And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].
Ver. 11. He smote the rock twice.] In a great heat and pang of passion.
“ Qui non moderabitur irae,
Infectum velit esse dolor quod suaserit, et mens. ” - Horat.
Sometimes both grace and wit are asleep in the holiest and wariest breasts. The best may be miscarried by their passions to their cost. Ira comes of Ire, say grammarians: because an angry man goes out of himself, off from his reason; and when he is pacified, he is said redire ad se, to come again to himself.
And the water came out abundantly.] This cleaving of the hard rock was a work of omnipotency. Psa 78:15 The works of God are in contrariis medias. a This rock was Christ, 1Co 10:4 fitly compared to a rock; (1.) For despicable appearance; Isa 53:2-3 (2.) For exaltation and advancement; (3.) For firmness and stability; Mat 16:18 (4.) For scandal and offence to the wicked; Rom 9:33 (5.) For weight and danger. Mat 21:44
And their beasts also.] The wicked, in like sort, coming to the Lord's supper, do receive there panem Domini, not panem Dominum.
a Luther.