Exodus 15:27

15:27 Then they came to Elim, 1  where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the water.

Exodus 30:24

30:24 and twelve and a half pounds of cassia, all weighed 2  according to the sanctuary shekel, and four quarts 3  of olive oil.

1 sn Judging from the way the story is told they were not far from the oasis. But God had other plans for them, to see if they would trust him wholeheartedly and obey. They did not do very well this first time, and they will have to learn how to obey. The lesson is clear: God uses adversity to test his people’s loyalty. The response to adversity must be prayer to God, for he can turn the bitter into the sweet, the bad into the good, and the prospect of death into life.

2 tn The words “all weighed” are added for clarity in English.

3 tn Or “a hin.” A hin of oil is estimated at around one gallon (J. Durham, Exodus [WBC], 3:406).