Numbers20
New American Standard
1Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there.
2There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and Aaron.
3Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!
4Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here?
5Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!”
6Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them;
7then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
8“Take the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.”
9So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him;
10and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.
12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
13Those were called the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them.
14From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to the king of Edom to say, “This is what your brother Israel has said: ‘You know all the hardship that has overtaken us;
15that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.
16But when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent an angel, and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
17Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s road, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”
18Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you.”
19Again, the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the road, and if I and my livestock do drink any of your water, then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing more.”
20But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against him with a heavy force and a strong hand.
21So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; then Israel turned away from him.
22Now when they set out from Kadesh, the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
23Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying,
24“Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.
25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor.
26Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
27So Moses did just as the Lord had commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28And after Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on the mountain top. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
29When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, the whole house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty days.
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