Water from the Rock

20 In the first month the whole community of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

² Since the community was without water, they came together to confront Moses and Aaron. ³ The people complained to Moses and said, “If only we had died when the other Israelites died in the Lord’s presence! ⁴ Did you bring the Lord’s assembly into this desert just to have us and our animals die here? ⁵ Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates won’t grow here. And there’s no water to drink!”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “Take your staff, then you and your brother Aaron gather the community. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the community water from the rock for them and their animals to drink.”

⁹ Moses took his staff out of ⌞the tent in⌟ the Lord’s presence as he had been commanded. ¹⁰ Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?” ¹¹ Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving them.”

¹³ This was the oasis of Meribah [Complaining], where the Israelites complained about the Lord and where he showed them he was holy.

Edom Refuses to Allow Israel to Pass through Its Territory

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardships we’ve had. ¹⁵ Our ancestors went to Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. ¹⁶ When we cried out to the Lord, he heard us, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt.

“Now we’re here in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ¹⁷ Please let us go through your country. We won’t go through any of your fields or vineyards, or drink any of the water from your wells. We’ll stay on the king’s highway and never leave it until we’ve passed through your territory.”

¹⁸ But the Edomites answered, “You may not pass through our country. If you try, we’ll come out and attack you.”

¹⁹ The Israelites replied, “We’ll stay on the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we’ll pay for it. We want to pass through on foot. That’s all.”

²⁰ But the Edomites said, “You may not pass through.” Then they came out and attacked with many well-armed troops. ²¹ Since the Edomites refused to let Israel go through their territory, the Israelites turned around and went a different way.

Water from the Rock

20 In the first month the whole community of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

² Since the community was without water, they came together to confront Moses and Aaron. ³ The people complained to Moses and said, “If only we had died when the other Israelites died in the Lord’s presence! ⁴ Did you bring the Lord’s assembly into this desert just to have us and our animals die here? ⁵ Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates won’t grow here. And there’s no water to drink!”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “Take your staff, then you and your brother Aaron gather the community. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the community water from the rock for them and their animals to drink.”

⁹ Moses took his staff out of ⌞the tent in⌟ the Lord’s presence as he had been commanded. ¹⁰ Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?” ¹¹ Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving them.”

¹³ This was the oasis of Meribah [Complaining], where the Israelites complained about the Lord and where he showed them he was holy.

Edom Refuses to Allow Israel to Pass through Its Territory

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardships we’ve had. ¹⁵ Our ancestors went to Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. ¹⁶ When we cried out to the Lord, he heard us, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt.

“Now we’re here in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ¹⁷ Please let us go through your country. We won’t go through any of your fields or vineyards, or drink any of the water from your wells. We’ll stay on the king’s highway and never leave it until we’ve passed through your territory.”

¹⁸ But the Edomites answered, “You may not pass through our country. If you try, we’ll come out and attack you.”

¹⁹ The Israelites replied, “We’ll stay on the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we’ll pay for it. We want to pass through on foot. That’s all.”

²⁰ But the Edomites said, “You may not pass through.” Then they came out and attacked with many well-armed troops. ²¹ Since the Edomites refused to let Israel go through their territory, the Israelites turned around and went a different way.

Water from the Rock

20 In the first month the whole community of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

² Since the community was without water, they came together to confront Moses and Aaron. ³ The people complained to Moses and said, “If only we had died when the other Israelites died in the Lord’s presence! ⁴ Did you bring the Lord’s assembly into this desert just to have us and our animals die here? ⁵ Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates won’t grow here. And there’s no water to drink!”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “Take your staff, then you and your brother Aaron gather the community. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the community water from the rock for them and their animals to drink.”

⁹ Moses took his staff out of ⌞the tent in⌟ the Lord’s presence as he had been commanded. ¹⁰ Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?” ¹¹ Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving them.”

¹³ This was the oasis of Meribah [Complaining], where the Israelites complained about the Lord and where he showed them he was holy.

Edom Refuses to Allow Israel to Pass through Its Territory

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardships we’ve had. ¹⁵ Our ancestors went to Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. ¹⁶ When we cried out to the Lord, he heard us, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt.

“Now we’re here in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ¹⁷ Please let us go through your country. We won’t go through any of your fields or vineyards, or drink any of the water from your wells. We’ll stay on the king’s highway and never leave it until we’ve passed through your territory.”

¹⁸ But the Edomites answered, “You may not pass through our country. If you try, we’ll come out and attack you.”

¹⁹ The Israelites replied, “We’ll stay on the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we’ll pay for it. We want to pass through on foot. That’s all.”

²⁰ But the Edomites said, “You may not pass through.” Then they came out and attacked with many well-armed troops. ²¹ Since the Edomites refused to let Israel go through their territory, the Israelites turned around and went a different way.

¹⁹ The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the chief priests wanted to arrest him right there, but they were afraid of the people. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them.

A Question about Taxes^(A)

²⁰ So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor. ²¹ They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re right in what you say and teach. Besides, you don’t play favorites. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

²³ He saw through their scheme, so he said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a coin. Whose face and name is this?”

They answered, “The emperor’s.”

²⁵ He said to them, “Well, then give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God.”

²⁶ They couldn’t make him say anything wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said no more.

The Dead Come Back to Life^(B)

²⁷ Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him, ²⁸ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’ ²⁹ There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children. ³⁰ Then the second brother married the widow, ³¹ and so did the third. In the same way all seven brothers married the widow, died, and left no children. ³² Finally, the woman died. ³³ Now, when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her.”

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “In this world people get married. ³⁵ But people who are considered worthy to come back to life and live in the next world will neither marry ³⁶ nor die anymore. They are the same as the angels. They are God’s children who have come back to life.

³⁷ “Even Moses showed in the passage about the bush that the dead come back to life. He says that the Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ³⁸ He’s not the God of the dead but of the living. In God’s sight all people are living.”

³⁹ Some experts in Moses’ Teachings responded, “Teacher, that was well said.” ⁴⁰ From that time on, no one dared to ask him another question.

How Can David’s Son Be David’s Lord?^(C)

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “How can people say that the Messiah is David’s son? ⁴² David says in the book of Psalms,

⁴⁴ David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?”

¹⁹ The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the chief priests wanted to arrest him right there, but they were afraid of the people. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them.

A Question about Taxes^(A)

²⁰ So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor. ²¹ They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re right in what you say and teach. Besides, you don’t play favorites. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

²³ He saw through their scheme, so he said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a coin. Whose face and name is this?”

They answered, “The emperor’s.”

²⁵ He said to them, “Well, then give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God.”

²⁶ They couldn’t make him say anything wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said no more.

The Dead Come Back to Life^(B)

²⁷ Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him, ²⁸ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’ ²⁹ There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children. ³⁰ Then the second brother married the widow, ³¹ and so did the third. In the same way all seven brothers married the widow, died, and left no children. ³² Finally, the woman died. ³³ Now, when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her.”

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “In this world people get married. ³⁵ But people who are considered worthy to come back to life and live in the next world will neither marry ³⁶ nor die anymore. They are the same as the angels. They are God’s children who have come back to life.

³⁷ “Even Moses showed in the passage about the bush that the dead come back to life. He says that the Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ³⁸ He’s not the God of the dead but of the living. In God’s sight all people are living.”

³⁹ Some experts in Moses’ Teachings responded, “Teacher, that was well said.” ⁴⁰ From that time on, no one dared to ask him another question.

How Can David’s Son Be David’s Lord?^(C)

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “How can people say that the Messiah is David’s son? ⁴² David says in the book of Psalms,

⁴⁴ David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?”

¹⁹ The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the chief priests wanted to arrest him right there, but they were afraid of the people. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them.

A Question about Taxes^(A)

²⁰ So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor. ²¹ They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re right in what you say and teach. Besides, you don’t play favorites. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to the emperor or not?”

²³ He saw through their scheme, so he said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a coin. Whose face and name is this?”

They answered, “The emperor’s.”

²⁵ He said to them, “Well, then give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God.”

²⁶ They couldn’t make him say anything wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said no more.

The Dead Come Back to Life^(B)

²⁷ Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him, ²⁸ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.’ ²⁹ There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children. ³⁰ Then the second brother married the widow, ³¹ and so did the third. In the same way all seven brothers married the widow, died, and left no children. ³² Finally, the woman died. ³³ Now, when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her.”

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “In this world people get married. ³⁵ But people who are considered worthy to come back to life and live in the next world will neither marry ³⁶ nor die anymore. They are the same as the angels. They are God’s children who have come back to life.

³⁷ “Even Moses showed in the passage about the bush that the dead come back to life. He says that the Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ³⁸ He’s not the God of the dead but of the living. In God’s sight all people are living.”

³⁹ Some experts in Moses’ Teachings responded, “Teacher, that was well said.” ⁴⁰ From that time on, no one dared to ask him another question.

How Can David’s Son Be David’s Lord?^(C)

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “How can people say that the Messiah is David’s son? ⁴² David says in the book of Psalms,

⁴⁴ David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?”