Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 10. Rock. Your frequent murmurs will stop the course of God’s bounty. If God had not condemned the conduct of his ministers on this occasion, we could hardly find any reason to blame them. But the Fathers observe, that they betrayed a want of resolution, and intended to throw the blame upon the incredulity of the people, in case they failed of success. Because they exasperated his spirit, and he distinguished with his lips. Psalms 105:33. See Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Augustine on this psalm. They were not commanded to strike the rock at all; and when the water did not come at first, they struck again, ( Calmet.) being afraid lest they should now be taken for impostors. Bible.—They speak as if the work was their own.—Can we, and so forth They exasperate the people, instead of promoting their conversion. In a word, they did not glorify God, ( Calmet.) by representing him as the sovereign holiness and mercy; and the God of unbounded power. Bible.