The memorable place where the visions of God began with Moses. Here it was, that this great leader of the armies of Israel had his first view of God in Christ. That this was Christ, the Angel of the Covenant, who manifested himself to the man of God, there can be no question, by comparing the account of this solemn interview, as it is related in Exodus, chap. iii. and as it is explained by Stephen, Acts 7:30-32. Horeb, and mount Sinai, were so close to each other, that they both, at a distance, appeared but as one mountain. Here it was, that Moses struck the rock at the foot of Horeb. (Exodus 17:6-8) And Rephidim was near at hand. From hence the progress of the rock that followed Israel took its rise, and which the apostle to the Corinthians plainly declares was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4) So that Horeb, which in its original sense signifies a desert and dryness, was admirably suited both to Moses and Israel, to teach them that from the dry and desert state of our fallen nature ariseth the very cause of finding springs in Christ. It is from our misery Christ takes occasion to magnify the glory of his mercy; and from the drought of Horeb, the rock that follows Israel, even Christ, furnished a fulness of living water to the soul. The name of Rephidim, which is in the plural number, and signifies places of rest, from Raphab, rest, is esentation of our nature resting in itself, without any thing in our own power to give satisfaction to the dry soul. Here will be always "Massah and Meribah, that is, temptation and chiding," till Christ, the rock of living water, is discovered and enjoyed.
See Sinai