Commento su Numeri 33:14

PITCHED IN REPHIDIM, AND THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE PEOPLE TO DRINK. Scripture [here] does not mention the miracle [that occurred] with the water in Marah,¹⁰Exodus 15:23-25. nor the [daily] wonder of manna [which took place] in the wilderness of Sin.¹¹Ibid., Chapter 16. But [it mentioned the giving of water at Rephidim] because this episode at Rephidim was an important event, since they tried G-d [there], and that place was therefore called Massah (Trying) and Meribah (Strife),¹²Ibid., 17:7. wherein He was sanctified in their presence by bringing forth water for them out of the rock,¹³Ibid., Verse 6. and it was there that they were attacked by the Amalekites.¹⁴Ibid., Verse 8. Therefore He [only] described it here in brief, [saying], and there was no water for the people to drink, since it was the place which was recognized and known by this [fact].

ויחנו ברפדים ולא היה מים לעם לשתות, “They encamped at Refidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.” Nachmanides points out that Moses has not mentioned the miracle of Marah, nor the miracle of the manna that became manifest in the desert of Sin in this review. However, seeing that what happened at Refidim was exceptionally remarkable, the people having literally put G’d to the test, the fact that a miracle involving the provision of drinking water occurred there is at least hinted at. After all, the name of that location was changed to Massah and Merivah, seeing that G’d had been sanctified in the presence of the whole people when water was produced miraculously from a barren rock. The location became famous additionally because near there Amalek attacked the people out of the blue, and they survived that treacherous attack intact, the first time that they had to fight for their lives.

V. 14. ולא היה שם מים וגו׳. Von da begann der eigentliche Schrecken der wasserlosen Wüste, und ward ihnen vom Horeb her der nie versiegende Wasserborn, der sie fortan durch die Wüste geleitete.