The people contended ¹  with Moses, saying, ²  “If only ³  we had died when our brothers died before the Lord!

These are the waters of Meribah, because the Israelites contended with the Lord, and his holiness was maintained ¹  among them.

So the people contended ¹  with Moses, and they said, “Give us water to drink!” ²  Moses said to them, “Why do you contend ³  with me? Why do you test ⁴  the Lord?”