Moshe and the rock

Study Notes

In the 40th year of wandering in the desert, Miriam died, and the well that had produced water during her lifetime dried up, leaving the Bnei Yisrael without water to drink.
The congregation complained to Moshe, saying they would have preferred to stay in Egypt rather than die of thirst in the desert.

The entire congregation of the children of Israel arrived at the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled in Kadesh.
Miriam died and was buried there, and the congregation had no water, leading to an assembly against Moshe and Aharon.

Hashem told Moshe to speak to the rock, using the definite article "the," indicating a specific rock.
In Hebrew, the prefix ה (hey hayedia) is used to make nouns definite, functioning like the definite article "the" in English.

The well of water was one of the three great divine gifts that sustained the Jewish people in the desert, along with the Mann and the clouds of glory.
The well of water was a rolling rock that accompanied the Jewish people on their wanderings, providing fresh water in the desert for the people and their cattle.
Miriam's Well stopped providing water after her death, leading to a water shortage.

Moshe and Aharon assembled the congregation in front of the rock, but instead of speaking to it, Moshe struck the rock with his staff twice, and an abundance of water gushed forth.
Hashem said that Moshe and Aharon did not have faith in Him to make Him holy before the Bnei Yisrael, and therefore they would not bring the congregation to the land.

Ramban: Moshe's sin was in his comments prior to hitting the rock, suggesting that he and Aharon would be responsible for the miracle of the water.
Talmud: Aharon was punished for being a bystander and not trying to stop Moshe from hitting the rock.
Rashi: Moshe was told to speak to the rock but instead he hit it.
Midrash Aggadah: If Moshe had spoken to the rock, the Bnei Yisrael would have seen a huge miracle and would have learned to have faith in G-d.
Midrash Tanchuma: Moshe and Aharon tried to speak to a rock and nothing happened, so they struck it, showing a lack of faith in G-d.
Rambam: Moshe lost his temper and spoke harshly to the Bnei Yisrael.

The importance of faith in G-d and following His instructions.
The need to take responsibility and not be a bystander when others are doing wrong.
The importance of speaking and acting with kindness and respect, rather than harshly and with anger.

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