8574. 'What shall I do for this people?' means what should be done for those who make such bitter complaint because they are not in receipt of truth? This is clear from the meaning of 'what shall I do for this people?' as words embodying such matters; for 'the wrangling of the people with Moses' means bitter complaining, 8563, 8566, and 'no water for them to drink' means a lack of truth, 8562, 8568.

8563. 'And the people wrangled with Moses' means bitter complaining against God's truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'wrangling' as bitter complaining, for one who wrangles in temptation complains bitterly; and from the representation of 'Moses' as God's truth, dealt with in 6723, 6752, 6771, 6827, 7010, 7014, 7089, 7382.