Numbers20
New International Version
1In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.
3They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord!
4Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
5Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”
6Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7The Lord said to Moses,
8“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him.
10He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
11Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.
14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: “This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us.
15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors,
16but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. “Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
17Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
18But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”
19The Israelites replied: “We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”
20Again they answered: “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.
21Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
22The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.
23At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
24“Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.
25Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.
26Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.”
27Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.
28Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,
29and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites mourned for him 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