ציטירנדיקער פּירוש אויף תהילים 78:30

AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL JOURNEYED FROM THE WILDERNESS OF SIN, BY THEIR STAGES, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF THE ETERNAL, AND THEY ENCAMPED IN REPHIDIM. Scripture is stating that they journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, where they were encamped after they had set out from Elim,⁴⁰⁴Above, 16:1. and covered various stages of their journey in accord with G-d’s command. Afterwards, they encamped in Rephidim. Scripture thus relates briefly here that when they first journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, they pitched in Dophkah, and afterwards in Alush, and from Alush they came to Rephidim.⁴⁰⁵Numbers 33:12-14. This is the meaning of the expression here, by their stages, since there were many stages by which they came from the wilderness of Sin to Rephidim, and they did not reach it on the first journey. Scripture, however, [omits all these various stages here] because its only concern is to explain their murmuring. At the beginning of their arrival in that wilderness [of Sin], they complained for bread, and now they quarreled [with Moses] over water, [as it is said], and there was no water for the people to drink. When they came to that place and did not find fountains of water, they at once quarreled with Moses. This is the meaning of the expression, Wherefore the people did quarrel with Moses,⁴⁰⁶Verse 2. for the murmurings mentioned in places where Scripture says, and they murmured,⁴⁰⁷Such as above, 16:2. mean complaints, i.e., that they were declaring their grievances about their condition, saying, “What shall we do? What shall we eat, and what shall we drink?” But vayarev (and he quarreled) means that they did actually make quarrel with Moses, coming to him and saying, “Give us water, you and Aaron your brother, for you are responsible, our blood is upon you.” And Moses said to them, “Why quarrel ye with me? Wherefore do ye try the Eternal?⁴⁰⁶Verse 2. This quarrel is to test G-d, that is whether He can give you water.⁴⁰⁸See Psalms 78:30. If you will hold your peace and let me alone and instead pray to Him, perhaps He will answer you.” And indeed, it was their intent to try [G-d], as Scripture says, And the name of the place was called Massah (Trying) and Meribah (Quarrel), because of the quarrel of the children of Israel and because they tried the Eternal, saying: Is the Eternal among us, or not?⁴⁰⁹Further, Verse 7. Then their anger against him relented,⁴¹⁰See Judges 8:3. and for a day or two, they were supplied by the waters in their vessels. But afterwards, the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses,⁴¹¹Verse 3. something like the complaints they made whenever they wanted something, saying, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt?⁴¹¹Verse 3. When Moses saw that they thirsted for water, he prayed to G-d and recounted before Him his distress when they first quarreled with him.⁴¹²Verse 4.
Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said that there were two groups: one that quarreled [with Moses because they had no water to drink], and one [that had water which they brought from Alush, the place where they were encamped before coming to Rephidim,⁴¹³Numbers 33:14. but] who tested G-d [to see if He would give them water]. The correct interpretation is as I have explained.

“He found him in a desert land,” etc. This verse can be interpreted as praise for Israel, saying that even in the desert land, a place of chaos, they followed after Him, blessed be He, as it is written I remember for your sake the devotion of your youth, how you followed Me in the wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2), as Rashi explains. However, according to the context of the passage which comes to rebuke them, as it is written For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck (Deuteronomy 31:27), we can say that it speaks of their disgrace, for it is known that in the land of Egypt they were wicked and sinful to God, as is found in Ezekiel (20:5-7): And I made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt… and I said to them: “Each of you, cast away the detestable things of your eyes”… but they did not wish to listen.
This connects to the rebukes above, saying that despite all the superior qualities I bestowed upon you above all nations, nevertheless you did not cleave to Me. Furthermore, even when you were in the iron furnace in the land of Egypt, those sufferings did not bring you back to the right path, the food was still in their mouths (Psalms 78:30). But when He brought them out to the desert, a place of chaos, howling desolation, with no seed or fig, no bread to eat, no water to drink, then their uncircumcised hearts were humbled and they returned to God.
This is what is meant by He found him in a desert land — not before then, even though they suffered afflictions in Egypt. God did not find their hearts perfect with Him except in the desert, due to the great pressure of hunger and thirst. Then God found their hearts perfect with Him, then He surrounded him with His clouds of glory, He instructed him with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom through the giving of the Torah, and He protected him as the pupil of His eye — not fleshly eyes, but His, blessed be He. And Ramban explained that this refers to man, just as a person guards the pupil of his eye.