² And there was no water for the people: and they came together against Moses and against Aaron. ³ And the people were angry with Moses and said, If only death had overtaken us when our brothers came to their death before the Lord! ⁴ Why have you taken the Lord's people into this waste, for death to come to us and to our cattle there? ⁵ Why have you made us come out of Egypt into this evil place? This is no place of seed or figs or vines or other fruits, and there is no water for drinking.

⁶ Then Moses and Aaron went away from the people to the door of the Tent of meeting; and, falling on their faces there, they saw the glory of the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, ⁸ Take the rod, you and Aaron, your brother, and make all the people come together, and before their eyes give orders to the rock to give out its water; and so make water come out of the rock for them, and give the people and their cattle drink.

⁹ And Moses took the rod from before the Lord as he gave him orders.