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.

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

Death of Miriam

20 Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the (A)wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there.

(B)There was no water for the congregation, (C)and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. (D)Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “(E)If only we had perished (F)when our brothers perished before the Lord! (G)Why then have you brought the Lords assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die [a]here? Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? (H)It is not a place of [b]grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and (I)fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

The Waters of Meribah

“Take (J)the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.”

So Moses took the staff (K)from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “(L)Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and (M)water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “(N)Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were called the waters of [c](O)Meribah, [d]because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them.

14 From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to (P)the king of Edom to say, “This is what your brother Israel has said: ‘You (Q)know all the hardship that has [e]overtaken us; 15 that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly. 16 But (R)when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent (S)an angel, and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17 Please (T)let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s road, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”

18 (U)Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through [f]us, or I will come out with the sword against you.” 19 Again, the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the road, and if I and (V)my livestock do drink any of your water, (W)then I will [g]pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, [h]nothing more.” 20 But he said, “(X)You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against him with a heavy [i]force and a strong hand. 21 (Y)So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; (Z)then Israel turned away from him.

22 Now when they set out from (AA)Kadesh, the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

Death of Aaron

23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at (AB)Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron will be (AC)gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because (AD)you rebelled against My [j]command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and his son (AE)Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be (AF)gathered to his people and will die there.” 27 So Moses did just as the Lord had commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And after Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and (AG)put them on his son Eleazar, (AH)Aaron died there on the mountain top. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, the whole house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty (AI)days.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 20:4 Lit there
  2. Numbers 20:5 Lit seed
  3. Numbers 20:13 I.e., contention
  4. Numbers 20:13 Or where
  5. Numbers 20:14 Lit found
  6. Numbers 20:18 Lit me
  7. Numbers 20:19 Lit give
  8. Numbers 20:19 Or no great thing
  9. Numbers 20:20 Lit people
  10. Numbers 20:24 Lit mouth

磐石出水

20 一月,以色列全體會眾抵達荀曠野,在加低斯安營。米利暗離世,葬在那裡。 會眾沒有水喝,就聚集起來反對摩西和亞倫, 他們埋怨說:「還不如當初跟我們的弟兄一起死在耶和華面前! 你們為什麼領耶和華的會眾到這曠野來,要叫我們和牲畜都死在這裡嗎? 你們為什麼把我們領出埃及,帶到這不毛之地?這裡沒有五穀、無花果樹、葡萄樹和石榴樹,甚至沒有水喝。」 摩西和亞倫離開會眾到會幕門口,俯伏在地。耶和華的榮光向他們顯現。 耶和華對摩西說: 「你拿著杖和你哥哥亞倫招聚會眾,當著他們的面吩咐磐石流出水來,水就會從磐石流出,供會眾和牲畜喝。」 摩西遵命而行,從耶和華面前取了杖, 10 然後和亞倫把會眾招聚到磐石前,說:「你們這些叛逆之徒聽著,非要我們叫磐石給你們流出水來嗎?」 11 接著,摩西舉起手中的杖擊打磐石兩下,水便噴湧而出,會眾和牲畜都喝了。

12 耶和華對摩西和亞倫說:「你們對我沒有足夠的信心,沒有當著以色列人的面尊我為聖,所以你們不得帶領會眾進入我將要賜給他們的土地。」 13 這地方叫米利巴泉,因為以色列人在那裡埋怨耶和華,耶和華就向他們彰顯了祂的聖潔。

以東王不借路

14 摩西從加低斯派使者去見以東王,說:「你的弟兄以色列人說,你知道我們遭遇的種種困難。 15 我們祖先到埃及寄居多年,我們世代受埃及人虐待。 16 但我們呼求耶和華,祂就垂聽了我們的聲音,差遣天使把我們領出埃及。現在我們來到你邊境的加低斯城, 17 求你容我們借道貴國。我們不會踏入田地和葡萄園,也不會喝井裡的水,只走大路,不會偏離,直到走出貴國。」 18 以東王卻說:「你們不可從我這裡經過,否則我必兵戎相見。」 19 以色列人說:「我們只走大路,倘若我們和牲畜喝了你的水,我們會付錢。我們別無他求,只求步行穿過貴國。」 20 但以東王仍然不准,還率領大軍嚴陣以待。 21 由於無法從以東穿過,以色列人只好繞道。

亞倫離世

22 以色列全體會眾從加低斯出發,來到何珥山。 23 耶和華在位於以東邊界的何珥山對摩西和亞倫說: 24 「亞倫要去他祖先那裡了,他不能進入我賜給以色列人的土地,因為你們在米利巴泉違背了我的命令。 25 摩西啊,你要帶亞倫和他兒子以利亞撒上何珥山, 26 把亞倫的聖衣脫下來給他兒子以利亞撒穿上,因為亞倫將死在那裡。」 27 摩西遵命而行。他們三人就當著全體會眾的面上了何珥山。 28 摩西把亞倫的聖衣脫下,給以利亞撒穿上。隨後亞倫在山頂離世。摩西和以利亞撒便下了山。 29 以色列全體會眾得知亞倫離世,就為他哀悼了三十天。