Numbers20

The Israelites arrived in Kadesh, where Miriam died. Facing a severe water shortage, the people rebelled against Moses and Aaron, leading Moses to strike a rock twice for water, contrary to God's command to speak to it. For this act of unbelief, God declared that Moses and Aaron would not enter the promised land. Subsequently, Edom refused Israel passage through their territory, and Aaron died on Mount Hor, his priestly office passing to Eleazar.

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Miriam Dies; Water Crisis at Kadesh

And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

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

And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!

And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?

And 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.

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto them.

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.

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

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?

And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them.

Edom Refuses Israel Passage

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

how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:

and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border.

Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells; we will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.

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

And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.

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

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

The Death of Aaron

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

And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

Aaron 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 waters of Meribah.

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

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

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

And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.

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

Study Notes for Numbers 20

Verse 1

The arrival at Kadesh marks a crucial moment near the end of the 40 years of wandering. Miriam’s death here means that only Moses and Aaron remain of the three siblings who led Israel out of Egypt.

Verse 3

The people’s complaint echoes previous rebellions (e.g., Num 14:2), demonstrating the persistent lack of faith and willingness to challenge God’s appointed leadership.

Verse 8

God commanded Moses to *speak* to the rock (or designated object), emphasizing that water would flow by the power of the divine word, not by Moses' physical action or human force.

Verse 10

Moses’ rash address, 'Hear now, ye rebels,' reveals his profound frustration and anger. This impatience and lack of humility violated the requirement for a leader to reflect God’s holiness and measured response.

Verse 11

By striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it, Moses disobeyed the explicit command of the Lord. Furthermore, the phrasing 'must *we* fetch you water' possibly implies Moses was taking credit or acting on his own authority rather than God's.

Verse 12

Moses and Aaron were judged because they failed to ‘sanctify’ God—meaning they did not treat Him as holy or unique in the presence of the people. Their actions obscured God’s glory and fidelity, resulting in the penalty of exclusion from the Promised Land.

Verse 13

Meribah means 'contention' or 'strife.' Although the people strove against God, God was sanctified (vindicated) in the judgment meted out to the leaders, demonstrating His absolute holiness even in punishment.

Verse 14

Israel appeals to Edom as 'thy brother,' stressing their shared lineage through Jacob and Esau. Moses offers a diplomatic, non-intrusive request for passage, acknowledging the sovereignty of Edom.

Verse 20

Edom’s forceful refusal and threat of violence established a long history of enmity between the descendants of Jacob and the descendants of Esau, referenced frequently in later prophetic literature.

Verse 24

This verse directly links Aaron’s imminent death to the specific rebellion at the water of Meribah (v. 12). God ensures that the leadership is held accountable before the new generation enters Canaan.

Verse 26

The ceremonial stripping of Aaron’s garments and placing them on Eleazar publicly symbolizes the peaceful and divinely ordained transfer of the high priesthood to the next generation.

Verse 28

Aaron, the first High Priest, died at the age of 123. The transition of leadership witnessed by the congregation emphasizes continuity and God's sovereign control over the priesthood.

Verse 29

The thirty days of mourning is the standard period for highly respected figures (cf. Deut 34:8 for Moses), reflecting Aaron's importance to the entire community of Israel.

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Numbers20

Miriam Dies; Water Crisis at Kadesh

Edom Refuses Israel Passage

The Death of Aaron

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