OET-RV NUM Chapter 20

20 Then in the first month of the next year, all the Israelis entered the Tsin (‘Thorny’ or ‘Thirsty’) wilderness and the people camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miryam died, and was buried there.

2 However, there was no water to drink, so the people came against Mosheh and Aharon[ref] 3 and complained, “It would have been better if we’d died in front of Yahweh along with our relatives back there. 4 Why did you two bring Yahweh’s people here to die in this wilderness, along with our livestock? 5 Why did you bring us out of Egypt to bring us to this miserable place? There’s no grain or figs, and no grapes or pomegranates. There’s not even water to drink!” 6 Then Mosheh and Aharon went from there in front of the people to the entrance to the sacred tent, where they fell to their knees with their faces to the ground, and Yahweh’s brilliance appeared to them.

7 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 8 “Take Aharon’s staff, then the two of you must command that rock to pour out water. Then water will come out of it, and both the people and the animals will have plenty to drink.”

9 So Mosheh took the staff from Yahweh’s residence like he was told to. 10 Then the two of them gathered the people in front of the rock and told them, “Listen now you bunch of rebels—do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Then Mosheh raised the staff and hit the rock twice, and water gushed out, and so the people and their animals were able to drink.

12 Then Yahweh scolded Mosheh and Aharon, “Because you two publicly demonstrated that you didn’t believe that what I say is absolute truth, therefore you two won’t lead this community into the land that I’ve given them.”

13 That spring was named ‘Merivah’ (meaning ‘Quarrelling’) because that was where the Israelis argued with Yahweh, and where he demonstrated his absolute truthfulness to them.

14 Then from there in Kadesh, Mosheh sent messengers to Edom’s king to ask him, “This message is from your Israeli relatives. You are already aware of all the hardship that we’ve been through—15 how our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived there for many years, but then the Egyptians mistreated them. 16 However, when we cried out to Yahweh and he heard us and sent a messenger and brought us out of Egypt, and now we’re in Kadesh town at the southern border of your territory. 17 Now please let us pass through your country. We won’t go through the countryside or the vineyards, and we won’t drink water from any well. We’ll stay on the king’s highway without turning to the right or the left, until after we’ve exited at your northern border.

18 But Edom’s king replied, “You can’t pass through my country. If you do try to enter, I’ll send my swordsmen out against you.”

19 The Israelis reiterated, “We’ll stay on the highway, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, then we’ll pay what it’s worth so that’s no big deal. Just let us walk through.”

20 Again the king responded, “You may not pass through.”

Then Edom sent a large, heavily-armed contingent to intimidate them, 21 and because they’d been refused passage through their territory, the Israelis turned around and went via a longer, less direct route.

22 So the Israelis left Kadesh and went to Mt. Hor. 23 There near the Edom border, Yahweh told Aharon and Mosheh, 24 “Aharon will be taken to join his ancestors because he won’t not enter the land that I have given to the Israelis, because you two rebelled against what I said at the Meribah rock that gave water. 25 Take Aharon and his son Eleazar and climb up Mt. Hor together, 26 then remove his high priest’s uniform and put it on his son Eleazar. After that, Aharon will die there and go to join his ancestors.”

27 So Mosheh followed Yahweh’s instructions and the three of them climbed Mt. Hor as the people watched. 28 Then Mosheh removed Aharon’s uniform and put it on his son Eleazar. Aharon died there at the top of the mountain, and then Mosheh and Eleazar went back down.[ref] 29 When the assembled people realised that Aharon had died, all the Israelis mourned for thirty days for him.