Immediately after the incident of “mei-merivah,” it states (Bamidbar 20, 13): "ישראל בני רבו אשר מריבה מי המה" They are the waters of conflict, where Bnei Yisrael became contentious. The pasuk indicates that as a consequence of Moshe striking the rock, doubts and controversy multiplied amongst Torah scholars. The Megaleh Amukos reveals a wonderful allusion: (Yirmiyah 23, 29)"הלא כה דברי כאש נאום ה' וכפטיש יפומץ סלע" the word of HaShem is compared to fire and to a hammer that shatters a rock into many pieces. In other words, HKB”H is saying that His Torah was meant to be transmitted with extreme clarity — without doubts and disputes — yet וכפטיש יפומץ סלע like a hammer it will shatter rock — because Moshe struck the rock with his staff, like a hammer, disputes arise and spread among Yisroel. The allusion to this incredible revelation is that the numerical value of the word וכפטי"ש hammer, equals מט"ה מש"ה, Moshe’s staff. Due to the disputes among Torah scholars, Torah is transmitted bit by bit, drop by drop, often with uncertainty.
