Verse 11
11. Smote the rock twice As if one blow were not sufficient, showing an excessive dependence on human agency, and a forgetfulness of the divine efficiency. There was no command to smite even once. The injunction to speak to the rock may have been given to show how small a human element was required in the miracle, and at the same time to test the faith and humility of Moses faith, that only words were sufficient; and humility, since his part of the miracle was so insignificant.
Abundantly Hebrew, many waters. The magnitude of the miracle is seen in the inadequacy of the natural cause and the greatness of the effect. The earliest attempt to divest this transaction of its supernatural character is found in Tacitus’s Hist., book Numbers 5:3-5, which is quoted in the note on Exodus 17:6.
Be the first to react on this!
