1. Meribah means strife, and is used as the name for a place at Horeb, near Rephidim (Wadi Feiran). There Israel contended with Moses for water near the beginning of the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 17:7). This is the place probably alluded to in Deuteronomy 33:8 and Psalm 95:8, and is also called Massah.
2. Meribah was also the name given to a place near Kadesh-barnea in the wilderness of Zin, where Israel also quarreled with Moses for water, and God again provided it from a rock (Numbers 20:13); alternately called Meribath-kadesh in Deuteronomy 32:51. This episode took place toward the close of the desert wanderings. The waters of Meribah were waters of contention. Here Gods anger was provoked against Moses and Aaron because they did not listen to him and honor him before Israel. Instead of speaking to the rock as God commanded, Moses-angered at Israels hardness of heart-struck the rock twice with his rod. The psalmist records that here God tested Israel (Psalm 81:7), and Israels rebellion prodded Moses to sin (Psalm 106:32). Meribah-kadesh is mentioned as a place on Israels southern border (Ezekiel 1:47:19; 48:28).