23 They came to Maʹrah,*+ but they were not able to drink the water from Maʹrah because it was bitter. That is why he named it Maʹrah. 24 So the people began to murmur against Moses,+ saying: “What are we to drink?” 25 He cried out to Jehovah,+ and Jehovah directed him to a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became sweet.

There He established for them a regulation and a case for judgment, and there He put them to the test.+

19 In time the men of the city said to E·liʹsha: “My master can see that the city is well-situated;+ but the water is bad, and the land is barren.”* 20 At that he said: “Bring me a small new bowl and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water and threw salt into it+ and said: “This is what Jehovah says, ‘I have healed this water. No more will it cause death or barrenness.’”*