UST NUM Chapter 20

Water flowed from a rock

20 In the first month of the fortieth year after they left Egypt, the whole Israelite community arrived at the desolate area of Zin. They stayed at the city of Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died, and the Israelites buried her. 2 Now the community could not find any water to drink there. So, they came together to criticize Moses and Aaron. 3 The people argued with Moses. They said, “We wish that we had died when our fellow Israelites died in Yahweh’s presence! 4 You and Aaron have taken us, the community of people who serve Yahweh, to this desolate area only so that we and our animals will die here! 5 You should not have led us out of Egypt only to take us to this terrible area! Nothing grows here. There are no crops, figs, grapevines, or pomegranates. There is not even water for us to drink!”

6 Moses and Aaron left the Israelite community and went to the entrance of the sacred tent. There, they sorrowfully and fearfully bowed down before Yahweh. Then Yahweh made himself present to them in a glorious way.

7 Yahweh told Moses, 8 “Go and pick up the walking stick on which you wrote Aaron’s name. Then, you and your brother Aaron must summon the Israelite community. While they are watching, you must speak to the rock that is nearby. It will pour out water. In this way, you will provide water out of the rock for the Israelites to drink, both they and their animals.” 9 So Moses picked up the walking stick from where it was in the sacred tent in Yahweh’s presence. He did exactly what Yahweh ordered him to do

10 Then Moses and Aaron summoned the Israelite community to the area in front of the rock that was nearby. Then Moses told them, “Listen to me, you people who keep defying God! I am upset that we have to make this rock pour out water for you!” 11 Then Moses lifted up the walking stick he was holding. He struck the rock twice with it, and water gushed out. Then, the Israelite community and their animals drank the water.

12 After that, Yahweh told Moses and Aaron, “You did not trust me. You did not show the Israelite people how holy I am. Therefore, you will not lead the Israelite community into the land that I am giving them!”

13 People call the place where the water gushed out of the rock Meribah. That means “arguing.” That is because the Israelite people argued with Yahweh there. In response, Yahweh demonstrated to them that he is sacred.

14 While the Israelites were at Kadesh, Moses had representatives visit the king of Edom. They said to the king, “Your relatives, the Israelite people, send you this message. You know very well about everything we have suffered. 15 Our ancestors traveled to Egypt. Our people group lived there for a long time. While we were there, the Egyptian people treated us and our ancestors very badly. 16 So, we pleaded with Yahweh to help us, and he listened to us. He had his angel come to us and lead us out of Egypt. And now, we are here at Kadesh, a town near the border of your region. 17 We ask that you allow us to travel through your country. We will stay on the King’s Highway, the main road, and we will not turn off that road in any direction until we have left your region. We promise not to walk through your fields or vineyards. We will not even drink any of your water.”

18 The king of Edom replied, “You may not travel through our country! If you try to travel through, I will have my army attack you!”

19 The Israelite representatives replied, “We will certainly stay on the main road. Further, suppose that we or any of our animals drink any of your water. In that case, we will pay for the water. We are not asking very much, just that you allow us to walk through your region.”

20 The king of Edom replied again, “You may not travel through our country!” Then the king of Edom sent a large and powerful army to attack the Israelites.

21 In that way, the king of Edom and his people did not allow the Israelites to travel through their country. So, the Israelites choose to go a different way.

22 The whole Israelite community left Kadesh and traveled to Mount Hor. 23 So, they were at Mount Hor, which is at the edge of the area where the Edomites live. There, Yahweh told Moses and Aaron, 24 “It is time for Aaron to die and be with his ancestors who have already died. You, Moses and Aaron, disobeyed what I said to do at Meribah, where the water gushed out of the rock. So, Aaron will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelite people. 25 You, Moses, must lead Aaron and his son Eleazar up onto Mount Hor. 26 There you must remove from Aaron the clothes that he wears as priest and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron will die in that place.”

27 Moses did exactly what Yahweh told him to do. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar walked up Mount Hor while the whole Israelite community watched. 28 There, Moses removed from Aaron the clothes that he wore as priest and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron died on the highest part of the mountain. After that, Moses and Eleazar walked back down the mountain. 29 When the whole Israelite community realized that Aaron had died, they all mourned for him for 30 days.