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UTN uW Translation Notes:

Numbers 20 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

3. From Kadesh to the plains of Moab (20:1–21:35) * Rebellion at the waters of Meribah (20:1–13) * Travel to Mount Hor (20:14–22) * Aaron dies (20:23–29)In this chapter, the Israelites are first at Kadesh, where Miriam dies. The Israelites complain about having no water, and God commands Moses and Aaron to provide water from a rock. However, Moses and Aaron disobey God in how they provide the water. Then, the Israelites attempt to journey through the territory of Edom, but the Edomites refuse. The Israelites travel another way to Mount Hor. There, Aaron dies, and his son Eleazar becomes chief priest.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

What Moses and Aaron did wrong

In 20:12, Yahweh condemns Moses and Aaron for doing something wrong when they provided water for the people. However, Yahweh does not specify exactly which action was wrong, and scholars debate what it was. Yahweh told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses also struck it twice with a staff. That may have been what he did wrong. Moses also spoke to the people as if he and Aaron were the ones providing the water. This may have implied that it was them instead of Yahweh. That may have been what he did wrong. Since the text does not make it explicit, it is recommended that you do not state exactly which action was wrong in your translation.

Transferring clothing

In 20:26–28, Moses must take Aaron’s clothing off and put it on his son Eleazar. This clothing was specifically the clothing that Aaron wore when he did his work as high priest. Moses only removed Aaron’s outer garments. He did not make Aaron completely naked. When Moses transferred the high priest clothing from Aaron to Eleazar, it symbolized that Eleazar was now high priest. (See: translate-symaction)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Personifying people groups

In 20:14–21, both the messengers and the narrator often speak of the Israelites and the Edomites as if each group were one person. They use the first or third person singular for the entire group, but sometimes they also use plural forms. This alternation between singular and plural was natural in their culture. The UST models how to translate the verses using only plural forms, without the figure of speech. (See: figs-personification)