Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Numbers » Chapter 20 » Verse 1-29

Numbers 20:1-29 King James Version (KJV)

1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet.

20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.

23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.

29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.


Numbers 20:1-29 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Then came H935 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 even the whole congregation, H5712 into the desert H4057 of Zin H6790 in the first H7223 month: H2320 and the people H5971 abode H3427 in Kadesh; H6946 and Miriam H4813 died H4191 there, and was buried H6912 there.

2 And there was no water H4325 for the congregation: H5712 and they gathered H6950 themselves together against Moses H4872 and against Aaron. H175

3 And the people H5971 chode H7378 with Moses, H4872 and spake, H559 saying, H559 Would God that H3863 we had died H1478 when our brethren H251 died H1478 before H6440 the LORD! H3068

4 And why have ye brought up H935 the congregation H6951 of the LORD H3068 into this wilderness, H4057 that we and our cattle H1165 should die H4191 there?

5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up H5927 out of Egypt, H4714 to bring H935 us in unto this evil H7451 place? H4725 it is no place H4725 of seed, H2233 or of figs, H8384 or of vines, H1612 or of pomegranates; H7416 neither is there any water H4325 to drink. H8354

6 And Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 went H935 from the presence H6440 of the assembly H6951 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and they fell H5307 upon their faces: H6440 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto them.

7 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

8 Take H3947 the rod, H4294 and gather H6950 thou the assembly H5712 together, thou, and Aaron H175 thy brother, H251 and speak H1696 ye unto the rock H5553 before their eyes; H5869 and it shall give forth H5414 his water, H4325 and thou shalt bring forth H3318 to them water H4325 out of the rock: H5553 so thou shalt give H8248 the congregation H5712 and their beasts H1165 drink. H8248

9 And Moses H4872 took H3947 the rod H4294 from before H6440 the LORD, H3068 as he commanded H6680 him.

10 And Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 gathered H6950 the congregation H6951 together before H6440 the rock, H5553 and he said H559 unto them, Hear H8085 now, ye rebels; H4784 must we fetch H3318 you water H4325 out of this rock? H5553

11 And Moses H4872 lifted up H7311 his hand, H3027 and with his rod H4294 he smote H5221 the rock H5553 twice: H6471 and the water H4325 came out H3318 abundantly, H7227 and the congregation H5712 drank, H8354 and their beasts H1165 also.

12 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses H4872 and Aaron, H175 Because ye believed H539 me not, to sanctify H6942 me in the eyes H5869 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 therefore ye shall not bring H935 this congregation H6951 into the land H776 which I have given H5414 them.

13 This is H1992 the water H4325 of Meribah; H4809 because the children H1121 of Israel H3478 strove H7378 with the LORD, H3068 and he was sanctified H6942 in them.

14 And Moses H4872 sent H7971 messengers H4397 from Kadesh H6946 unto the king H4428 of Edom, H123 Thus saith H559 thy brother H251 Israel, H3478 Thou knowest H3045 all the travail H8513 that hath befallen H4672 us:

15 How our fathers H1 went down H3381 into Egypt, H4714 and we have dwelt H3427 in Egypt H4714 a long H7227 time; H3117 and the Egyptians H4714 vexed H7489 us, and our fathers: H1

16 And when we cried H6817 unto the LORD, H3068 he heard H8085 our voice, H6963 and sent H7971 an angel, H4397 and hath brought us forth H3318 out of Egypt: H4714 and, behold, we are in Kadesh, H6946 a city H5892 in the uttermost H7097 of thy border: H1366

17 Let us pass, H5674 I pray thee, through thy country: H776 we will not pass H5674 through the fields, H7704 or through the vineyards, H3754 neither will we drink H8354 of the water H4325 of the wells: H875 we will go H3212 by the king's H4428 high way, H1870 we will not turn H5186 to the right hand H3225 nor to the left, H8040 until we have passed H5674 thy borders. H1366

18 And Edom H123 said H559 unto him, Thou shalt not pass H5674 by me, lest I come out H3318 against H7125 thee with the sword. H2719

19 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto him, We will go H5927 by the high way: H4546 and if I and my cattle H4735 drink H8354 of thy water, H4325 then I will pay H5414 H4377 for it: I will only, without doing any thing H1697 else, go through H5674 on my feet. H7272

20 And he said, H559 Thou shalt not go through. H5674 And Edom H123 came out H3318 against H7125 him with much H3515 people, H5971 and with a strong H2389 hand. H3027

21 Thus Edom H123 refused H3985 to give H5414 Israel H3478 passage H5674 through his border: H1366 wherefore Israel H3478 turned away H5186 from him.

22 And the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 even the whole congregation, H5712 journeyed H5265 from Kadesh, H6946 and came H935 unto mount H2022 Hor. H2023

23 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 in mount H2022 Hor, H2023 by the coast H1366 of the land H776 of Edom, H123 saying, H559

24 Aaron H175 shall be gathered H622 unto his people: H5971 for he shall not enter H935 into the land H776 which I have given H5414 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 because ye rebelled against H4784 my word H6310 at the water H4325 of Meribah. H4809

25 Take H3947 Aaron H175 and Eleazar H499 his son, H1121 and bring them up H5927 unto mount H2022 Hor: H2023

26 And strip H6584 Aaron H175 of his garments, H899 and put H3847 them upon Eleazar H499 his son: H1121 and Aaron H175 shall be gathered H622 unto his people, and shall die H4191 there.

27 And Moses H4872 did H6213 as the LORD H3068 commanded: H6680 and they went up H5927 into mount H2022 Hor H2023 in the sight H5869 of all the congregation. H5712

28 And Moses H4872 stripped H6584 Aaron H175 of his garments, H899 and put H3847 them upon Eleazar H499 his son; H1121 and Aaron H175 died H4191 there in the top H7218 of the mount: H2022 and Moses H4872 and Eleazar H499 came down H3381 from the mount. H2022

29 And when all the congregation H5712 saw H7200 that Aaron H175 was dead, H1478 they mourned H1058 for Aaron H175 thirty H7970 days, H3117 even all the house H1004 of Israel. H3478


Numbers 20:1-29 American Standard (ASV)

1 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!

4 And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?

5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto them.

7 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.

9 And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

12 And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:

16 and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border.

17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.

18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.

19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without `doing' anything `else', pass through on my feet.

20 And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

22 And they journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor.

23 And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor;

26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered `unto his people', and shall die there.

27 And Moses did as Jehovah commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.

29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.


Numbers 20:1-29 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And the sons of Israel come in, -- all the company -- to the wilderness of Zin, in the first month, and the people abide in Kadesh, and Miriam dieth there, and is buried there.

2 And there hath been no water for the company, and they are assembled against Moses, and against Aaron,

3 and the people strive with Moses, and speak, saying, `And oh that we had expired when our brethren expired before Jehovah!

4 and why have ye brought in the assembly of Jehovah unto this wilderness to die there, we and our beasts?

5 and why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to bring us in unto this evil place? no place of seed, and fig, and vine, and pomegranate; and water there is none to drink.

6 And Moses and Aaron go in from the presence of the assembly unto the opening of the tent of meeting, and fall on their faces, and the honour of Jehovah is seen by them.

7 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

8 `Take the rod, and assemble the company, thou and Aaron thy brother; and ye have spoken unto the rock before their eyes, and it hath given its water, and thou hast brought out to them water from the rock, and hast watered the company, and their beasts.'

9 And Moses taketh the rod from before Jehovah, as He hath commanded him,

10 and Moses and Aaron assemble the assembly unto the front of the rock, and he saith to them, `Hear, I pray you, O rebels, from this rock do we bring out to you water?'

11 and Moses lifteth up his hand, and smiteth the rock with his rod twice; and much water cometh out, and the company drink, also their beasts.

12 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, and unto Aaron, `Because ye have not believed in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore ye do not bring in this assembly unto the land which I have given to them.'

13 These `are' waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel have `striven' with Jehovah, and He is sanctified upon them.

14 And Moses sendeth messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, `Thus said thy brother Israel, Thou -- thou hast known all the travail which hath found us;

15 that our fathers go down to Egypt, and we dwell in Egypt many days, and the Egyptians do evil to us and to our fathers;

16 and we cry unto Jehovah, and He heareth our voice, and sendeth a messenger, and is bringing us out of Egypt; and lo, we `are' in Kadesh, a city `in' the extremity of thy border.

17 Let us pass over, we pray thee, through thy land; we pass not over through a field, or through a vineyard, nor do we drink waters of a well; the way of the king we go, we turn not aside -- right or left -- till that we pass over thy border.'

18 And Edom saith unto him, `Thou dost not pass over through me, lest with sword I come out to meet thee.'

19 And the sons of Israel say unto him, `In the highway we go, and if of thy waters we drink -- I and my cattle -- then I have given their price; only (it is nothing) on my feet I pass over.'

20 And he saith, `Thou dost not pass over;' and Edom cometh out to meet him with much people, and with a strong hand;

21 and Edom refuseth to suffer Israel to pass over through his border, and Israel turneth aside from off him.

22 And the sons of Israel, the whole company, journey from Kadesh, and come in unto mount Hor,

23 and Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron in mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24 `Aaron is gathered unto his people, for he doth not go in unto the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because that ye provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah.

25 `Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and cause them to go up mount Hor,

26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and thou hast clothed `with' them Eleazar his son, and Aaron is gathered, and doth die there.'

27 And Moses doth as Jehovah hath commanded, and they go up unto mount Hor before the eyes of all the company,

28 and Moses strippeth Aaron of his garments, and clotheth with them Eleazar his son, and Aaron dieth there on the top of the mount; and Moses cometh down -- Eleazar also -- from the mount,

29 and all the company see that Aaron hath expired, and they bewail Aaron thirty days -- all the house of Israel.


Numbers 20:1-29 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And the children of Israel, the whole assembly, came into the wilderness of Zin, in the first month; and the people abode at Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

2 And there was no water for the assembly, and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 And the people contended with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!

4 And why have ye brought the congregation of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?

5 And why have ye made us to go up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink.

6 And Moses and Aaron went from before the congregation to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces; and the glory of Jehovah appeared to them.

7 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

8 Take the staff, and gather the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, and it shall give its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock, and shalt give the assembly and their beasts drink.

9 And Moses took the staff from before Jehovah, as he had commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, ye rebels: shall we bring forth to you water out of this rock?

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his staff smote the rock twice, and much water came out, and the assembly drank, and their beasts.

12 And Jehovah said to Moses and to Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to hallow me before the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land that I have given them.

13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the children of Israel contended with Jehovah, and he hallowed himself in them.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the trouble that hath befallen us,

15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians evil entreated us and our fathers;

16 and when we cried to Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt; and behold, we are at Kadesh, a city at the extremity of thy border.

17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country; we will not pass through fields, or through vineyards, neither will we drink water out of the wells: we will go by the king's road; we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.

18 But Edom said to him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

19 And the children of Israel said to him, We will go by the high way; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then I will pay for it: I will only, without anything else, go through on my feet.

20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; and Israel turned away from him.

22 And they removed from Kadesh; and the children of Israel, the whole assembly, came to mount Hor.

23 And Jehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron in mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his peoples; for he shall not enter into the land that I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor,

26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron shall be gathered [to his peoples], and shall die there.

27 And Moses did as Jehovah had commanded, and they went up mount Hor before the eyes of the whole assembly.

28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there upon the top of the mountain; and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29 And the whole assembly saw that Aaron was dead, and they mourned for Aaron thirty days, [even] the whole house of Israel.


Numbers 20:1-29 World English Bible (WEB)

1 The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

2 There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!

4 Why have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals?

5 Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6 Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them.

7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak you to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their cattle drink.

9 Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him.

10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?

11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

12 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has happened to us:

15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:

16 and when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border.

17 Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.

18 Edom said to him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.

19 The children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price of it: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet.

20 He said, You shall not pass through. Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: why Israel turned away from him.

22 They traveled from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

23 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor;

26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [to his people], and shall die there.

27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.


Numbers 20:1-29 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 In the first month all the children of Israel came into the waste land of Zin, and put up their tents in Kadesh; there death came to Miriam, and they put her body to rest in the earth.

2 And there was no water for the people: and they came together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 And the people were angry with Moses and said, If only death had overtaken us when our brothers came to their death before the Lord!

4 Why have you taken the Lord's people into this waste, for death to come to us and to our cattle there?

5 Why have you made us come out of Egypt into this evil place? This is no place of seed or figs or vines or other fruits, and there is no water for drinking.

6 Then Moses and Aaron went away from the people to the door of the Tent of meeting; and, falling on their faces there, they saw the glory of the Lord.

7 And the Lord said to Moses,

8 Take the rod, you and Aaron, your brother, and make all the people come together, and before their eyes give orders to the rock to give out its water; and so make water come out of the rock for them, and give the people and their cattle drink.

9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord as he gave him orders.

10 Then Moses and Aaron made the people come together in front of the rock, and he said to them, Give ear now, you people whose hearts are turned from the Lord; are we to get water for you out of the rock?

11 And lifting up his hand, Moses gave the rock two blows with his rod: and water came streaming out, and the people and their cattle had drink enough.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you had not enough faith in me to keep my name holy before the children of Israel, you will not take this people into the land which I have given them.

13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel went against the Lord, and they saw that he was holy among them.

14 Then Moses sent men from Kadesh to the king of Edom to say to him, Your brother Israel says, You have knowledge of all the things we have been through;

15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we were living in Egypt for a long time; and the Egyptians were cruel to us and to our fathers:

16 And the Lord gave ear to the voice of our cry, and sent an angel and took us out of Egypt: and now we are in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your land;

17 Let us now go through your land: we will not go into field or vine-garden, or take the water of the springs; we will go by the highway, not turning to the right or to the left, till we have gone past the limits of your land.

18 And Edom said, You are not to go through my land, for if you do I will come out against you with the sword.

19 And the children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway: and if we or our cattle take of your water, we will give you a price for it: only let us go through on our feet, nothing more.

20 But he said, You are not to go through. And Edom came out against them in his strength, with a great army.

21 So Edom would not let Israel go through his land; and Israel went in another direction.

22 And they went on from Kadesh, and came, with all their people, to Mount Hor.

23 And at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

24 Aaron will be put to rest with his people; he will not go into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you went against my word at the waters of Meribah.

25 So take Aaron and Eleazar, his son, up into Mount Hor;

26 And take Aaron's robes off him and put them on Eleazar, his son: and death will come to Aaron there, and he will be put to rest with his people.

27 So Moses did as the Lord had said, and before the eyes of all the people they went up Mount Hor.

28 And Moses took off Aaron's robes, and put them on Eleazar, his son; and there on the top of the mountain death came to Aaron: then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29 And when the people saw that Aaron was dead, all the children of Israel gave themselves up to weeping for him for thirty days.

Commentary on Numbers 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 20

Nu 20:1-29. The Death of Miriam.

1. Then came the children of Israel … into the desert of Zin in the first month—that is, of the fortieth year (compare Nu 20:22, 23, with Nu 33:38). In this history only the principal and most important incidents are recorded, those confined chiefly to the first or second and the last years of the journeyings in the wilderness, thence called Et-Tih. Between Nu 19:22 and Nu 20:1 there is a long and undescribed interval of thirty-seven years.

the people abode in Kadesh—supposed to be what is now known as Ain-el-Weibeh, three springs surrounded by palms. (See on Nu 13:26). It was their second arrival after an interval of thirty-eight years (De 2:14). The old generation had nearly all died, and the new one encamped in it with the view of entering the promised land, not, however, as formerly on the south, but by crossing the Edomite region on the east.

Miriam died there—four months before Aaron [Nu 33:38].

2-13. there was no water for the congregation—There was at Kadesh a fountain, En-Mishpat (Ge 14:7), and at the first encampment of the Israelites there was no want of water. It was then either partially dried up by the heat of the season, or had been exhausted by the demands of so vast a multitude.

6. Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly—Here is a fresh ebullition of the untamed and discontented spirit of the people. The leaders fled to the precincts of the sanctuary, both as an asylum from the increasing fury of the highly excited rabble, and as their usual refuge in seasons of perplexity and danger, to implore the direction and aid of God.

8. Take the rod—which had been deposited in the tabernacle (Nu 17:10), the wonder-working rod by which so many miracles had been performed, sometimes called "the rod of God" (Ex 4:20), sometimes Moses' (Nu 20:11) or Aaron's rod (Ex 7:12).

10. [Moses] said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?—The conduct of the great leader on this occasion was hasty and passionate (Ps 106:33). He had been directed to speak to the rock [Nu 20:8], but he smote it twice [Nu 20:11] in his impetuosity, thus endangering the blossoms of the rod, and, instead of speaking to the rock, he spoke to the people in a fury.

11. the congregation drank, and their beasts—Physically the water afforded the same kind of needful refreshment to both. But from a religious point of view, this, which was only a common element to the cattle, was a sacrament to the people (1Co 10:3, 4)—It possessed a relative sanctity imparted to it by its divine origin and use.

12. The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, &c.—The act of Moses in smiting twice betrayed a doubt, not of the power, but of the will of God to gratify such a rebellious people, and his exclamation seems to have emanated from a spirit of incredulity akin to Sarai's (Ge 18:13). These circumstances indicate the influence of unbelief, and there might have been others unrecorded which led to so severe a chastisement.

13. This is the water of Meribah—The word "Kadesh" is added to it [De 32:51] to distinguish it from another Meribah (Ex 17:7).

14-16. Moses sent messengers … to the king of Edom—The encampment at Kadesh was on the confines of the Edomite territory, through which the Israelites would have had an easy passage across the Arabah by Wady-el-Ghuweir, so that they could have continued their course around Moab, and approached Palestine from the east [Roberts]. The Edomites, being the descendants of Esau and tracing their line of descent from Abraham as their common stock, were recognized by the Israelites as brethren, and a very brotherly message was sent to them.

17. we will go by the king's highway—probably Wady-el-Ghuweir [Roberts], through which ran one of the great lines of road, constructed for commercial caravans, as well as for the progress of armies. The engineering necessary for carrying them over marshes or mountains, and the care requisite for protecting them from the shifting sands, led to their being under the special care of the state. Hence the expression, "the king's highway," which is of great antiquity.

19. if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it—From the scarcity of water in the warm climates of the East, the practice of levying a tax for the use of the wells is universal; and the jealousy of the natives, in guarding the collected treasures of rain, is often so great that water cannot be procured for money.

21. Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, &c.—A churlish refusal obliged them to take another route. (See on Nu 21:4; De 2:4; and Jud 11:18; see also 1Sa 14:47; 2Sa 8:14, which describe the retribution that was taken.)

22. the children of Israel … came unto mount Hor—now Gebel Haroun, the most striking and lofty elevation in the Seir range, called emphatically "the mount" [Nu 20:28]. It is conspicuous by its double top.

24-28. Aaron shall be gathered unto his people—In accordance with his recent doom, he, attired in the high priest's costume, was commanded to ascend that mountain and die. But although the time of his death was hastened by the divine displeasure as a punishment for his sins, the manner of his death was arranged in tenderness of love, and to do him honor at the close of his earthly service. His ascent of the mount was to afford him a last look of the camp and a distant prospect of the promised land. The simple narrative of the solemn and impressive scene implies, though it does not describe, the pious resignation, settled faith, and inward peace of the aged pontiff.

26. strip Aaron of his garments—that is, his pontifical robes, in token of his resignation. (See Isa 22:20-25).

put them on his son—as the inauguration into his high office. Having been formerly anointed with the sacred oil, that ceremony was not repeated, or, as some think, it was done on his return to the camp.

28. Aaron died there in the top of the mount—(See on De 10:6). A tomb has been erected upon or close by the spot where he was buried.

29. When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead—Moses and Eleazar were the sole witnesses of his departure (Nu 20:28). According to the established law, the new high priest could not have been present at the funeral of his father without contracting ceremonial defilement (Le 21:11). But that law was dispensed with in the extraordinary circumstances. The people learned the event not only from the recital of the two witnesses, but from their visible signs of grief and change; and this event betokened the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood (Heb 7:12).

they mourned for Aaron thirty days—the usual period of public and solemn mourning. (See on De 34:8).