Moses strikes the rock twice in anger rather than speaking to it as commanded, transforming what should have been a demonstration of God's word into a display of human frustration.
Numbers 20
Water from the Rock at Meribah
1The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2There was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!
4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals?
5Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to 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.”
6Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces. The LORD’s glory appeared to them.
7The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
8“Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You shall bring water to them out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.”
9Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?”
11Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank.
12The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
13These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
Edom Refuses Passage
14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: “Your brother Israel says: You know all the travail that has happened to us;
15how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers.
16When we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the edge of your border.
17“Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway. We will not turn away to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.”
18Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
19The children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”
20He said, “You shall not pass through.” Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand.
21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.
The Death of Aaron
22They traveled from Kadesh, and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
23The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,
24“Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor;
26and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron shall be gathered, and shall die there.”
27Moses did as the LORD commanded. They went up onto Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
29When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
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Theme
Numbers 20 marks a pivotal transition as the wilderness generation faces its final consequences. After Miriam's death, the people again complain about water, leading to Moses and Aaron's fateful disobedience at Meribah when Moses strikes rather than speaks to the rock, resulting in their exclusion from the Promised Land. The chapter concludes with Edom's refusal to grant Israel passage and Aaron's death on Mount Hor, symbolizing the end of the old generation's leadership.
Context
This chapter bridges the wilderness wanderings with Israel's approach to the Promised Land, as the old generation's leaders begin to pass away before the conquest begins.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1 Miriam's Death at Kadesh The prophetess Miriam dies and is buried in the wilderness of Zin.
- 2-5 The People Complain for Water Israel quarrels with Moses and Aaron, lamenting their situation and demanding water.
- 6-13 Moses Strikes the Rock at Meribah God commands Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses strikes it instead, bringing judgment upon himself and Aaron.
- 14-21 Edom Refuses Passage Moses requests safe passage through Edom's territory, but the king refuses and threatens military action.
- 22-29 Aaron's Death on Mount Hor Aaron dies on Mount Hor and his priestly garments are transferred to his son Eleazar.
Water from the Rock at Meribah
20:1–20:13 narrative narration solemn
After Miriam's death, the Israelites complain about lack of water, and God provides water from a rock. However, Moses and Aaron disobey God's instructions and are consequently barred from entering the Promised Land.
person_contrast
Moses strikes the rock twice in anger rather than speaking to it as commanded, transforming what should have been a demonstration of God's word into a display of human frustration.
Edom Refuses Passage
20:14–20:21 narrative narration contemplative
Moses requests peaceful passage through Edom for the Israelites, referencing their shared ancestry and the exodus from Egypt. The king of Edom refuses and threatens military action, forcing Israel to find an alternate route.
geographic
Moses's diplomatic appeal to Edom as "your brother Israel" ironically echoes the Jacob-Esau rivalry, transforming ancient sibling conflict into international relations where blood ties guarantee nothing.
The Death of Aaron
20:22–20:29 narrative narration mournful
God commands Moses to bring Aaron and his son Eleazar to Mount Hor, where Aaron's priestly garments are transferred to Eleazar before Aaron dies. The entire congregation mourns Aaron for thirty days.
person_contrast
Moses, typically portrayed commanding obedience and delivering law, here orchestrates the intimate ritual of priestly succession and witnesses his brother's death in profound silence.
Insights
Moses's diplomatic appeal to Edom as "your brother Israel" ironically echoes the Jacob-Esau rivalry, transforming ancient sibling conflict into international relations where blood ties guarantee nothing.
Moses, typically portrayed commanding obedience and delivering law, here orchestrates the intimate ritual of priestly succession and witnesses his brother's death in profound silence.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Numbers 20:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 27:14 Lexical
because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at…
Deuteronomy 32:51 Lexical
because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of…
Numbers 33:36 Lexical
They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
Numbers 13:26 Lexical
They went and came to Moses, to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran…
Exodus 16:1 Lexical
They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, whi…
Numbers 20:2 1 reference
Numbers 20:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Haggai 2:19 Lexical
Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t produced. From tod…
Deuteronomy 8:8 Lexical
a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey;
Joel 1:12 Lexical
The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered— the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all…
2 Kings 18:31 Lexical
Don’t listen to Hezekiah.’ For the king of Assyria says, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and everyone of y…
Isaiah 36:16 Lexical
Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for the king of Assyria says, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you ea…
Numbers 20:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 16:19 Lexical
Korah assembled all the congregation opposite them to the door of the Tent of Meeting. The LORD’s glory appeared to all…
Numbers 16:18 Lexical
They each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with…
Leviticus 8:31 Lexical
Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the meat at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and there eat it and the bread t…
Exodus 29:4 Lexical
You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.
Leviticus 3:2 Lexical
He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons, the pri…
Numbers 20:8 1 reference
Numbers 20:10 1 reference
Numbers 20:14 1 reference
Numbers 20:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 21:22 Lexical
“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn away into field or vineyard. We will not drink of the water of the well…
Proverbs 4:27 Lexical
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Numbers 22:26 Lexical
The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or t…
2 Samuel 2:19 Lexical
Asahel pursued Abner. He didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
2 Samuel 2:21 Lexical
Abner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” Bu…
Numbers 20:18 1 reference
Numbers 20:19 1 reference
Numbers 20:22 1 reference
Numbers 20:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 16:23 Lexical
“Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the…
Ezekiel 44:19 Lexical
When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in whi…
Ezekiel 26:16 Lexical
Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroi…
Leviticus 10:6 Lexical
Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear…
Exodus 40:13 Lexical
You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the…
Numbers 20:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 16:23 Lexical
“Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the…
Ezekiel 26:16 Lexical
Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroi…
Ezekiel 44:19 Lexical
When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in whi…
Leviticus 10:6 Lexical
Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear…
Exodus 40:13 Lexical
You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the…
Numbers 20:29 1 reference
Interlinear
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exodus
c. 1446 BCIsrael's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
Moses references the exodus to justify Israel's peaceful passage through Edom.
Edom Refuses Passage