There is a very strange story in a very strange part of a very strange book, the Bible. I love the Bible, but sometimes it just seems weird. The story is found in Numbers 21:16-18.

But first, some context! I had a professor at Hebrew Union College, Dr. Isaac Jerusalmi, who used to say to his Hebrew classes, “C.I.E.” This stood for “Context is Everything!” Well, maybe context isn’t everything, but it is quite helpful.

So, this poem occurs in the midst of a list of place names where the Israelites had camped on their journey from slavery in Egypt on their way to the Promised Land. It is a Bible passage almost as dry as the Sinai through which Israel had passed. By way of comparison, Trip Tiks from A.A.A. are racy documents.

And in the midst of this list is set a gem: a little poem about digging a well. What?! A poem about digging a well?!

Yep. And it is quite a provocative poem at that. Here it is:

16        “And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.’ 17 Then Israel sang this song:

             ‘Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—

18        the well that the princes made,

             that the nobles of the people dug,

           with the scepter and with their staffs.’”

First, a clarification is necessary. The word “Beer” does not represent an alcoholic beverage. Rather, it is a transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “a well”. (You know—one of those holes in the ground that people used to dig or drill in order to tap into underground water. Many people in the world still depend upon wells, and they are vitally important.)

Verse 16 is not poetry in Hebrew, but the second half of verse 17 and all of verse18 is poetry. And like most poetry, the language is dense and evocative.

The LORD, the God of Israel, promises to give the people water. But notice that this is not a gift without some work on the part of the people. Apparently, the people still have to work in order to receive God’s gift of water.

And that is probably true of most of God’s gifts. Gifts they are! Yet they also require some work on our part to really experience these divine gifts. The Apostle Paul writes a letter to some Christ-followers in Philippi in ancient Macedonia, in which he tells them “. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do what pleases God.” (Philippians 2:12-13, my translation) God is working in them (gift), but they must continually work out what God is working in them.

Indeed, it is that way with all the really profound gifts. I have a friend in England who is a fine pianist. She is “gifted”. However, I have frequently been a houseguest with her and her husband, the vicar, and I can tell you that her giftedness doesn’t mean that she doesn’t need to practice. In fact, she practices for many hours a day. (Of course, even her practice is beautiful.)

And then there is marriage. My wife is a profoundly wonderful gift to me. I certainly didn’t and don’t deserve her. Still, I need to work at the marriage, even with a wonderful woman. And she has to work really hard. I am not an easy person with whom to live. I know; I’ve been trying to learn how to live with me for a very long time.

The poem says that the nobles dug the well with their own scepters and staff. Perhaps this is to be taken literally, but I doubt it. Certainly, it could mean that Israel’s leaders used their symbols of leadership to actually do the work. However, that is not the usual way with leaders. Most likely, this is a poetic way of saying that the leaders used their symbols of leadership to delegate (or command?) others to do the work. That is the way that leaders usually work. Probably very few of our presidents have ever actually done much of the work for which they receive credit or blame. Generally speaking, leaders do not get their hands dirty.

Finally, the workers composed a song that likely helped them as they were digging the well. Music usually helps work to go better. My mom used to sing or hum as she worked in the garden or kitchen. “Whistle While You Work” is more than a song from Disney’s “Snow White”. People have been singing while they work from time immemorial.

So, while I don’t know everything about this poem, I take from it the following rather mundane truths:

• Gifts—even God’s gifts—demand our work.
• Some do the work, but the leaders get the credit.
• Everybody benefits from the water, though.
• Work can be, and probably should be, accompanied by singing.

However, the poem says it much better than that.