Daily Bread

The Waters of Marah and Elim

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert^(A) of Shur.^(B) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.^{(C) 23} When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.^[a](D)) ²⁴ So the people grumbled^(E) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”^(F)

²⁵ Then Moses cried out^(G) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw^(H) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.^{(I) 26} He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep^(J) all his decrees,^(K) I will not bring on you any of the diseases^(L) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals^(M) you.”

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped^(N) there near the water.