1 The whole Israelite community broke camp and set out from the Sin desert to continue their journey, as the Lord commanded. They set up their camp at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
2 The people argued with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."Moses said to them, "Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing the Lord?"
3 But the people were very thirsty for water there, and they complained to Moses, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"
4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What should I do with this people? They are getting ready to stone me."
5 The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of Israel’s elders with you. Take in your hand the shepherd’s rod that you used to strike the Nile River, and go.