Numbers20
World English Bible · Public Domain
1The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2There was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!
4Why have you brought Yahweh’s assembly into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals?
5Why 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.”
6Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces. Yahweh’s glory appeared to them.
7Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
8“Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You shall bring water to them out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.”
9Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him.
10Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?”
11Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank.
12Yahweh 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.”
13These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.
14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: “Your brother Israel says: You know all the travail that has happened to us;
15how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers.
16When we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the edge of your border.
17“Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway. We will not turn away to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.”
18Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
19The children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”
20He said, “You shall not pass through.” Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand.
21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.
22They traveled from Kadesh, and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
23Yahweh 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.
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor;
26and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron shall be gathered, and shall die there.”
27Moses did as Yahweh commanded. They went up onto Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
29When 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