Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MASSAH

(Heb. massâ),

MERIBAH

(mĕrîḇâ)

From the verbs “to test” and “to strive, contend,” respectively, terms referring to a site where the Israelites rebelled against Yahweh in the wilderness. Three distinct traditions of these events are preserved in the Bible. In Exod. 17:1-7 the Israelites camp at Rephidim on the way to Horeb. At Rephidim they complain of thirst to Moses. Yahweh tells Moses to go ahead of the people with some elders to Horeb and strike the mountain so that water will come out of it and the people may drink. The place is called Massah and Meribah because there the Israelites “quarreled” and “tested” God (cf. Ps. 95:8; also Deut. 6:16; 9:22, where only Massah is mentioned).

A second tradition locates the rebellion near Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and refers only to Meribah. The focus of this tradition is Yahweh’s judgment on Moses and Aaron. Unlike the Exodus tradition, Yahweh instructs Moses to speak to the rock to produce water, but instead Moses strikes the rock twice. Because Moses and Aaron did not trust in Yahweh or display his holiness, Yahweh declares that they will not lead the Israelites into the Promised Land — they will die in the wilderness (Num. 20:1-13, 24; 27:14; Deut. 32:51; Ps. 106:32).

A third tradition, only hinted at it in the Bible, states that Yahweh tested the Levites who kept his covenant, and thus were awarded the Thummim and Urim and service before Yahweh (Deut. 33:8-11; cf. Ps. 81:7[MT 8]).

Ronald A. Simkins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MASSAH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)