("Merivah") — "because of the riv of the children of Israel": R. Yehoshua says: Israel said: If he is the master ("ribbon" [like "riv"]) of all acts, as He is our Master, we shall know … and if not, we shall not know. R. Eliezer says: They said: If He satisfies our needs, we will serve Him; if not, we will not serve Him. Thus, "because of the riv of the children of Israel, and because of their trying ('nasotham' [like "Massah"]) the L–rd, saying: 'Is the L–rd in our midst or not?'"