Numbers 20:24

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 water of Meribah.

Aaron {H175} shall be gathered {H622} unto his people {H5971}: for he shall not enter {H935} into the land {H776} which I have given {H5414} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, because ye rebelled against {H4784} my word {H6310} at the water {H4325} of Meribah {H4809}.

"Aharon is about to be gathered to his people, because he is not to enter the land I have given to the people of Isra'el, inasmuch as you rebelled against what I said at the M'rivah Spring.

โ€œAaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

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.

Commentary

Numbers 20:24 delivers a solemn divine decree concerning Aaron, the high priest and brother of Moses. It announces his impending death and, more significantly, his exclusion from entering the Promised Land. The reason for this severe judgment is explicitly stated: their rebellion against God's word at the waters of Meribah.

Context

This verse is situated late in the forty-year wilderness wanderings of the Israelites, shortly before their entry into Canaan. The immediate backdrop is the second incident at Meribah, detailed in Numbers 20:1-13. Here, the people again complained bitterly about a lack of water. God commanded Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. However, out of frustration and perhaps a desire to demonstrate power, Moses struck the rock twice, proclaiming, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10). Aaron, as Moses' close associate and high priest, was complicit in this act of disobedience, failing to uphold God's holiness before the people. This act, though seemingly minor, represented a failure of faith and a direct contravention of God's explicit instruction.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Accountability: God holds His servants, especially leaders, to a high standard. Aaron's punishment underscores that even those closest to God are not exempt from the consequences of disobedience.
  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: The act at Meribah was not merely a moment of anger but a public failure to sanctify God's name, implying that Moses and Aaron claimed the glory for themselves or doubted God's power to provide through simple speech. This rebellion led to a severe earthly consequence.
  • Leadership Responsibility: This verse highlights the immense responsibility of spiritual leaders. Their actions, whether obedient or disobedient, have significant implications for the people they lead and for their own standing before God. Moses faced a similar judgment, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:51.
  • The Promised Land as a Symbol: Entry into the Promised Land represented the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the culmination of their journey. Exclusion from it was a profound judgment, symbolizing a failure to complete the task God had set before them.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "gathered unto his people" is a common biblical idiom for death, implying a peaceful passing and joining ancestors in the realm of the departed. It suggests a natural death rather than a violent one, and for a righteous person like Aaron, it carries the connotation of spiritual rest and being reunited with the faithful who have gone before. The name "Meribah" (ืžึฐืจึดื™ื‘ึธื”) itself means "strife" or "contention," aptly describing the nature of the Israelites' complaints and Moses and Aaron's contentious response to God's command.

Practical Application

Numbers 20:24 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today, particularly those in positions of spiritual leadership. It teaches us:

  • The Importance of Exact Obedience: God's commands are not suggestions but instructions to be followed precisely. Seemingly small deviations can have significant consequences.
  • Accountability for All: No one is above God's law. Our position or past service does not exempt us from the need for humility and obedience.
  • Sanctifying God's Name: Our actions, especially in public, should always glorify God and demonstrate His power and faithfulness, not our own.
  • Consequences of Sin: While God is merciful, there are often earthly consequences for disobedience, even for those who are ultimately saved. This verse emphasizes the gravity with which God views rebellion against His word.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 25:8

    Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years]; and was gathered to his people.
  • Deuteronomy 32:50

    And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
  • 2 Chronicles 34:28

    Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
  • Numbers 31:2

    Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
  • Numbers 27:13

    And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
  • Judges 2:10

    And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
  • Genesis 15:15

    And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
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