Matot-Massei / Listing our stops: The insignificance of Marah

As the Torah depicts the early travels of the Israelites, small details from famous stops are recalled.

“They crossed the Red Sea toward the desert. They then traveled for three days through the Eitam Desert, and they camped in Marah. From Marah to Elim — in Elim there were 12 water springs and 70 palms. … They left Alush and camped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.” (33:8-14)

Does the Torah intend to list stops on the journey, or to recall significant events? If the former, we should just be reading destinations. But if the latter, the events of Marah should be mentioned.

Following the Sea splitting, the people traveled for three days without finding water. They came to Marah but could not drink of the water, “ki marim hem,” because they (either the waters or the people) were bitter. Moshe placed a stick in the waters to sweeten them. “There G-d taught them a decree and a law, and there He tested them.” (Shmot 15:22-25)

Why is nary a word recorded in our parsha about the three days before reaching Marah or about the miracle of the sweetened water?

The Alshich notes how the lack of water in Rephidim is described: “There was no water for the people to drink.” There was water — it just was not available for the people. They had Miriam’s well, but it had been sealed as a consequence of the people turning from the Torah teachings they had accepted in Marah when they complained about their food situation in Shmot 16.

Recall that their arrival in Marah followed three days of wandering during which water was not to be found. Even in Marah, where there was water, it was undrinkable because of bitterness. It is hard to understand how there was no water to be found when we consider the geography. The people had come straight from the Red Sea — were there no rivers, streams or springs extending from the Sea? They were so close to the ironically numbered Oasis of Elim (“12” springs and “70” palms), and yet they couldn’t find water?

Rashi tells us (Shmot 15:22) that Moshe literally had to drag the people away from the Sea after they were saved from the pursuing Egyptians because “the plundering of Egypt’s wealth was even greater at the Sea than it had been as they were leaving Egypt” with riches.