1 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.

2And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

4And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

5And 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.

6And 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.

7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

8Take 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.

9And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

10And 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?

11And 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.

12And 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.

13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

14And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

15How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

16And 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 arein Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

17Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink ofthe 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.

18And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

19And 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 any thing else, go through on my feet.

20And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

22And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.

23And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

24Aaron 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.

25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

26And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

27And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28And 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.

29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

1 Then came the children of Israel, euen the whole Congregation, into the desert of Zin, in the first moneth: and the people abode in Kadesh, and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

2And there was no water for the Congregation: and they gathered themselues together against Moses and against Aaron.

3And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord.

4And why haue yee brought vp the Congregation of the Lord into this wildernesse, that we and our cattell should die there?

5And wherefore haue ye made vs to come vp out of Egypt, to bring vs in vnto this euil place? it is no place of seed, or of figges, or vines, or of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drinke.

6And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly, vnto the doore of the Tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell vpon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared vnto them.

7 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

8Take the rodde, and gather thou the assembly together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speake yee vnto the rocke before their eyes, and it shall giue foorth his water, and thou shalt bring foorth to them, water out of the rocke: so thou shalt giue the Congregation, and their beasts drinke.

9And Moses tooke the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

10And Moses and Aaron gathered the Congregation together before the rocke, and hee said vnto them, Heare now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rocke?

11And Moses lift vp his hand, and with his rod he smote the rocke twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the Congregation dranke, and their beasts also.

12 And the Lord spake vnto Moses and Aaron, Because ye beleeue me not, to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the land which I haue giuen them.

13This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel stroue with the Lord; and he was sanctified in them.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh, vnto the King of Edom; Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the trauaile that hath befallen vs:

15How our fathers went downe into Egypt, and we haue dwelt in Egypt a long time: and the Egyptians vexed vs, and our fathers.

16And when wee cryed vnto the Lord, he heard our voyce, and sent an Angel, and hath brought vs foorth out of Egypt: and behold, wee are in Kadesh, a citie in the vttermost of thy border.

17Let vs passe, I pray thee, thorow thy countrey: we will not passe thorow the fields, or thorow the Uineyards, neither will we drinke of the water of the wells: wee will goe by the Kings high-way, we wil not turne to the right hand nor to the left, vntill wee haue passed thy borders.

18And Edom said vnto him, Thou shalt not passe by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

19And the children of Israel said vnto him, We will goe by the high-way: and if I and my cattell drinke of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will onely (without doing any thing else) go thorow on my feet.

20And he said, Thou shalt not goe thorow. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

21Thus Edom refused to giue Israel passage thorow his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

22 And the children of Israel, euen the whole Congregation, iourneyed from Kadesh, and came vnto mount Hor.

23And the Lord spake vnto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying;

24Aaron shall bee gathered vnto his people: for hee shall not enter into the land which I haue giuen vnto the children of Israel, because yee rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

25Take Aaron, and Eleazar his sonne, and bring them vp vnto mount Hor.

26And strippe Aaron of his garments, and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne, and Aaron shall be gathered vnto his people, and shall die there.

27And Moses did as the Lord commaunded: and they went vp into mount Hor, in the sight of all the Congregation.

28And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne, and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came downe from the mount.

29And when all the Congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty dayes, euen all the house of Israel.

I == Ex 15:20 ; Num 26:59 ; 33:36

 

II == Ex 17:1 ; Num 16:19 , 42

 

 

III == Ex 17:2 ; Num 11:1 , 33 ; 14:2 , 37 ; 16:32 , 35 . 49

 

IV == Ex 17:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Num 14"5 , 10 ; 16:4 , 22 , 45

 

 

 

 

VIII == Ex 17:5 ; Neh 9:15 ; Ps 78:15-16 ; 105:41 ; 114:8 ; Isa 43:20 ; 48:21

 

 

 

IX == Num 17:10

 

X == Ps 106:33

 

 

 

XI == Ex 17:6 ; Deut 8:15 ; 1st Cor 10:4

 

 

XII == Lev 10:3 ; Num 27:14 ; Deut 1:37 ; 3:26 ; 32:51 ; Ezek 20:41 ; 36:23 ; 38:16 ; 1st peter 3:15

 

XIII == Deut 33:8 ; Ps 95:8 ; 106:32-43

 

XIV == Ex 18:8 ; Deut 2:4-9 ; 23:7 ; Judg 11:16-17 ; Obad 1:10 , 12

 

XV == Gen 46:6 ; Acts 7:15 , 19

 

XVI == Ex 2:23 ; 3:2 , 7 ; 3:2 ; 14:19 ; 23:20 ; 33:2

 

 

XVII == Num 21:22 ; Deut 2:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == Deut 2:6 , 28

 

 

 

XX ; Judg 11:17

 

 

XXI == Deut 2:4-5 , 8 , 27 , 29 ; Judg 11:18

 

XXII == Num 21:4 ; 33:37

 

 

 

 

XXIV == Gen 25:8 ; Num 27:13 ; 31:2 ; Deut 32:50

 

 

XXV == Num 33:38 ; Deut 32:50

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == Ex 29:29 , 30 ; Num 33:38 ; Deut 10:6 ; 32:50

 

 

XXIX == Deut 34:8

 

 

 

 

1 The whole Israelite community arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled at Kadesh. It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.

2 As the community had no water, they held a council against Moses and Aaron.

3 The people contended with Moses, exclaiming, "Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD'S presence!

4 Why have you brought the LORD'S community into this desert where we and our livestock are dying?

5 Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there is not even water to drink!"

6 But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,

7 and the LORD said to Moses,

8 "Take the staff and assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron, and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters. From the rock you shall bring forth water for the community and their livestock to drink."

9 So Moses took the staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.

10 He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock, where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels! Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"

11 Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out in abundance for the community and their livestock to drink.

12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the Israelites, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."

13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites contended against the LORD, and where he revealed his sanctity among them.

14 From Kadesh Moses sent men to the king of Edom with the message: "Your brother Israel has this to say: You know of all the hardships that have befallen us,

15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we stayed a long time, how the Egyptians maltreated us and our fathers,

16 and how, when we cried to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel who led us out of Egypt. Now here we are at the town of Kadesh at the edge of your territory.

17 Kindly let us pass through your country. We will not cross any fields or vineyards, nor drink any well water, but we will go straight along the royal road without turning to the right or to the left, until we have passed through your territory."

18 But Edom answered him, "You shall not pass through here; if you do, I will advance against you with the sword."

19 The Israelites insisted, "We want only to go up along the highway. If we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. Surely there is no harm in merely letting us march through."

20 But Edom still said, "No, you shall not pass through," and advanced against them with a large and heavily armed force.

21 Therefore, since Edom refused to let them pass through their territory, Israel detoured around them.

22 Setting out from Kadesh, the whole Israelite community came to Mount Hor.

23 There at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

24 "Aaron is about to be taken to his people; he shall not enter the land I am giving to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up on Mount Hor.

26 Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar; for there Aaron shall be taken in death."

27 Moses did as the LORD commanded. When they had climbed Mount Hor in view of the whole community,

28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain. When Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,

29 all the community understood that Aaron had passed away; and for thirty days the whole house of Israel mourned him.

KEY EVENT: The sin and death of Moses Num 20: 7-13 Deut 34: 5-8

v 1. The first nineteen chapters probably took place within the first two or three years after the Exodus from Egypt. The people may have wandered out for grazing, but have now returned to Kedesh where the ark had remained. Miriam died there in what is apparently the first month of the fortieth year.

v 2-6. There was an oasis at Kadesh, but the people moved on to Meribah, 20:24 and Deut. 32:51, and there they complained because there was no water. They said it would have been better to have died in Korah’s rebellion, and they had still not arrived at a fruitful area. It is significant that God tested the people with lack of water in both the first and fortieth years after the Exodus. Most of the two million or so adults who came have died, but the children have grown up and are just as rebellious as their parents.

v 7-11. The Lord told Moses to take his rod and speak to a rock to bring out water. After 39 years, Moses had “had it up to here” with this rebellious people. Patience and meekness had been his virtue, but he “lost it”, and calling the people rebels, struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it. He acted in anger and self assertion rather than love, implying human intervention was needed. Let he that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor. 10:12.

v 12,13. Meriba means “strife”, as the people strove with the Lord there. Moses disobedience in striking the rock indicated lack of belief that just speaking to it would be enough, but God still brought forth the water. We should obey the Lord completely, but He many times blesses in spite of our failures. This may seem a severe punishment on Moses, but remember, he is the leader and was to set the proper example, just as we should as teachers, deacons etc. Moses also broke God’s typology. Christ was smitten for us once, and need not be again. Once we are saved, we have only to call upon Him in confession, 1 Jn. 1:9, not be saved all over again.

v 14-17. The messengers properly addressed the Edomites as a brother, being Jacob’s brother Esau. They reviewed their trials, which Edom already knew, and promised if they could pass through they would not depart off the king’s highway.

v 18-22. At Edom’s refusal, they even promised to pay for any damage done, but Edom came out with an army so they removed from the Kadesh area to Mt Hor., just outside the border of Edom where Edom, Canaan and the wilderness of Zin meet. The Lord never forgave Edom, and prophecy of her destruction in Ps. 108:9 and many of the prophets came true.

v 23-29. Aaron had been supportive of Moses at Meribah so could not enter the land. Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar on Mt. Hor as God commanded. There Aaron died on the top of the mountain four months after Miriam’s death, the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year, Num. 33:38. After Moses and Eleazar came down, the people mourned for Aaron 30 days. Till now they had wandered wherever God took them for grazing their cattle, but from this point they will march or halt.