It's also in the desert that Mr. Feiler makes his most distressing discovery. He's spending the night with a group of Bedouins in Jordan. But in the course of mutual inquiries about the two texts, he realizes that a crucial piece of the story is missing from the Koranic version. In both, the Israelites are hungry, thirsty and complaining. Instead, Moses strikes the rock twice with his staff.
Water appears, and the people and their animals slake their thirst.
For disregarding God's instructions, however, Moses is told that he will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. In the Koran, on the other hand, when Moses is instructed to strike the rock, he does. Twelve springs appear and the people drink. No, they tell him. He asks about the Israelites and the Promised Land.