The subject is from the Bible (Exodus 17.1-7 and 20.1-13). In a desert the Israelites complained of lack of water and blamed Moses, who cried out to Jehovah. He was told to smite the rock 'and there shall come water out of it, and the people may drink'. This painting shows Moses in a gully striking the rock with a reed in the right foreground. Surrounding him, the Israelites witness the miracle, holding watering-pots and other vessels.

The picture is somewhat obscured under discoloured varnish but from what can be seen it appears to be a feeble work, in the style of Rosa but not by him, and unrelated to any known Rosa composition.