Massah] That is, temptation. Meribah] That is, chiding, or strife; there was another Meribah. Or, chiding and murmuring, Numbers 20:13. is the Lord among us] Impatience under pressures, provokes God by distrust of his promise, reproach of his providence, and deniall of his presence: all this is implied in this passionate, and discontented demand, which (in effect) is a renunciation of all Religion at once, even to the deniall of the Deitie of God; for if he be not every where present, he is no where; no God: if there be not a divine omnipresence, there is not adivine Essence. Their words may (notwithstanding) be mollified with a more gentle construction: and they may be said to question his presence but in relation to his providence, in providing for them, their extreme thirst felt the want of this, and that might occasion the questioning or doubting of that: but excesse of passion, keeps no bounds of moderation in better men, then most of this mixed and tumultuating multitude. See Jonah 4:9.