The Staff and the Three Instruments Thought to Bring Ruin

"And the LORD said to Moses, Pass on before the people" (Exodus 17:5) - pass over their words, for their soul is embittered. Rabbi Judah says: pass over their sin. Rabbi Nehemiah says: "before this people" - and let him speak gently to them. Another interpretation: pass on before this people and bring out water for them. "And take with you of the elders of Israel" - for testimony, that they should not say the springs were already there. "And your staff, with which you struck the river, take in your hand and go." This is one of three things about which Israel used to murmur, saying they are instruments of calamity, and these are they: the incense, the staff, and the ark. The incense: they said it is an instrument of calamity, for it killed Nadab and Abihu, and it killed Korah and his company. In the end they knew it was an instrument of blessing, as it says, "And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people" (Numbers 17:12). The ark: they said it is an instrument of calamity, for it struck the Philistines and the men of Beth-shemesh, and it killed Uzzah. In the end they knew it was a blessing, as it says, "And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his house" (2 Samuel 6:11). The staff: they said it is an instrument of calamity, for it brought the plagues upon the Egyptians in Egypt. In the end they knew it was an instrument of blessing, as it says, "And your staff, with which you struck the river, take in your hand and go."