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.
The 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.
Why 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.”
“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.”
Moses 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?”
The 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.”
When 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.
“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 aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.”
The 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.”
“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.
Moses 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.
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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