King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Why did you bring ADONAI's community into this desert? To die there, we and our livestock?
Berean Standard Bible:
Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?
American Standard Version:
And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And why have ye brought up{H935} the congregation{H6951} of the LORD{H3068} into this wilderness{H4057}, that we and our cattle{H1165} should die{H4191} there?
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 17:3
- And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Exodus 5:21
- And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
Numbers 11:5
- We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
Psalms 106:21
- They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Exodus 16:3
- And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, [and] when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Numbers 16:13
- [Is it] a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
Numbers 16:14
- Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 20:4
Numbers 20:4 is a verse set within the larger narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The historical context places the Israelites in the desert of Zin, on the southern border of the Promised Land, after nearly 40 years of wandering due to their disobedience and lack of faith. The verse captures a moment of intense frustration and complaint from the people, directed at Moses and Aaron, as they find themselves yet again in a situation where the basic needs for survival—water for themselves and their livestock—are not met.
In this verse, the people are questioning the leadership of Moses and Aaron, challenging the divine guidance that has led them to a place where they face the prospect of death due to a lack of resources. The themes present in this verse include the testing of faith, the consequences of disobedience, and the challenges of leadership in the face of communal doubt and hardship. It reflects the broader biblical motif of the Israelites' struggle to trust in God's provision and in the leadership He has appointed, despite witnessing His power in the past, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the giving of manna and quail.
The verse specifically highlights the Israelites' preoccupation with their immediate physical needs, which overshadows their trust in God's ultimate plan for them. It also sets the stage for Moses' and Aaron's response, which will soon lead to another pivotal moment in their leadership journey, as they themselves will face consequences for their actions in response to the people's complaints (as seen in the following verses, where Moses strikes the rock at Meribah to bring forth water, an act that prohibits him from entering the Promised Land).
In summary, Numbers 20:4 encapsulates the Israelites' struggle with faith and trust in God during their wilderness journey, the pressures of leadership faced by Moses and Aaron, and the broader theme of divine providence versus human doubt and despair.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H6951
There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָהָל
Transliteration: qâhâl
Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H4057
There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְבָּר
Transliteration: midbâr
Pronunciation: mid-bawr'
Description: from דָבַר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness. - Strong's Number: H1165
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּעִיר
Transliteration: bᵉʻîyr
Pronunciation: beh-ere'
Description: from בָּעַר (in the sense of eating); cattle; beast, cattle. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.