Now that I've introduced my theory and supported it, I want to reconcile it with the passages that talk about the Mei Merivah episode, such as this one:
So, what did Moshe and Aharon do wrong at Mei Merivah?
(2) And there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. (3) And the people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying: ‘Would that we had perished when our brethren perished before the LORD! (4) And why have ye brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, to die there, we and our cattle? (5) And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.’ (6) And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Stop the story here. Moshe and Aharon are challenged by Bnei Yisrael due to lack of water. This brings another story into the back of our minds:
In this story, the same thing happens- with one major change: Moshe stands up to the people. Only when he has done all he could, or at least feels that way, does he turn to Hashem in prayer.
In Bemidbar 21, however, Moshe and Aharon show no such backbone. And so, the sin of not standing up for G-d is twofold: Once during the Meraglim episode, and once during Mei Merivah.
(ו) וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וְכָלֵב֙ בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה מִן־הַתָּרִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ קָרְע֖וּ בִּגְדֵיהֶֽם׃ (ז) וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָבַ֤רְנוּ בָהּ֙ לָת֣וּר אֹתָ֔הּ טוֹבָ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃ ... (י) וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לִרְגּ֥וֹם אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲבָנִ֑ים וּכְב֣וֹד יְהוָ֗ה נִרְאָה֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד אֶֽל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (פ)
(6) And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of them that spied out the land, rent their clothes. (7) And they spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land... (10) But all the congregation bade stone them with stones, when the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel.
Interestingly, in Bemidbar 14, Yehoshua and Kalev are the ones on the verge of being stoned by the mob, reminiscent of Moshe back in Shmot 17. This showcases the transfer of the mantle of leadership to the next generation during the Meraglim episode.
Thus, we see that Moshe and Aharon make the same mistake- praying to Hashem instead of standing up to the people-- twice. This is why their punishment is blamed on their conduct during both stories.
Next time, we'll look at the main interruption between the Meraglim and Mei Merivah: Korach.