Numbers 20

Miriam Dies & the People Complain About Water (Again)

1 The Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and they camped in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried.

2 But there was no water for the people, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.

3 They argued with Moses and said, “We wish we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord!”

4 “Why did you bring the Lord’s people into this desert just to die here, us and our animals?”

5 “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to this terrible place, There is no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and worst of all, no water!”

6 Moses and Aaron left the people, went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, and fell face down. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

God Tells Moses to Speak to the Rock

7 The Lord told Moses.

8 “Take your staff, gather the people, and speak to the rock. It will pour out water for them and their livestock.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he was commanded.

10 He and Aaron gathered the people in front of the rock. Moses said, “Listen up, you rebels! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you all?”

11 Then Moses lifted his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and everyone, including their animals, drank.

God Punishes Moses & Aaron

12 The Lord told Moses and Aaron, “Because you all did not trust Me enough to show My holiness to the people, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them.”

13 This place was called Meribah because the Israelites argued with the Lord, and He showed them He was holy.

Moses Asks Edom for Permission to Pass Through

14 Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “This is what your brothers, the Israelites, say: You know all the hardship we have been through.”

15 “Our ancestors went to Egypt and lived there a long time. But the Egyptians treated us badly.”

16 “So we cried out to the Lord, and He heard us. He sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are at the edge of your land.”

17 “Let us pass through. We will not go through your fields or vineyards, and we will not drink your water. We will stay on the main road and will not turn left or right.”

Edom Says “No” & Brings Out the Army

18 But Edom said, “You are not coming through our land, or we will come out and fight you!”

19 The Israelites said, “We will stay on the main road. If we or our animals drink your water, we will pay for it. We just want to pass through, nothing else.”

20 But Edom said, “No way.” Then they came out against Israel with a large army.

21 Since Edom refused to let them pass through, Israel had to turn away.

Aaron Dies on Mount Hor

22 The Israelites left Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.

23 The Lord told Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, near the border of Edom.

24 “Aaron is about to die because you all both disobeyed Me at the waters of Meribah. He will not enter the Promised Land.”

25 “Take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor.”

26 “Remove Aaron’s priestly clothes and put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron will die there.”

27 Moses did what the Lord commanded. They went up Mount Hor in front of all the Israelites.

28 Moses removed Aaron’s priestly clothes and put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came back down.

29 When the Israelites saw Aaron was dead, the whole community mourned for him for thirty days.