Numbers 33:14

And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.

And they removed {H5265} from Alush {H442}, and encamped {H2583} at Rephidim {H7508}, where was no water {H4325} for the people {H5971} to drink {H8354}.

They moved on from Alush and camped at Refidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

And they journeyed from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.

Commentary

Numbers 33:14 is part of the detailed itinerary of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, chronicled in Numbers chapter 33. This verse specifically records the movement from the encampment at Alush to Rephidim, highlighting a critical challenge faced upon arrival.

Context

Numbers 33 provides a comprehensive list of all the places where the Israelites camped during their forty years in the wilderness. This list serves as a historical record, emphasizing God's faithfulness in leading them step by step. Verse 14 places Rephidim as a specific stop after Alush. This location is particularly significant because it is where major events unfolded, including the lack of water, the striking of the rock, and the first battle with the Amalekites. The mention of "no water" in this verse sets the stage for the dramatic events recorded elsewhere in the Pentateuch concerning this location.

Key Themes

  • The Journey Continues: The verse simply states another step in the Israelites' long wilderness trek, illustrating their dependence on God's guidance from one place to the next.
  • Lack of Provision: The explicit statement "where was no water for the people to drink" immediately signals a crisis. This theme of insufficient resources frequently tested the faith of the Israelites and demonstrated God's power to provide in seemingly impossible circumstances. This specific lack of water at Rephidim is a pivotal moment leading to a significant display of God's provision, detailed in Exodus chapter 17.
  • Testing and Faith: Such moments of scarcity were often opportunities for the Israelites to trust God, though they frequently responded with complaint and doubt, highlighting the human struggle with faith during trials.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Rephidim" (ืจึฐืคึดื™ื“ึดื™ื, Rephidim) is thought to mean "rests" or "resting places." This etymology is ironic given the turmoil and lack of rest experienced there due to the severe lack of water and subsequent conflict. The simple Hebrew phrase "ืึตื™ืŸ ืžึทื™ึดื ืœึทืขึธื ืœึดืฉึฐืืชึผื•ึนืช" (ein mayim la'am lishtot) translates directly to "no water for the people to drink," a stark and immediate description of the situation.

Reflection

Numbers 33:14, though brief, points to a profound moment in Israel's history. It reminds us that even on a journey directed by God, challenges and severe lack can arise. The lack of water at Rephidim was not an oversight but a divine appointment where God would reveal Himself as the ultimate provider. For believers today, this verse, read in conjunction with the events it foreshadows, is a reminder that difficulties are often precursors to witnessing God's miraculous supply and that our faith is refined when we face situations where our own resources are insufficient. It encourages us to look to God as the source of living water when we encounter spiritual or physical thirst in our own wilderness experiences.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 17:1

    ยถ And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.

  • Exodus 17:8

    ยถ Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

  • Exodus 19:2

    For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come [to] the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
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