כה) וַיִּצְעַק אֶל ה' וַיּוֹרֵהוּ ה' עֵץ וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶל הַמַּיִם וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ:
So Moses cried out to Adonai, and Adonai instructed him concerning a piece of wood, which he cast into the water, and the water became sweet. There God gave them a statute and an ordinance, and there God tested them. [Translation by Judaica Press, edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Moshe was taught to use wood, rather than simply raise his staff?
2. Why were the waters bitter originally? Why did God sweeten them?
3. How was this a test? How are we tested today? Is it fair to always think of poor access to resources as a test?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)