But for three days, as they journeyed, they could find no water. The supply which they had taken with them was exhausted. There was nothing to quench their burning thirst as they dragged wearily over the sun-burnt plains. Moses, who was familiar with this region, knew what the others did not, that at Marah, the nearest station where springs were to be found, the water was unfit for use. With intense anxiety he watched the guiding cloud. With a sinking heart he heard the glad shout. "Water! water!" echoed along the line. Men, women, and children in joyous haste crowded to the fountain, when, lo, a cry of anguish burst forth from the host--the water was bitter.

De rejste nu tre dage uden at finde vand. Det forråd, de havde taget med sig, var sluppet op. De havde intet at slukke deres brændende tørst med, mens de trætte slæbte sig hen over de ophedede sletter. Moses var kendt med disse egne og vidste i modsætning til de andre, at vandet ved Mara, hvor de nærmeste kilder fandtes, var udrikkeligt. Han iagttog med den største bekymring skyen, som ledede dem. Modet sank, da han hørte det glade råb: "Vand! Vand!" gå fra mand til mand. Mænd, kvinder og børn skyndte sig glade hen til kilden, men snart lød der et fortvivlet råb fra skarerne, for vandet var bittert.