He namedthe placeMassahand Meribahbecauseof the quarrelof the sonsof Israel,and becausethey testedthe LORD,saying,"Is the LORDamongus, ornot?"
They also provoked[Him] to wrathat the watersof Meribah,So that it wenthardwith Moseson their account;
And in their heartthey putGodto the testBy askingfoodaccording to their desire.
"You calledin troubleand I rescuedyou; I answeredyou in the hidingplaceof thunder;I provedyou at the watersof Meribah.Selah.
"Hear,O My people,and I will admonishyou; O Israel,ifyou would listento Me!
Do not hardenyour hearts,as at Meribah,As in the dayof Massahin the wilderness,
Therefore the peoplequarreledwith Mosesand said,"Giveus waterthat we may drink."And Mosessaidto them, "Whydo you quarrelwith me? Whydo you testthe LORD?"
He said,"IfnowI have foundfavorin Your sight,O Lord,I pray,let the Lordgoalong in our midst,eventhoughthe peopleare so obstinate,and pardonour iniquityand our sin,and takeus as Your own possession."
Cryaloudand shoutfor joy,O inhabitantof Zion,For greatin your midstis the HolyOneof Israel.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
"Surelyallthe menwho have seenMy gloryand My signswhichI performedin Egyptand in the wilderness,yet have putMe to the testthesetentimesand have not listenedto My voice,
Those[were] the watersof Meribah,becausethe sonsof Israelcontendedwith the LORD,and He provedHimself holyamong them.
"Aaronwill be gatheredto his people;for he shall not enterthe landwhichI have givento the sonsof Israel,becauseyou rebelledagainstMy commandat the watersof Meribah.
for in the wildernessof Zin,during the strifeof the congregation,you rebelledagainstMy commandto treatMe as holybeforetheir eyesat the water."(Theseare the watersof Meribahof Kadeshin the wildernessof Zin.)
And the Wordbecameflesh,and dweltamongus, and we sawHis glory,gloryas of the only begottenfrom the Father,fullof graceand truth.
"Then My angerwill be kindledagainst them in that day,and I will forsakethem and hideMy facefrom them, and they will be consumed,and manyevilsand troubleswill comeupon them; so that they will sayin that day,Is it not becauseour Godis not amongus that theseevilshave comeupon us?'
Of Levihe said,"[Let] Your Thummimand Your Urim[belong] to Your godlyman,WhomYou provedat Massah,With whom You contendedat the watersof Meribah;
"You shall not putthe LORDyour Godto the test,as you tested[Him] at Massah.
"Again at Taberahand at Massahand at Kibroth-hattaavahyou provokedthe LORDto wrath.
And Phinehasthe sonof Eleazarthe priestsaidto the sonsof Reubenand to the sonsof Gadand to the sonsof Manasseh,"Todaywe knowthat the LORDis in our midst,becauseyou have not committedthisunfaithfulactagainst the LORD;nowyou have deliveredthe sonsof Israelfrom the handof the LORD."
