John Calvin Commentary Exodus 17:4

"And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready to stone me." — Exodus 17:4 (ASV)

And Moses cried. This cry does not seem to have aligned with the true model of prayer, but rather to have been mixed with confused complaint, to which Moses was impelled by the deep agitation of his mind. For excessive earnestness sometimes carries away the godly, so that they tend to fret in their prayer rather than properly and moderately express their requests.

Indeed, there is something in these words that sounds angry and unruly: “What shall I do to this people?” It is as if Moses, struck with indignation, complained that he was weighed down with a heavy burden, which he would willingly shake off if he could obtain permission and deliverance from God.

Interpreters explain what follows in various ways. Some interpret it this way: “Unless God immediately came to his aid, or if He were to delay His help even for a very short time, Moses would be stoned.” Others say: “It is only a little more, and they will rush upon me to stone me.” Still others read it in the past tense, but the particle עוד,¹⁸⁸gnod, which relates to the future, is an objection to this view.

I find this interpretation most convincing: if God delays His assistance even for a short time, the people’s rage could not be restrained from stoning Moses.

¹⁸⁸ Shortly. — W..