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Numbers 20
International Children’s Bible
Numbers 20
International Children’s Bible
Water from the Rock
20 In the first month all the people of Israel arrived at the Desert of Zin. They stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. 2 There was no water for the people. So they came together against Moses and Aaron. 3 They argued with Moses. They said, “We should have died in front of the Lord as our brothers did. 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s people into this desert? Are we and our animals to die here? 5 Why did you bring us from Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain, figs or pomegranates. And there’s no water to drink!”
6 So Moses and Aaron left the people. Then they went to the entrance of the Meeting Tent. They bowed facedown. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “You and your brother Aaron should gather the people. Also take your walking stick. Speak to that rock in front of them. Then water will flow from it. Give that water to the people and their animals.”
9 So Moses took the stick from in front of the Lord. He did as the Lord had said. 10 He and Aaron gathered the people in front of the rock. Then Moses said, “Now listen to me, you complainers! Do you want us to bring water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and hit the rock twice with his stick. Water began pouring out. And the people and their animals drank it.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not believe me. You did not honor me as holy before the people. So you will not lead them into the land I will give them.”
13 These are the waters of Meribah.[a] Here the Israelites argued with the Lord. And the Lord showed them he was holy.
Edom Will Not Let Israel Pass
14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom. He said, “Your brothers, the Israelites, say to you: You know about all the troubles we have had. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt. And we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to our ancestors. 16 But we cried out to the Lord. He heard us and sent us an angel to bring us out of Egypt.
“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your land. 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not touch any fields of grain or vineyards. We will not drink water from the wells. We will travel only along the king’s road. We will not turn right or left until we have passed through your country.”
18 But the king of Edom answered: “You may not pass through here. If you try, I will come and meet you with swords.”
19 The Israelites answered: “We will go along the main road. If our animals drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to walk through. That’s all.”
20 But he answered: “You may not pass through here.”
Then the Edomites went out to meet the Israelites with a large and powerful army. 21 The Edomites refused to let them pass through their country. So the Israelites turned back.
Aaron Dies
22 All the Israelites moved from Kadesh to Mount Hor. 23 It was near the border of Edom. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “Aaron will die. He will not enter the land that I’m giving to the Israelites. This is because you both acted against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar up on Mount Hor. 26 Take off Aaron’s special clothes and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will die there. He will join his ancestors.”
27 Moses obeyed the Lord’s command. They climbed up Mount Hor. All the people saw them go. 28 Moses took off Aaron’s clothes. He put them on Aaron’s son Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came back down the mountain. 29 Then all the people learned that Aaron was dead. So everyone in Israel cried for him for 30 days.
Footnotes
- 20:13 Meribah This name in Hebrew means “argument.”
Numbers 20
King James Version
Numbers 20
King James Version
20 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
16 And when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet.
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
23 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
27 And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
民数记 20
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
民数记 20
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
米利暗逝世
20 正月間，以色列全體會眾到了尋的曠野，就住在加低斯；米利暗死在那裡，也埋葬在那裡。
米利巴水(A)
2 會眾沒有水喝，就聚集攻擊摩西和亞倫。 3 人民與摩西爭鬧，說：“但願我們的兄弟在耶和華面前死去的時候，我們也一同死去！ 4 你們為甚麼把耶和華的會眾領到這曠野來，使我們和我們的牲畜都死在這裡呢？ 5 你們為甚麼使我們出埃及，領我們到這壞地方來呢？這裡不能撒種，沒有無花果樹、葡萄樹、石榴樹，也沒有水喝。” 6 摩西和亞倫於是離開會眾，來到會幕門口，俯伏在地；耶和華的榮光向他們顯現。 7 耶和華對摩西說： 8 “你要拿著杖，和你的哥哥亞倫聚集會眾，在他們眼前，吩咐磐石出水；這樣你就可以使磐石流出水來，給會眾和他們的牲畜喝。” 9 於是，摩西照著耶和華吩咐他的，從耶和華面前拿了杖去。 10 摩西和亞倫聚集了會眾到磐石面前；摩西對他們說：“悖逆的人哪，你們要聽，我們為你們使水從磐石中流出來嗎？” 11 摩西舉手，用杖擊打磐石兩次，就有很多水流出來，會眾和他們的牲畜都喝了。 12 耶和華對摩西和亞倫說：“因為你們不信我，不在以色列人眼前尊我為聖，所以你們必不得領這會眾進入我賜給他們的地。” 13 這就是米利巴水，因為以色列人在那裡與耶和華爭鬧，耶和華在他們中間顯為聖。
以東王不許以色列人過境
14 摩西從加低斯派使者去見以東王說：“你的兄弟以色列這樣說：你知道我們遭遇的一切困難， 15 就是我們的列祖下到埃及去，我們在埃及住了很多日子；埃及人惡待我們和我們的列祖； 16 我們向耶和華呼求，他就聽了我們的聲音，派使者把我們從埃及領出來；現在我們就在你邊界上的城加低斯。 17 求你容我們從你的地經過；我們不走過田地和葡萄園，也不喝井裡的水，我們只走大路，不偏左也不偏右，直到走過了你的境地。” 18 以東王對使者說：“你不可從我這裡經過，免得我帶著刀出來攻擊你。” 19 以色列人對他說：“我們要走大路上去，我們和牲畜若是喝了你的水，我必照價付你；不求別的事，只求你容我們步行經過。” 20 以東王說：“你不可經過。”他就率領很多人出來，要用強硬的手攻擊以色列人。 21 這樣，以東王不肯讓以色列人從他的境內經過，以色列人就離開他去了。
亞倫逝世
22 以色列全體會眾從加低斯起行，到了何珥山。 23 耶和華在以東地邊界的何珥山對摩西和亞倫說： 24 “亞倫要歸到他本族人那裡去，他必不得進入我賜給以色列人的那地，因為在米利巴水的事上，你們違背了我的吩咐。 25 你要帶著亞倫和他的兒子以利亞撒，一同上何珥山去； 26 把亞倫的衣服脫下來，給他兒子以利亞撒穿上；亞倫就歸到他本族人那裡去，死在山上。” 27 摩西就照著耶和華吩咐的行了，三人當著全體會眾的眼前上了何珥山。 28 摩西把亞倫的衣服脫下來，給他的兒子以利亞撒穿上；亞倫就死在山頂那裡。於是，摩西和以利亞撒從山上下來。 29 全體會眾見亞倫死了，以色列全家就為亞倫哀哭了三十天。
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.
International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Chinese New Version (Traditional) (CNVT) 
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.