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How did Moses provide water for the Israelites in the wilderness?
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Moses
Moses Showing the Tables of the Law to the People, oil painting by Rembrandt, 1659; in the Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin.
According to biblical tradition, Moses provided water for the Israelites in the wilderness at a place called Meribah, located near Kadesh-barnea.12
Faced with the complaints of the thirsty people, Moses was instructed by God to command a rock to yield water. However, acting out of frustration and anger toward the contentious Israelites, Moses instead struck the rock twice with his rod, causing water to flow forth. While this act provided the necessary water for the people, the narrative notes that Moses' failure to follow God's specific instructionsāand his display of impatienceāwas interpreted as a lack of confidence in God, which ultimately resulted in him being denied permission to enter the Promised Land.12