commanded” (lit., “at the mouth of Yahweh”). Thus God in his wisdom had directed his people to move from the Desert of Sin (where they hungered but afterwards were satisfied) to Rephidim (where they thirsted). Instead of submitting to the tests God was conducting for them (15:25; 16:4; see comments there), Israel began to test the Lord (Pss 78:56; 106:7, 14, 25, 29)! God’s people tempt or test their Lord when they distrust his kindness and providential care of them and grumble against him and/or his leaders.
Pages 406–407