1Cor 10:4 | JFB | STEP | 4. drink — ( ). In , "the beasts" also are mentioned as having drunk. The literal water typified " spiritual drink," and is therefore so called. spiritual Rock that followed them —rather, " accompanied them." Not the literal rock (or its water) "followed" them, as ALFORD explains, as if Paul sanctioned the Jews' tradition (Rabbi Solomon on ) that the rock itself, or at least the stream from it, followed the Israelites from place to place (compare ). But Christ, the "Spiritual Rock" ( ), accompanied them ( ). "Followed" implies His attending on them to minister to them; thus, though mostly going before them, He, when occasion required it, followed " behind " ( ). He satisfied all alike as to their bodily thirst whenever they needed it; as on three occasions is expressly recorded ( ); and this drink for the body symbolized the spiritual drink from the Spiritual Rock (compare ; see on ).

1 Corinthians 10:4

4. drink— (Ex 17:6). In Nu 20:8, "the beasts" also are mentioned as having drunk. The literal water typified "spiritual drink," and is therefore so called.

spiritual Rock that followed them—rather, "accompanied them." Not the literal rock (or its water) "followed" them, as ALFORD explains, as if Paul sanctioned the Jews' tradition (Rabbi Solomon on Nu 20:2) that the rock itself, or at least the stream from it, followed the Israelites from place to place (compare De 9:21). But Christ, the "Spiritual Rock" (Ps 78:20, 35; De 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37; Isa 28:16; 1Pe 2:6), accompanied them (Ex 33:15). "Followed" implies His attending on them to minister to them; thus, though mostly going before them, He, when occasion required it, followed "behind" (Ex 14:19). He satisfied all alike as to their bodily thirst whenever they needed it; as on three occasions is expressly recorded (Ex 15:24, 25; 17:6; Nu 20:8); and this drink for the body symbolized the spiritual drink from the Spiritual Rock (compare Joh 4:13, 14; see on 1Co 10:3).