John Calvin Commentary Numbers 21:16

"And from thence [they journeyed] to Beer: that is the well whereof Jehovah said unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water." — Numbers 21:16 (ASV)

And from there they went to Beer. Some think that a circumstance is narrated here that had never been mentioned before, since a song is recorded that we do not find elsewhere. But since Moses repeats the same words he had used before, and speaks as of a very well-known matter—that he was commanded there to assemble the people to partake of the water God had given—it appears probable to me that the name was given to the place by which both God’s goodness and the people’s ingratitude might be testified to posterity.

I do not, however, contend that this is the same place from where we previously read that water was extracted. For it was not there only that the people were satisfied by drinking it, but it flowed forth beside them wherever they went. In this sense, Paul writes that the Rock followed them, (1 Corinthians 10:4); not that the rock was torn from its roots, but because God miraculously drew out the water that flowed from it, so that it would accompany them and thus continually supply them with drink.

We also gather this from the next verse, where Moses says that the people sang this song, Ascend, Beer.¹²⁵ For when they saw that, contrary to nature, the water rose to higher levels from the source that was recently called into existence, so as to supply them with drink in dry places, they began to pay more attention to the miracle and to celebrate the grace of God. It might still be the case that the water did not flow down like a river but bubbled up from the open veins of the earth whenever it was required. At any rate, by its ascent, he indicates an extraordinary effect produced by God.

When it is said that the princes digged the well, there is, in my opinion, an implied contrast between a few persons, those poorly suited for manual labor, and a great body of engineers. Whenever armies need water, soldiers dig wells with much labor; here, quite another mode of proceeding is expressed, namely, that the leaders of the people, together with Moses, dug the well, not by artificial or mechanical means, but by the simple touch of a staff.

Moses, indeed, speaks of staves, in the plural number, because mention of the princes is made; but I have no doubt that the rod of Moses is contrasted with all other implements in order to exalt the power and grace of God. I think, too, that the name of Beer was given to the place where that water left the Israelites, since they had come to well-watered regions that would supply water in abundance without miraculous interference.

Let us, however, learn from this song that, although the people had at first impiously rebelled against God, still, by long experience of the blessing, they were eventually induced to gratitude, so as to burst forth into praise of God. From this we gather that they were not obstinate in their senselessness.

¹²⁵ See Margin A.V. The original word for a well is The original word for a well is בארBeer. —— W.