Numbers 20:14-29

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Passage through Edom Refused

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the adversity that has befallen us,^{(A) 15} how our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians oppressed us and our ancestors,^{(B) 16} and when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt, and here we are in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.^{(C) 17} Now let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard or drink water from any well; we will go along the King’s Highway, not turning aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

¹⁸ But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, or we will come out with the sword against you.” ¹⁹ The Israelites said to him, “We will stay on the highway, and if we drink of your water, we and our livestock, then we will pay for it. It is only a small matter; just let us pass through on foot.”^{(D) 20} But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large force, heavily armed. ²¹ Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through their territory, so Israel turned away from them.^(E)

The Death of Aaron

²² They set out from Kadesh, and the Israelites, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.^{(F) 23} Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, ²⁴ “Let Aaron be gathered to his people. For he shall not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.^{(G) 25} Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up Mount Hor;^{(H) 26} strip Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar. But Aaron shall be gathered to his people^[a] and shall die there.” ²⁷ Moses did as the Lord had commanded; they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. ²⁸ Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.^{(I) 29} When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.