Numbers 20:8

Take the staff] Moses here receives no directions as to what he is to do with the staff: perhaps some clauses which originally contained them have been lost. -The staff" is spoken of as a definite well-known object. In E Moses is represented as using a staff given him by God (Exodus 4:17; Exodus 4:20); but in P the staff is always Aaron's(Exodus 7:9; Exodus 7:12; Exodus 7:19-20 &c.). In Numbers 20:11 (below), according to the Heb. text, Moses struck the rock with - hisrod"; but LXX. has - therod." במטהו is probably a late scribal error for במטה.

the rock There is at Kadesh (the modern -Ain-el-Ḳadîs) a -large single mass, or a small hill, of solid rock" described by Trumbull (Kadesh-Barnea, 272 4), who established the identity of the place.