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.

Now there was no water(D) for the community,(E) and the people gathered in opposition(F) to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled(G) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead(H) before the Lord!(I) Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness,(J) that we and our livestock should die here?(K) 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)

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. The Lord said to Moses, “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.”

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

  1. Numbers 20:13 Meribah means quarreling.

Dios da al pueblo agua de una roca

20 (A)Toda la congregación de los israelitas llegaron al desierto de Zin(B) en el mes primero; y el pueblo se quedó en Cades. Allí murió Miriam y allí la sepultaron.

Y no había agua para la congregación(C); y se juntaron contra Moisés y Aarón(D). El pueblo discutió con Moisés(E) y le dijo: «¡Ojalá hubiéramos perecido(F) cuando nuestros hermanos murieron delante del Señor(G)! ¿Por qué, pues, has traído al pueblo del Señor a este desierto, para que nosotros y nuestros animales muramos aquí(H)? ¿Y por qué nos hiciste subir de Egipto, para traernos a este miserable lugar? No es lugar de siembras, ni de higueras, ni de viñas, ni de granados, ni aun hay agua para beber(I)».

Entonces Moisés y Aarón fueron de delante de la asamblea a la puerta de la tienda de reunión, y se postraron sobre sus rostros(J); y se les apareció la gloria del Señor. Y el Señor habló a Moisés: «Toma la vara(K) y reúne a la congregación, tú y tu hermano Aarón, y hablen a la peña a la vista de ellos, para que la peña dé su agua. Así sacarás para ellos agua de la peña, y beban la congregación y sus animales». Tomó Moisés la vara de la presencia del Señor(L), tal como Él se lo había ordenado; 10 y Moisés y Aarón reunieron al pueblo ante la peña. Y él les dijo: «Oigan, ahora, rebeldes(M). ¿Sacaremos agua de esta peña para ustedes?». 11 Entonces Moisés levantó su mano y golpeó la peña dos veces con su vara, y brotó agua en abundancia(N), y bebió el pueblo y sus animales.

12 Y el Señor dijo a Moisés y a Aarón: «Porque ustedes no me creyeron a fin de tratarme como santo ante los ojos de los israelitas, por tanto no conducirán a este pueblo a la tierra que les he dado(O)». 13 Aquellas fueron las aguas de Meriba[a](P) porque los israelitas discutieron con el Señor, y Él manifestó Su santidad entre ellos.

Edom rehúsa el paso a Israel

14 Moisés envió mensajeros desde Cades al rey de Edom(Q), diciéndole: «Así ha dicho su hermano Israel: “Usted sabe todas las dificultades que nos han sobrevenido(R); 15 que nuestros padres descendieron a Egipto, y estuvimos por largo tiempo en Egipto, y los egipcios nos maltrataron a nosotros y a nuestros padres. 16 Pero cuando clamamos al Señor(S), Él oyó nuestra voz y envió un ángel y nos sacó de Egipto(T). Ahora estamos en Cades, un pueblo de la frontera de tu territorio. 17 Permítanos, por favor, pasar por su tierra(U). No pasaremos por campo labrado ni por viñedo; ni siquiera beberemos agua de pozo. Iremos por el camino real, sin volver a la derecha ni a la izquierda hasta que crucemos su territorio”». 18 Pero, Edom(V) le respondió: «Tú no pasarás por mi tierra; para que no salga yo con espada a tu encuentro».

19 Entonces los israelitas le contestaron: «Iremos por el camino principal, y si yo y mi ganado(W) bebemos de su agua, entonces le pagaré su precio(X). Solamente déjeme pasar a pie, nada más». 20 Pero él dijo: «Tú no pasarás(Y)». Y Edom salió a su encuentro con mucha gente y con mano fuerte. 21 Rehusó, pues, Edom dejar pasar a Israel por su territorio(Z), así que Israel tuvo que desviarse(AA).

Muerte de Aarón

22 Partiendo de Cades(AB), toda la congregación de los israelitas llegó al monte Hor. 23 El Señor habló a Moisés y a Aarón en el monte Hor, en la frontera de la tierra de Edom(AC) y les dijo: 24 «Aarón será reunido a su pueblo(AD), pues no entrará a la tierra que Yo he dado a los israelitas, porque ustedes se rebelaron contra Mi orden en las aguas de Meriba(AE). 25 Toma a Aarón y a su hijo Eleazar(AF) y tráelos al monte Hor; 26 y quítale a Aarón sus vestidos y ponlos sobre su hijo Eleazar. Entonces Aarón será reunido a su pueblo(AG), y morirá allí».

27 Moisés hizo tal como el Señor le ordenó, y subieron al monte Hor ante los ojos de toda la congregación. 28 Y después que Moisés le quitó a Aarón sus vestidos(AH) y se los puso a su hijo Eleazar, Aarón murió allí sobre la cumbre del monte(AI), y Moisés y Eleazar descendieron del monte. 29 Cuando toda la congregación vio que Aarón había muerto, toda la casa de Israel lloró a Aarón por treinta días(AJ).

Footnotes

  1. 20:13 I.e. Contienda.

The Death of Miriam

20 And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came (A)into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And (B)Miriam died there and was buried there.

The Waters of Meribah

(C)Now there was no water for the congregation. (D)And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people (E)quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished (F)when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And (G)why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and (H)fell on their faces. (I)And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, (J)“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So (K)you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And Moses took the staff (L)from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

Moses Strikes the Rock

10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, (M)“Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, (N)and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because (O)you did not believe in me, (P)to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13 (Q)These are the waters of Meribah,[a] where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.

Edom Refuses Passage

14 (R)Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to (S)the king of Edom: “Thus says (T)your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 (U)how our fathers went down to Egypt, (V)and we lived in Egypt a long time. (W)And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And (X)when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and (Y)sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 (Z)Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, (AA)or drink water from a well. 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 But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.” 19 And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, (AB)and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, (AC)then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” 20 But he said, (AD)“You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. 21 Thus Edom (AE)refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel (AF)turned away from him.

The Death of Aaron

22 And they journeyed from (AG)Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to (AH)Mount Hor. 23 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, 24 (AI)“Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because (AJ)you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 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. And Aaron (AK)shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 (AL)And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there (AM)on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, (AN)all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 20:13 Meribah means quarreling