Exodus 17:1-7 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:3

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 favor 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:6

I will stand before thee there, upon the rock in Horeb - The rock, הצור hatstsur . It seems as if God had directed the attention of Moses to a particular rock, with which he was well acquainted; for every part of the mount and its vicinity must have been well known to Moses during the time he kept Jethro's flocks in those quarters. Dr. Priestley has left the following sensible observations upon this miracle: - "The luminous cloud, the symbol of the Divine presence, would appear on the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:7

He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah - מסה Massah signifies temptation or trial; and מריבה Meribah , contention or litigation. From 1 Corinthians 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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:1

Verse 1 1.And all the congregation. Scarcely was the sedition of the people about the want of food set at rest when they again rebel on the subject of drink. They ought, at least, to have learnt from the manna, that as often as necessity pressed upon them, they should have humbly implored in prayer and supplication God’s help, in certain hope of relief. But such was their character, that they were hurried by despair into secret murmurings and impetuous cries. We have almost a precisely similar... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:2

Verse 2 2.Wherefore the people did chide with Moses. Here now displays itself both their impiety against God, since neglecting and despising Him they make war against Moses, and also their malice and unkindness, because, forgetful of so many benefits, they wantonly insult Moses. They know that fountains and rivers cannot be created by mortal man; wherefore, then, do they quarrel with him, and not call directly upon God, in whose hand are the waters as well as all other elements? Certainly, if... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:4

Verse 4 4.And Moses cried. This cry seems not to have been conformed to the true model of prayer, but to have been mixed with confused complaint, to which Moses was impelled by the deep perturbation of his mind: for excessive earnestness sometimes carries away the godly, so that they rather fret in their prayer than duly and moderately express their requests. For there is something in these words which sounds angry and obstreperous, “What shall I do unto this people?” as if Moses, struck with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:5

Verse 5 5.And the Lord said unto Moses. He commands him to go out into the midst, as if He would expose him to the danger of immediate death; but because Moses is persuaded that it is in His power to calm the passion of men, however fierce, as well as the waves and storms of the sea, he neither trembles nor retreats. But, thus did God magnify His power, so as to brand them with ignominy whilst He withheld the people from their previous attitude. In fact, Moses passes before them all, but he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:7

Verse 7 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 17:1

From the wilderness of Sin . See the comment on Exodus 16:1 . The sandy coast tract (El Murka) was probably quitted in lat. 28° 42' nearly, and the Wady Feiran entered on at its south-western extremity. Two stations, Dophkah and Alush, lay between the Sin wilderness and Rephidim, as we learn from Numbers 33:12 , Numbers 33:13 . It is impossible to locate these places with exactness. After their journeys . The three stages—from Sin to Dophkah, from Dophkah to Alush, and from Alush to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 17:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 17:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 17:1-7

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