20. Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her.
21. Miriam sang to them:“Sing to the Lord.He has won a glorious victory.He has thrown horses and their riders into the sea.”
22. Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea into the desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.
23. When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it tasted bitter. That’s why the place was called Marah [Bitter Place].
24. The people complained about Moses by asking, “What are we supposed to drink?”
25. Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.There the Lord set down laws and rules for them to live by, and there he tested them.
26. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what he considers right, if you pay attention to his commands and obey all his laws, I will never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I am the Lord, who heals you.”
27. Next, they went to Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees. They camped there by the water.