Then the Israelites broke out into songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, who had so marvelously preserved them from Pharaoh's anger, led by Miriam, the sister of Moses, the one who had watched him as a baby in his little papyrus boat among the rushes on the bank of the Nile.
During the next three days of their journey no water was found. Then they came to a well, but the water was not fit to drink. Again they found fault with Moses, but he threw a tree which God showed him into the well and the water at once became sweet and good.
Before long they were traveling in a desert country and their stock of food gave out. As before, the Israelites accused Moses of having led them from Egypt to die in the wilderness. But God sent them great flocks of quails, upon which they fed, and covered the ground every morning with a curious substance, round and white, which was good to eat. In wonder the Israelites exclaimed "Man-hu?" which meant "What is it?" and so this mysterious food began to be called manna.
"COVERED THE GROUND WITH A CURIOUS SUBSTANCE."
Then they got out of the desert and camped at a place called Rephidim. But here there was no water, and the people became so angry with Moses that they were ready to kill him. Then God told Moses to strike one of the rocks with his rod and water poured out in abundance.
"WATER POURED OUT IN ABUNDANCE."
Then a new trouble came upon the wandering nation. A people called the Amalekites attacked them, and for the first time since leaving Egypt they were obliged to defend themselves by fighting.
Moses chose a young man named Joshua to be the leader of a selected band and sent him to do battle for the children of Israel, while he held up his hands in prayer to God to help His people. So long as Moses' hands were uplifted Joshua was victorious, but when from weariness he let them fall then the Amalekites prevailed. So Aaron on one side and Hur on the other supported his weary arms and at sunset Joshua had won the battle.