Numbers 20:10

10 He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, "Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?"

Numbers 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 20:10

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before
the rock
To which they were directed, and were to speak unto; before this they gathered not only the elders of the people, but as many of the congregation as could be well assembled together:

and he said unto them;
Moses, who was bid to take the rod, and was the principal person concerned in this affair:

hear now, ye rebels;
such their fathers had been, and such they now were, a rebellious generation ever since they were known by him; not only rebellious against him their chief magistrate, but against the Lord himself, murmuring against him, being discontented and disobedient, see ( Deuteronomy 9:23 Deuteronomy 9:24 ) :

must we fetch you water out of this rock?
not only signifying their unworthiness of having such a miracle wrought for them, and as showing some degree of reluctance to attempt it, but as expressing diffidence about it; not of the power of God to bring water out of the rock, but of his will to do it for such a rebellious people; or else their unreasonableness to expect any such thing should be done for them: when they were so wicked, how could they think that such a miracle should be wrought for them? so the Targum of Jonathan,

``out of this rock is it possible for us to fetch out water for you?''

so Aben Ezra, have we power to bring out water to you from it? This was said in a passion, as the manner of speaking shows; see ( Psalms 106:32 Psalms 106:33 ) many of the congregation as could be well assembled together:

Numbers 20:10 In-Context

8 "Take the stick that is in front of the Covenant Box, and then you and Aaron assemble the whole community. There in front of them all speak to that rock over there, and water will gush out of it. In this way you will bring water out of the rock for the people, for them and their animals to drink."

9 Moses went and got the stick, as the Lord had commanded.

10 He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, "Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?"

11 Then Moses raised the stick and struck the rock twice with it, and a great stream of water gushed out, and all the people and animals drank.

12 But the Lord reprimanded Moses and Aaron. He said, "Because you did not have enough faith to acknowledge my holy power before the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land that I promised to give them."