culpam, non effugit infamiam; That it was a province apt to prate against their governors, and to cast a slur upon them, though never so well deserving.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

us. Hebrew. he. Figure of speech Heterosis (of’ Number). App-6.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

thou hast: Exo 16:3

Reciprocal: Exo 14:11 – Because Exo 15:24 – General Exo 33:1 – thou hast Num 11:1 – And when Num 14:2 – murmured Num 16:13 – to kill Num 20:4 – why Num 21:5 – spake Jos 7:7 – to deliver 2Sa 14:32 – it had been Psa 63:1 – General Pro 25:25 – cold Isa 41:17 – seek Jer 42:14 – nor hear Jer 48:18 – and sit Hos 2:3 – and slay Act 7:39 – and in 1Co 10:10 – murmur

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

MURMURERS

The people murmured.

Exo 17:3

The points to be made in this sermon areI. The longing of the people for rest and refreshment of a physical kind.They had few thoughts above the satisfaction of their bodily cravings. Weary of the desert, they looked forward keenly to reach Rephidim (Rests). The Wady Feirn is the paradise of the peninsula. Among its fruit-groves and by its wells and running stream they hoped to repay themselves for all their fatigues. Rephidim thus became a figure of carnal delight.

II. Note, in the next place, that the people were disappointed.There was no rest at Rephidim. The stream was dry, the Amalekites guarded the wells, and would not allow them to approach the gardens. Such is the fate of all who think to satisfy themselves through their senses.

III. Note their disappointment, their impatient murmuring as though everybody and everything but themselves were to blame, then their cruel injustice to Moses to whom they owed so much.

IV. Gods method of supplying their want through the instrumentality of the stricken Rock, in which is to be found so remarkable a type of Him from Whose wounded side flows the Water of Life.

Rev. Canon Dawson.

Illustration

(1) From the smitten rock the water flowed to refresh the weary host. Only thus could the thirst of the world be met. The Rock of Ages was smitten, and from His riven side there flowed out blood and water. Not blood alone, but water also. Let us not fail to drink of Him, and the water which He will give will become in us a spring of water rising up always to eternity. Perhaps in a minor sense each of us will have to be smitten before we can yield water for thirsty souls.

(2) A person full of selfish fears is always unjust and merciless. The people threatened to stone Moses because they thought he was leading them into difficulties and danger. How sad Moses must have been! Not afraid, but very sorry. So, many centuries afterwards, they crucified Jesus Christ because they were afraid (Joh 11:48), and because Jesus did not give them the worldly satisfaction which they sought.

(3) What do you long for most? Now note that God has provided places of rest and refreshment for everybody in life. He does not grudge us our recreations and comforts. But remember our satisfaction is not to be found in these. If anyone thinks that it is so, he is bound to be disappointed.

Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary