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Numbers 20
New Catholic Bible
Numbers 20
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 20
Death of Miriam.[a] 1 The people of Israel, the whole assembly, came into the Desert of Zin in the first month,[b] and the people stayed in Kadesh. It was there that Miriam died and was buried.
The Need for Water. 2 The community had no water, and they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 They argued with Moses and said, “Would that we would have died when our brothers fell before the Lord. 4 Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness so that we die here, both we and our cattle? 5 Why have you made us come out of Egypt to this evil place? It has no grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates. There is no water to drink!”
Moses and Aaron Sin. 6 Moses and Aaron went from in front of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. They fell upon their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff, and you and Aaron your brother are to gather the assembly together. Speak to the rock in their sight and it will pour forth water. You will bring forth water from the rock for the assembly and their animals to drink.”
9 Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he had been commanded. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring forth water out of this rock for you?” 11 [c]Then Moses lifted up his arm and he struck the rock with his staff twice. Water came gushing out, and the community and their animals drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not trusted and hallowed me in the eyes of the people of Israel, you will not lead this community into the land that I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah, because the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and he showed himself to be bold among them.”[d]
14 Israel Denied Passage.[e] Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom saying, “Thus says Israel, your brother, ‘You know all the hardships that have come upon us. 15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers. 16 When we cried out, he heard our voice and sent an angel to bring us out of Egypt. We are now in Kadesh, a town at the edge of your territory. 17 Please, let us pass through your land. We will not walk through the vineyards nor drink from the wells. We will pass along the King’s Highway, and we will not turn to the right nor to the left until we have crossed over your borders.’ ”
18 But Edom said, “You will not pass through. Otherwise, I will come out against you with the sword.”
19 The people of Israel replied, “We will go along the main road. If my cattle drink from your water, I will pay for it. Only let me pass through on foot, nothing else.” 20 But he said, “You will not pass through.” Edom came out against the people with a great and powerful force. 21 Since Edom refused to let Israel pass through its territory, Israel turned away from it.
22 The Death of Aaron. When they left Kadesh, the whole assembly of the people of Israel came to Mount Hor. 23 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor near the border of Edom and said, 24 “Aaron is going to be gathered to his people.[f] He will not enter the land that I have promised to the people of Israel because you disobeyed my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor. 26 Take Aaron’s garments off and put them on Eleazar, his son. Aaron is to be gathered to his people; he will die there.”
27 So Moses did as the Lord had commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the assembly. 28 Moses removed Aaron’s garments and he put them upon Eleazar, his son. Aaron died on top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar then came down the mountain. 29 The whole assembly learned that Aaron had died. The whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron for thirty days.
Footnotes
- Numbers 20:1 God will rebuke Moses for not having faith, probably because his act of striking the rock with his staff may have looked too much like an act of magic. But it may also be that the editor was taking into account other traditions of which traces can be found in the Bible (Ex 17; Deut 1:37; Ps 106:32), in order to conceal a greater act of distrust on the part of the head of the community. The rock is an image for God and a symbol of Christ (Ps 18:2; Jn 7:38; 1 Cor 10:4).
- Numbers 20:1 First month: according to verses 22-29, this chapter covers the last of the 40 years in the desert after the Exodus. By this time there would have been a complete turnover of those 20 years and older who had been in the desert for the whole time.
- Numbers 20:11 The miraculous issue of water from the rock is accomplished by Moses apart from the Lord’s instruction to speak to the rock. Moses is immediately chastised for his disobedience—both he and Aaron being denied entrance into the Promised Land.
- Numbers 20:13 Hebrew allows the word Meribah and the word meaning quarrel to be interchanged.
- Numbers 20:14 According to the Fathers of the Church, the king of Edom is a prefiguration of those who do not accept the gospel.
- Numbers 20:24 Gathered to his people: this phrase indicated Aaron’s impending death. Both he and Moses having rebelled against God (v. 12) would die.
Números 20
Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009
Números 20
Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009
A morte de Miriã
20 Chegando os filhos de Israel, toda a congregação, ao deserto de Zim, no mês primeiro, o povo ficou em Cades; e Miriã morreu ali e ali foi sepultada.
2 E não havia água para a congregação; então, se congregaram contra Moisés e contra Arão. 3 E o povo contendeu com Moisés, e falaram, dizendo: Antes tivéssemos expirado quando expiraram nossos irmãos perante o Senhor! 4 E por que trouxestes a congregação do Senhor a este deserto, para que morramos ali, nós e os nossos animais? 5 E por que nos fizestes subir do Egito, para nos trazer a este lugar mau? Lugar não de semente, nem de figos, nem de vides, nem de romãs, nem de água para beber. 6 Então, Moisés e Arão se foram de diante da congregação, à porta da tenda da congregação e se lançaram sobre o seu rosto; e a glória do Senhor lhes apareceu.
Moisés fere a rocha, e as águas saem
7 E o Senhor falou a Moisés, dizendo: 8 Toma a vara e ajunta a congregação, tu e Arão, teu irmão, e falai à rocha perante os seus olhos, e dará a sua água; assim, lhes tirarás água da rocha e darás a beber à congregação e aos seus animais. 9 Então, Moisés tomou a vara de diante do Senhor, como lhe tinha ordenado.
10 E Moisés e Arão reuniram a congregação diante da rocha, e Moisés disse-lhes: Ouvi agora, rebeldes: porventura, tiraremos água desta rocha para vós? 11 Então, Moisés levantou a sua mão e feriu a rocha duas vezes com a sua vara, e saíram muitas águas; e bebeu a congregação e os seus animais. 12 E o Senhor disse a Moisés e a Arão: Porquanto não me crestes a mim, para me santificar diante dos filhos de Israel, por isso não metereis esta congregação na terra que lhes tenho dado. 13 Estas são as águas de Meribá, porque os filhos de Israel contenderam com o Senhor; e o Senhor se santificou neles.
Moisés solicita passagem pelo Edom
14 Depois, Moisés desde Cades mandou mensageiros ao rei de Edom, dizendo: Assim diz teu irmão Israel: Sabes todo o trabalho que nos sobreveio; 15 como nossos pais desceram ao Egito, e nós no Egito habitamos muitos dias; e como os egípcios nos maltrataram, a nós e a nossos pais; 16 e clamamos ao Senhor, e ele ouviu a nossa voz, e mandou um anjo, e nos tirou do Egito; e eis que estamos em Cades, cidade na extremidade dos teus termos. 17 Deixa-nos, pois, passar pela tua terra; não passaremos pelo campo, nem pelas vinhas, nem beberemos a água dos poços; iremos pela estrada real; não nos desviaremos para a direita nem para a esquerda, até que passemos pelos teus termos. 18 Porém Edom lhe disse: Não passarás por mim, para que, porventura, eu não saia à espada ao teu encontro. 19 Então, os filhos de Israel lhe disseram: Subiremos pelo caminho igualado, e, se eu e o meu gado bebermos das tuas águas, darei o preço delas; sem fazer alguma outra coisa, deixa-me somente passar a pé. 20 Porém ele disse: Não passarás. E saiu-lhe Edom ao encontro com muita gente e com mão forte. 21 Assim, recusou Edom deixar passar a Israel pelo seu termo; pelo que Israel se desviou dele.
A morte de Arão
22 Então, partiram de Cades; e os filhos de Israel, toda a congregação, vieram ao monte Hor. 23 E falou o Senhor a Moisés e a Arão no monte Hor, nos termos da terra de Edom, dizendo: 24 Arão recolhido será a seu povo, porque não entrará na terra que tenho dado aos filhos de Israel, porquanto rebeldes fostes à minha palavra, nas águas de Meribá. 25 Toma a Arão e a Eleazar, seu filho, e faze-os subir ao monte Hor. 26 E despe a Arão as suas vestes e veste-as a Eleazar, seu filho, porque Arão será recolhido e morrerá ali. 27 Fez, pois, Moisés como o Senhor lhe ordenara; porque subiram ao monte Hor perante os olhos de toda a congregação. 28 E Moisés despiu a Arão as vestes e as vestiu a Eleazar, seu filho; e morreu Arão ali sobre o cume do monte; e desceram Moisés e Eleazar do monte. 29 Vendo, pois, toda a congregação que Arão era morto, choraram a Arão trinta dias, isto é, toda a casa de Israel.
Numbers 20
New King James Version
Numbers 20
New King James Version
Moses’ Error at Kadesh(A)
20 Then(B) the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in (C)Kadesh; and (D)Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 (E)Now there was no water for the congregation; (F)so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people (G)contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died (H)when our brethren died before the Lord! 4 (I)Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” 6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and (J)they [a]fell on their faces. And (K)the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 (L)“Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus (M)you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod (N)from before the Lord as He commanded him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, (O)“Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; (P)and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because (Q)you did not believe Me, to (R)hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
13 (S)This was the water of [b]Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the Lord, and He was hallowed among them.
Passage Through Edom Refused
14 (T)Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of (U)Edom. (V)“Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15 (W)how our fathers went down to Egypt, (X)and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, (Y)and the Egyptians [c]afflicted us and our fathers. 16 (Z)When we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and (AA)sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. 17 Please (AB)let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ”
18 Then (AC)Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”
19 So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, (AD)then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”
20 Then he said, (AE)“You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom (AF)refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel (AG)turned away from him.
Death of Aaron
22 Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from (AH)Kadesh (AI)and came to Mount Hor. 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying: 24 “Aaron shall [d]be (AJ)gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah. 25 (AK)Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there.” 27 So Moses did just as the Lord commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 (AL)Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and (AM)Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron (AN)thirty days.
Footnotes
- Numbers 20:6 prostrated themselves
- Numbers 20:13 Lit. Contention
- Numbers 20:15 did evil to
- Numbers 20:24 Die and join his ancestors
Numbers 20
New International Version
Numbers 20
New International Version
Water From the Rock
20 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin,(A) and they stayed at Kadesh.(B) There Miriam(C) died and was buried.
2 Now there was no water(D) for the community,(E) and the people gathered in opposition(F) to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled(G) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead(H) before the Lord!(I) 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness,(J) that we and our livestock should die here?(K) 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates.(L) And there is no water to drink!(M)”
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting(N) and fell facedown,(O) and the glory of the Lord(P) appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff,(Q) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.(R) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff(S) from the Lord’s presence,(T) just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together(U) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”(V) 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water(W) 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(X) in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”(Y)
13 These were the waters of Meribah,[a](Z) where the Israelites quarreled(AA) with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.(AB)
Edom Denies Israel Passage
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh(AC) to the king of Edom,(AD) saying:
“This is what your brother Israel says: You know(AE) about all the hardships(AF) that have come on us. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt,(AG) and we lived there many years.(AH) The Egyptians mistreated(AI) us and our ancestors, 16 but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry(AJ) and sent an angel(AK) and brought us out of Egypt.(AL)
“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.(AM) 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.(AN)”
18 But Edom(AO) answered:
“You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.(AP)”
19 The Israelites replied:
“We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock(AQ) drink any of your water, we will pay for it.(AR) We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”
20 Again they answered:
“You may not pass through.(AS)”
Then Edom(AT) came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory,(AU) Israel turned away from them.(AV)
The Death of Aaron
22 The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh(AW) and came to Mount Hor.(AX) 23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom,(AY) the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people.(AZ) He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command(BA) at the waters of Meribah.(BB) 25 Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.(BC) 26 Remove Aaron’s garments(BD) and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people;(BE) he will die there.”
27 Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor(BF) in the sight of the whole community. 28 Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar.(BG) And Aaron died there(BH) on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, 29 and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died,(BI) all the Israelites mourned for him(BJ) thirty days.
Footnotes
- Numbers 20:13 Meribah means quarreling.
Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009 (ARC)
Copyright 2009 Sociedade Bíblica do Brasil. Todos os direitos reservados / All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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