RAV KOOK ON Chukat Part 2: Religious Rage

Moses made a terrible mistake. Near the end of their forty-year journey in the desert, the Israelites had arrived at Kadesh. There was no water to drink, and the people complained bitterly. God commanded Moses to take his staff before the entire people and speak to the cliff-rock, to provide water for the nation. Moses took the staff and assembled the people. But he shouted, “Listen now, you rebels! Shall we produce water for you from this cliff?” (Num. 20:10) Moses then struck the cliff twice with the staff, and a huge flow of water gushed out. The commentators scratched their heads trying to understand what exactly was Moses’ mistake — an error so serious that God did not allow him to enter into the Land of Israel. Was it a case of uncontrolled anger, as Maimonides explained? Was he punished for disobeying God by hitting the rock (Rashi)? Was it because he initially fled from the people (Ibn Ezra)? Was it for saying ‘Shall we produce,’ instead of ‘Shall God produce’ (Rabbeinu Chananel)?