Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 17:2

"Wherefore the people stove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah?" — Exodus 17:2 (ASV)

The people chided. Water is scarce along the route by which, it is supposed, Rephidim was reached. Any supply they might have brought with them from Elim would have been exhausted. They would have looked forward to Rephidim both for their immediate needs and for replenishing their water-skins. They would be suffering from both thirst and disappointment. The needs of their children and their cattle (Exodus 17:3) would be an aggravation of their pain. They would see no hope for the future. Under these circumstances, we cannot be surprised at their "chiding." Nothing but a very lively faith, or complete resignation to the will of God, could have made a people patient and submissive in such an extreme situation.

Give us water. It was not faith that spoke in these words, but wrath. They had no belief that Moses could give them water, and "were almost ready to stone him" (Exodus 17:4).