Numbers 20:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And there was no water {H4325} for the congregation {H5712}: and they gathered {H6950} themselves together against Moses {H4872} and against Aaron {H175}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Because the community had no water, they assembled themselves against Moshe and Aharon.

Berean Standard Bible

Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 20:2 vividly portrays the Israelites' persistent pattern of discontent and rebellion during their wilderness journey. This verse sets the stage for a critical moment in their forty-year trek, revealing the congregation's immediate and hostile reaction to a lack of water by gathering against Moses and Aaron. It underscores the profound challenges of leadership in the face of widespread human impatience and highlights the recurring tension between divine provision and human faithlessness, even after decades of miraculous sustenance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 20:2 is situated at a pivotal juncture in the book of Numbers, marking the beginning of the final leg of Israel's wilderness wanderings. Chapters 1-19 detail the laws, census, and various rebellions of the first generation. Chapter 20 opens with the arrival of the Israelites at Kadesh, where Miriam, Moses's sister, dies. Immediately following this, the narrative shifts to the critical issue of water scarcity, leading directly into the incident at Meribah where Moses disobeys God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it ([Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - Moses's Sin at Meribah")). This episode serves as a thematic bookend to earlier water crises, such as those at Marah ([Exodus 15:22-25](/exodus/15-22 "Exodus 15:22-25 - Bitter Waters at Marah")) and Rephidim ([Exodus 17:1-7](/exodus/17-1 "Exodus 17:1-7 - Water from the Rock at Rephidim")), reinforcing the cyclical nature of Israel's faithlessness and God's enduring provision.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness of Zin, a desolate and arid region, emphasizing the absolute dependence of the vast Israelite congregation (estimated at over two million people) on miraculous divine provision for survival. Water was not merely a convenience but a necessity for life in such an environment, making its absence a profound crisis. The "gathering themselves together against" Moses and Aaron reflects a common ancient Near Eastern pattern of popular revolt against leadership when basic needs were not met, often seen as a challenge to the legitimacy of the leaders and, by extension, the deity they represented. This was not a mere grumble but an organized confrontation, carrying significant social and political implications for the stability of the nascent nation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates the enduring theme of human impatience and complaint, a recurring motif throughout the wilderness narrative. Despite witnessing countless miracles and experiencing God's faithful provision for nearly forty years, the congregation's immediate response to hardship was not trust or prayer, but murmuring and rebellion, echoing their ancestors' reactions at places like Massah and Meribah ([Exodus 17:7](/exodus/17-7 "Exodus 17:7 - Testing the Lord at Massah and Meribah")). It also highlights the immense burden of leadership under pressure, as Moses and Aaron consistently bore the brunt of the people's frustration and lack of faith. Their role as intercessors and administrators for a demanding and often rebellious people is vividly portrayed here. Finally, the absence of water underscores the absolute and constant need for divine provision, reminding the reader that Israel's very existence in the wilderness was a testament to God's miraculous sustenance, a theme echoed in [Deuteronomy 8:15](/deuteronomy/8-15 "Deuteronomy 8:15 - God's Provision in the Wilderness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Congregation (Hebrew, _‘ēdâ'_):** This term refers to the entire community of Israel, emphasizing that the lack of water affected everyone and that the subsequent rebellion was a collective act. It highlights the corporate nature of their journey and their sin.
* **Gathered themselves together (Hebrew, _vayyiqqāhălû'_):** Derived from the root `qahal`, meaning "to assemble" or "to gather." When used with the preposition "against" (`‘al`), as it is here, it denotes a hostile assembly, a deliberate and organized act of confrontation or insurrection against authority. This was not a spontaneous outburst but a concerted effort to challenge Moses and Aaron.
* **Against (Hebrew, _‘al'_):** This preposition indicates opposition, hostility, or accusation directed towards someone. Its use here transforms a simple gathering into an act of rebellion, signifying a direct challenge to the authority and leadership of Moses and Aaron, and implicitly, to the God who appointed them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there was no water for the congregation:"** This clause establishes the immediate crisis and the catalyst for the people's reaction. The absence of water in the arid wilderness was a life-threatening situation for such a large multitude, creating intense pressure and fear. It sets the stage for God's subsequent miraculous provision, but also for the people's faithlessness.
* **"and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron."** This second clause describes the congregation's response to the crisis. Instead of turning to God in prayer or trusting in His past provisions, they collectively assembled in a hostile manner, directing their anger and complaints towards their divinely appointed leaders. This act was a direct challenge to Moses's and Aaron's authority and, by extension, to God Himself, who had placed them in leadership. It reveals a deep-seated pattern of rebellion and lack of faith within the community.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The **Repetition** of the phrase "against Moses and against Aaron" underscores the direct and unified nature of the people's opposition, emphasizing the personal burden placed upon the leaders. The narrative's stark presentation of "no water" followed immediately by the people's hostile "gathering" creates a dramatic **Juxtaposition**, highlighting the contrast between the dire physical need and the spiritual failure of the congregation. This immediate cause-and-effect relationship also functions as a form of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the subsequent, more severe consequences of Moses's own failure to obey God's specific instructions in the following verses, which ultimately prevents him from entering the Promised Land. The scene itself is an example of **Irony**, as the very people who had witnessed countless miracles of divine provision throughout their journey still resorted to rebellion at the first sign of hardship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 20:2 serves as a stark reminder of humanity's propensity for complaint and rebellion, even in the face of consistent divine faithfulness. It highlights the recurring tension between God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people and their persistent lack of trust and obedience. This incident is not isolated but fits into a broader biblical theme of God's people testing His patience and provision, yet God, in His steadfast love, continues to provide and guide. It underscores the immense responsibility and often thankless nature of spiritual leadership, as leaders often bear the brunt of congregational discontent.

* [Exodus 17:1-7](/exodus/17-1 "Exodus 17:1-7 - Water from the Rock at Rephidim")
* [Psalm 78:17-20](/psalm/78-17 "Psalm 78:17-20 - Israel's Rebellion in the Wilderness")
* [1 Corinthians 10:9-10](/1_corinthians/10-9 "1 Corinthians 10:9-10 - Warnings from Israel's Example")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 20:2 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers, challenging us to examine our own responses to hardship and perceived lack. In moments of scarcity or difficulty, our natural inclination might be to complain, blame, or even rebel against those in authority or against God Himself. This verse calls us to a higher standard: to cultivate a spirit of trust, patience, and prayer, remembering God's past faithfulness and His promise to provide for His children. It also serves as a powerful reminder to extend grace and support to those in leadership, recognizing the immense pressure and criticism they often face, and to intercede for them rather than adding to their burdens. Ultimately, it invites us to deepen our dependence on God, understanding that true provision, whether material or spiritual, flows from His sovereign hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when my immediate needs are not met, or when circumstances become difficult?**
* **In what ways might I be "gathering myself against" God or those He has placed in authority, perhaps through grumbling, criticism, or a lack of trust?**
* **What past instances of God's provision can I recall to strengthen my faith in His faithfulness during current or future trials?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Israelites keep complaining about water, even after God provided for them so many times?**

Answer: The repeated complaints, especially regarding water, highlight a deep-seated spiritual issue within the Israelite community: a lack of consistent faith and a short memory of God's past miraculous provisions. Despite witnessing the parting of the Red Sea ([Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Parting of the Red Sea")), receiving manna from heaven ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna from Heaven")), and water from the rock at Rephidim ([Exodus 17:1-7](/exodus/17-1 "Exodus 17:1-7 - Water from the Rock at Rephidim")), each new crisis brought renewed doubt and grumbling. This pattern reveals the human tendency to focus on immediate lack rather than on God's enduring faithfulness, a spiritual amnesia that often plagues believers when faced with trials. It underscores the ongoing need for a renewed heart of trust and dependence on God's sovereign care.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 20:2, with its depiction of a rebellious people in desperate need of water, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The "water" that the Israelites so desperately craved, and which God miraculously provided, foreshadows the living water that only Christ can offer. Jesus Himself declared, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" ([John 7:37](/john/7-37 "John 7:37 - Jesus' Invitation to Drink Living Water")), and promised that whoever drinks of the water He gives "will never be thirsty again" ([John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - The Woman at the Well")). The rock from which water flowed for Israel is identified by Paul as Christ Himself ([1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ as the Spiritual Rock")), signifying that all true spiritual sustenance comes from Him. The Israelites' rebellion against Moses and Aaron, God's appointed leaders, mirrors humanity's rebellion against God Himself, a rebellion that Christ, the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King, came to reconcile. He is the faithful leader who, unlike Moses, perfectly obeyed the Father, even to the point of death on the cross, providing not just physical water but eternal life and spiritual satisfaction for all who believe ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 16:19

And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Numbers 16:42

And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

Exodus 15:23

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they [were] bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Exodus 15:24

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Exodus 17:1

¶ And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.

Exodus 17:4

And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

Exodus 16:2

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: