Bitter Waters made Sweet (Exodus 15:22-25 a J, Exodus 15:25 b E, Exodus 15:26 Rje, Exodus 15:27 J). The wilderness of Shur stretched E. of the present Suez Canal. No very plausible site for Marah, three days-' journey E., can be suggested on the ordinary theory; but Gressmann finds Mara, along with Massa and Meriba, among the high ground near Petra, beyond the Gulf of Akaba, which he takes for the Reed-sea. There are three springs, the spring of Kadesh and two others. The brackish water was undrinkable, and set the people murmuring. This constant feature, so unflattering yet so true to the experience of a big caravan over desert ground, and so testing to the capacity of the leader, is one that illustrates the faithfulness of the tradition. Yahweh showed Moses a tree, or taught him (the healing properties of) wood. No tree has been found with this power; but a later compiler (Exodus 15:26) has based on the story the beautiful conception of Yahweh as the Physician of His people.
Exodus 15:25 b E seems to belong to E's story of Massah (proving), cf. Exodus 17:2-7. Its proximity to the Marah story here favours Gressmann's view. Some delightful oasis is denoted by Elim (sacred trees), but its locality is uncertain.