Numbers 20:1-13

International Children’s Bible

Water from the Rock

20 In the first month all the people of Israel arrived at the Desert of Zin. They stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. ² There was no water for the people. So they came together against Moses and Aaron. ³ They argued with Moses. They said, “We should have died in front of the Lord as our brothers did. ⁴ Why did you bring the Lord’s people into this desert? Are we and our animals to die here? ⁵ Why did you bring us from Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain, figs or pomegranates. And there’s no water to drink!”

⁶ So Moses and Aaron left the people. Then they went to the entrance of the Meeting Tent. They bowed facedown. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them. ⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “You and your brother Aaron should gather the people. Also take your walking stick. Speak to that rock in front of them. Then water will flow from it. Give that water to the people and their animals.”

⁹ So Moses took the stick from in front of the Lord. He did as the Lord had said. ¹⁰ He and Aaron gathered the people in front of the rock. Then Moses said, “Now listen to me, you complainers! Do you want us to bring water out of this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses lifted his hand and hit the rock twice with his stick. Water began pouring out. And the people and their animals drank it.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not believe me. You did not honor me as holy before the people. So you will not lead them into the land I will give them.”

¹³ These are the waters of Meribah.^[a] Here the Israelites argued with the Lord. And the Lord showed them he was holy.