Exodus 15:27

15:27 Then they came to Elim, ¹  where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the water.

Exodus 39:14

39:14 The stones were for the names of the sons of Israel, twelve, corresponding to the number of ²  their names. Each name corresponding to one of the twelve tribes was like the engravings of a seal.

[15:27]  ¹ sn Judging from the way the story is told they were not far from the oasis. But God had other plans for them, to see if they would trust him wholeheartedly and obey. They did not do very well this first time, and they will have to learn how to obey. The lesson is clear: God uses adversity to test his people’s loyalty. The response to adversity must be prayer to God, for he can turn the bitter into the sweet, the bad into the good, and the prospect of death into life.

[39:14]  ² tn The phrase “the number of” has been supplied.