Numbers20
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And 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.
2And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!
4And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
8Take 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.
9And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him.
10And 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?
11And 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.
12And 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.
13These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them.
14And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
15how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
16and 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.
17Let 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.
18And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.
19And 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.
20And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
22And they journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor.
23And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,
24Aaron 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.
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor;
26and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
27And Moses did as Jehovah commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28And 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.
29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The people come to Zin, They murmur for water, Moses directed to smite the rock, The infirmity of Moses and Aaron. (1–13). The Israelites are refused a passage through Edom. (14–21). Aaron reigns the priest's office to Eleazar, and dies in mount Hor. (22–29).
vv1-13
After thirty-eight years' tedious abode in the wilderness, the armies of Israel advanced towards Canaan again. There was no water for the congregation. We live in a wanting world, and wherever we are, must expect to meet with something to put us out. It is a great mercy to have plenty of water, a mercy which, if we found the want of, we should more own the worth of. Hereupon they murmured against Moses and Aaron. They spake the same absurd and brutish language their fathers had done. It made their crime the worse, that they had smarted so long for the discontent and distrusts of their fathers, yet they venture in the same steps. Moses must again, in God's name, command water out of a rock for them; God is as able as ever to supply his people with what is needful for them. But Moses and Aaron acted wrong. They took much of the glory of this work of wonder to themselves; “Must we fetch water?” As if it were done by some power or worthiness of their own. They were to speak to the rock, but they smote it. Therefore it is charged upon them, that they did not sanctify God, that is, they did not give to him alone that glory of this miracle which was due unto his name. And being provoked by the people, Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips. The same pride of man would still usurp the office of the appointed Mediator; and become to ourselves wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Such a state of sinful independence, such a rebellion of the soul against its Saviour, the voice of God condemns in every page of the gospel.
vv14-21
The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped, was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive damage by the Israelites. And had this numerous army been under any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself, there might have been cause for this jealousy. But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred revived, when the blessing was about to be inherited. We must not think it strange, if reasonable requests be denied by unreasonable men, and if those whom God favours be affronted by men.
vv22-29
God bids Aaron prepare to die. There is something of displeasure in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan, because he had failed in his duty at the waters of strife. There is much of mercy in them. Aaron, though he dies for his transgression, dies with ease, and in honour. He is gathered to his people, as one who dies in the arms of Divine grace. There is much significancy in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan, to show that the Levitical priesthood could make nothing perfect; that must be done by bringing in a better hope. Aaron submits, and dies in the method and manner appointed; and, for aught that appears, with as much cheerfulness as if he had been going to bed. It was a great satisfaction to Aaron to see his son, who was dear to him, preferred; and his office preserved and secured: especially, to see in this a figure of Christ's everlasting priesthood. A good man would desire, if it were the will of God, not to outlive his usefulness. Why should we covet to continue any longer in this world, than while we may do some service in it for God and our generation?
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֵדָה: a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
צִן: Tsin, a part of the Desert
רִאשׁוֹן: first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
Cross References
Numbers 20The rock was a spiritual type of Christ, providing sacramental refreshment to the believers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Exposes the specific sin of Moses: speaking unadvisedly with his lips under bitter provocation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Confirms the divine verdict that Moses and Aaron failed to sanctify God at Meribah-Kadesh.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the rod taken by Moses as the budded rod kept before the testimony.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts this second striking at Kadesh with the first commanded striking at Rephidim.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the thirty-day mourning period of Israel for Aaron with that subsequently observed for Moses.
God's instructions regarding transit through fraternal territories, describing Israel's interaction with Esau's descendants.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Historical summary of Israel's messengers to Edom requesting passage and being refused.
Supported by JFB
The Angel sent to bring Israel out of Egypt refers back to Yahweh's presence.
Contrasts the mortal, passing Aaronic priesthood with Christ's unchangeable, eternal Melchizedekian priesthood.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reminds Israel of God's provision of water from the flinty rock in the wilderness.
Warning to not harden hearts as in the day of trial and provocation at Meribah.
Prophetic indictment of Edom for pursuing his brother with the sword, remembering this ancient refusal.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Law of succession requiring the holy garments of Aaron to descend to his sons.
Traces Edom's hostile stance to the ancient, inherited hatred of Esau against Jacob.
Supported by Matthew Henry