⁵¹ This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh^(A) in the Desert of Zin^(B) and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.^(C)

¹⁴ for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin,^(A) both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy^(B) before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah^(C) Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

¹¹ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water^(A) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy^(B) in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”^(C)

¹³ These were the waters of Meribah,^[a](D) where the Israelites quarreled^(E) with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.^(F)

Edom Denies Israel Passage

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh^(G) to the king of Edom,^(H) saying:

²¹ He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied^(A) the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. ²² You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’”

²³ When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. ²⁴ As he went on his way, a lion^(B) met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it. ²⁵ Some people who passed by saw the body lying there, with the lion standing beside the body, and they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.

²⁶ When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who defied^(C) the word of the Lord. The Lord has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the Lord had warned him.”

²³ At that time I pleaded^(A) with the Lord: ²⁴ “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness^(B) and your strong hand. For what god^(C) is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works^(D) you do?^{(E) 25} Let me go over and see the good land^(F) beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.^(G)”

²⁶ But because of you the Lord was angry^(H) with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. ²⁷ Go up to the top of Pisgah^(I) and look west and north and south and east.^(J) Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross^(K) this Jordan.^(L)

²⁴ “Aaron will be gathered to his people.^(A) He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command^(B) at the waters of Meribah.^(C)

³ Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

Aaron remained silent.

¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;^(A) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^(B)