Charles Spurgeon Commentary Exodus 15:27

"And they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees: and they encamped there by the waters." — Exodus 15:27 (ASV)

Where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees and they encamped there by the waters.

That Elim must have been prepared on purpose for Israel.

Twelve springs of water – that was the number of the tribes.

Seventy palm trees – that was the number of the elders. I do not wonder that Moses noted these numbers. It must have seemed remarkable that, long before they came there, there were the wells and there were the palm trees all ready for their encampment.

It was most significant that these things should have been prepared according to the number of the children of Israel; but everything else is arranged by the same rule. When the Lord divided the people, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the children of Israel. It is by this line that he builds his Church still. It is according to his thoughts of his own people that he rules everything in his providence. There are a few verses in Jeremiah 7 which we will read concerning this subject.