The incident described in Exodus 17:1-7 is the third in a series of complaints the newly delivered Hebrews bring to their leader Moses. Pharaoh's army was practically still sinking into the sea when the people ceased singing Yahweh's praises and began bemoaning their hard circumstances instead. When drinking water grew scarce in the wilderness of Shur, and the waters of Marah were found to be "bitter" and undrinkable, the people immediately turned on Moses, crying "What shall we drink?" (Exodus 15:24). Moses went directly to the Lord for an answer, and Yahweh provided the means for making the water sweet (v.25).

The second confrontation came shortly thereafter. Israel found itself traversing the hard land of Sin (or Zin) located between Elim and Sinai - roughly the "middle of nowhere." Th…