Numbers 20:3

KJV

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

KJV (with Strong's)

And the people {H5971} chode {H7378} with Moses {H4872}, and spake {H559}, saying {H559}, Would God that {H3863} we had died {H1478} when our brethren {H251} died {H1478} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}!

Complete Jewish Bible

The people quarreled with Moshe and said, "We wish we had died when our brothers died before ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 20:3 encapsulates a moment of profound spiritual crisis and outright rebellion among the Israelites at Kadesh, nearly four decades into their wilderness journey. Faced with a severe water shortage, the community vehemently confronted Moses, expressing a desperate wish that they had perished earlier alongside those who died by divine judgment. This outburst reveals a deep-seated lack of faith, an inability to recall God's consistent provision, and a preference for death over trusting His continued care, setting the immediate stage for Moses' own consequential act of disobedience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 20:3 is situated at a critical juncture in the book of Numbers, marking the beginning of the end of Israel's wilderness wanderings and their approach to the Promised Land. It immediately follows the somber note of Miriam's death in [Numbers 20:1](/numbers/20-1 "Numbers 20:1 - Miriam's Death at Kadesh"), signaling a generational transition and a renewed test of faith. This verse directly sets the scene for the infamous incident at the Waters of Meribah (cf. [Numbers 20:7-13](/numbers/20-7-13 "Numbers 20:7-13 - The Waters of Meribah")), where Moses' frustration with the people's grumbling leads him to strike the rock rather than speak to it, resulting in his exclusion from Canaan. The people's complaint here echoes earlier episodes of discontent over water and food, such as at Marah ([Exodus 15:24](/exodus/15-24 "Exodus 15:24 - Complaint at Marah")) and Rephidim ([Exodus 17:3](/exodus/17-3 "Exodus 17:3 - Complaint at Rephidim")), highlighting a persistent pattern of spiritual amnesia and a failure to trust God despite His miraculous provisions over decades.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Numbers 20 unfold at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin, a location of immense historical and theological significance for Israel. It was from Kadesh that the twelve spies were dispatched into Canaan (cf. [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent Out")), and it was here that the previous generation's unbelief and rebellion led to the divine decree of forty years of wilderness wandering (cf. [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion and Judgment")). By this point, approximately 38 years have elapsed since the Exodus, meaning a new generation, born and raised in the wilderness, is now facing similar trials as their parents. The desert environment was inherently harsh, making water an indispensable resource for the vast multitude of Israelites and their livestock. The people's desperate cry, "Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!", is a direct and chilling allusion to past divine judgments, most notably the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in [Numbers 16](/numbers/16 "Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion"), where thousands perished by plague or being swallowed by the earth. This reference underscores their awareness of God's power in judgment and their preference for a swift, divinely-ordained death over the perceived prolonged agony and uncertainty of their current circumstances.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 20:3 powerfully encapsulates several enduring themes prevalent throughout the wilderness narrative and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it starkly illustrates the **Persistent Complaint and Rebellion** of the Israelites against God and His appointed leadership. Despite God's unwavering faithfulness, miraculous sustenance, and covenantal presence, the people consistently respond to hardship with grumbling, accusation, and a profound lack of gratitude, demonstrating a deep-seated spiritual amnesia. Secondly, the verse highlights a profound **Lack of Trust in God's Provision**. Their immediate reaction to the absence of water is despair and a death wish, rather than seeking God or remembering His past deliverances, revealing a fundamental failure to believe in His ongoing care and omnipotence. Thirdly, the explicit expression of a **Death Wish** signifies utter hopelessness and a desire to escape their trials, reflecting a spiritual weariness that borders on apostasy and a rejection of God's sovereign plan for their lives. Finally, this episode contributes to the overarching theme of the **Consequences of Disobedience**, not only for the people but also for Moses, whose subsequent act of striking the rock in anger leads to his own exclusion from the Promised Land, demonstrating that even the most revered leaders are held accountable for their responses to the people's unbelief, as seen in [Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - Moses and Aaron Punished").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **chode (Hebrew, _rîyb'_):** This archaic English word translates the Hebrew verb רִיב (_rîyb_), which means "to contend," "to quarrel," "to strive," or "to dispute." It implies more than mere grumbling or complaining; it suggests a strong, often legalistic, confrontation or accusation. The people were not simply discontent; they were actively challenging Moses' authority and legitimacy, effectively putting him on trial and questioning his leadership and, by extension, God's guidance. This verb conveys a sense of open hostility and opposition, a direct challenge to the divine order.
* **Would God that (Hebrew, _lûwʼ'_):** This phrase introduces a lamentable wish or a profound regret, using the Hebrew particle לוּא (_lûwʼ_). This particle introduces a wish that is contrary to fact or a strong desire for an alternative, often a tragic one. Here, it signifies utter despair and a preference for death as an escape from their current suffering. It is not merely a statement of hardship but a deep spiritual weariness and a rejection of life under God's present, albeit challenging, providence. It underscores the depth of their hopelessness and their perception that death was preferable to continued hardship in the wilderness.
* **died (Hebrew, _gâvaʻ'_):** The Hebrew verb גָּוַע (_gâvaʻ_) means "to breathe out," "to expire," or "to die." In this context, it refers to a literal cessation of life. The people's wish to have "died" is a stark and desperate cry, indicating a complete loss of hope in their current circumstances. It reveals a profound spiritual exhaustion and a desire for the finality of death to escape the perceived unending trials of the wilderness, rather than trusting in God's power to sustain them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the people chode with Moses":** This opening clause immediately establishes the contentious and confrontational nature of the interaction. The verb "chode" (רִיב, _rîyb_) signifies a severe quarrel, a legalistic dispute, or a direct challenge to authority. It highlights the people's open confrontation with Moses, who served as God's representative and mediator. This was not a quiet grumble but an aggressive accusation, demonstrating a profound disrespect for God's chosen leader and, implicitly, for God Himself, whose guidance Moses embodied.
* **"and spake, saying, Would God that we had died":** This clause reveals the depth of the people's despair and their preferred outcome. Their words are not a prayer for help or an appeal for mercy, but a lamentable wish for death, specifically a desire to escape their current trials through annihilation. This expression of utter hopelessness signifies a complete breakdown of trust in God's ability or willingness to provide for them, despite His consistent faithfulness throughout their journey. It is a stark confession of their spiritual exhaustion and a profound failure of faith in the face of adversity.
* **"when our brethren died before the LORD!":** This concluding phrase provides the specific context for their death wish, making it even more chilling. The "brethren" refers to those who perished in recent divine judgments, particularly the rebellion of Korah and the subsequent plague (cf. [Numbers 16](/numbers/16 "Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion")). By wishing they had died "before the LORD," they are expressing a preference for a swift, divinely administered death over the prolonged suffering and uncertainty of their current wilderness existence. This statement is deeply ironic and tragic, as they are essentially wishing for God's judgment upon themselves, demonstrating how unbearable their present circumstances felt to them, even compared to God's wrath.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 20:3 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the intense emotion and theological significance of the moment. **Hyperbole** is strikingly evident in the people's dramatic wish for death ("Would God that we had died"). This exaggerated expression underscores the extremity of their despair and frustration, even if it is not a literal desire for self-annihilation but rather a desperate cry for relief from their perceived unbearable circumstances. The verse also utilizes **Allusion**, specifically to the divine judgments recounted in [Numbers 16](/numbers/16 "Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion"). By referencing "when our brethren died before the LORD," the text evokes the memory of God's swift and severe punishment for rebellion, adding a layer of historical and theological weight to their complaint and highlighting their awareness of divine wrath. Furthermore, the narrative employs **Repetition of a motif**, as the people's grumbling over water is a recurring theme throughout the wilderness journey (e.g., [Exodus 15:24](/exodus/15-24 "Exodus 15:24 - Complaint at Marah"), [Exodus 17:3](/exodus/17-3 "Exodus 17:3 - Complaint at Rephidim")). This repetition highlights the cyclical nature of Israel's unbelief and serves as a stark reminder of human frailty and the persistent challenge of faith in the face of adversity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 20:3 serves as a poignant illustration of the enduring human struggle with faith and trust in the face of adversity. The Israelites' complaint and death wish reveal a deep-seated unbelief that consistently undermined their relationship with God, despite His miraculous provision and unwavering presence. This episode underscores the theological truth that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a profound reliance on God's character and promises, even when circumstances seem dire. Their preference for death over continued reliance on God highlights the spiritual danger of despair and the human tendency to focus on immediate lack rather than remembering past faithfulness or anticipating future deliverance. This passage, therefore, functions as a warning against a complaining spirit and a call to cultivate unwavering trust in divine sovereignty, even in the "wilderness experiences" of life, recognizing that God's ways are often beyond our immediate comprehension.

* [Exodus 17:3](/exodus/17-3 "Exodus 17:3 - Israel's Complaint for Water at Rephidim")
* [Numbers 14:2](/numbers/14-2 "Numbers 14:2 - The Spies' Report and Israel's Rebellion")
* [1 Corinthians 10:10](/1_corinthians/10-10 "1 Corinthians 10:10 - Warning Against Grumbling")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 20:3 offers a sobering mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to examine our own responses to hardship and perceived lack. The Israelites' immediate descent into despair and accusation, despite a history of God's miraculous provision, serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of a complaining spirit. When faced with difficulties, whether financial strain, health crises, relational conflicts, or spiritual dryness, our first inclination should not be to grumble or wish for an escape, but to remember God's past faithfulness and to seek His presence and provision in prayer. This passage calls us to cultivate a posture of gratitude, even in scarcity, recognizing that God's purposes often unfold through trials that test and refine our faith. It reminds us that true spiritual maturity is demonstrated not by the absence of problems, but by our unwavering trust in God's sovereignty and goodness amidst them, choosing hope over despair and worship over complaint. Our wilderness experiences are opportunities for God to demonstrate His power and for our faith to deepen, rather than occasions for us to question His love or ability.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when my expectations of God's provision are not immediately met in challenging circumstances?**
* **In what ways might I be "chiding" God or expressing discontent through my attitudes or words when facing adversity?**
* **What specific past acts of God's faithfulness can I recall and meditate upon to strengthen my trust in current difficulties?**
* **How can I intentionally cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hopeful expectation, even when I feel overwhelmed or despairing?**

### FAQ
**Why did the people complain so often, even after seeing so many miracles?**

Answer: The Israelites' persistent complaining, despite witnessing numerous miracles (e.g., the plagues, the Red Sea crossing, manna from heaven, water from the rock), stems from a complex interplay of human nature, spiritual immaturity, and a lack of deep-seated faith. Their faith was often superficial, tied to immediate gratification rather than a profound, abiding trust in God's character and long-term plan. They had a short memory for God's past provisions and quickly focused on present discomforts and perceived lacks. This pattern highlights the human tendency towards unbelief and the difficulty of maintaining faith when immediate circumstances are challenging, even for those who have experienced divine power directly. It serves as a reminder that spiritual growth is a continuous process of learning to trust God beyond what we can see or immediately receive, cultivating a faith that endures through all seasons.

**What does "chode with Moses" mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "chode with Moses" (KJV) translates the Hebrew verb *rib* (רִיב, H7378), which signifies more than simple grumbling. It implies a contentious quarrel, a legal dispute, or a strong challenge to authority. In this context, the people were not merely expressing discontent; they were actively confronting Moses, accusing him, and effectively putting his leadership, and by extension God's divine guidance, on trial. This was a severe act of rebellion, demonstrating a profound disrespect for God's chosen leader and a direct challenge to the divine authority vested in him. It highlights the seriousness of their complaint and its implications for the stability of the community and their relationship with God.

**Why is this particular complaint so significant in the biblical narrative?**

Answer: This complaint in Numbers 20:3 is profoundly significant because it directly precedes and sets the stage for Moses' own act of disobedience at the Waters of Meribah ([Numbers 20:7-13](/numbers/20-7-13 "Numbers 20:7-13 - The Waters of Meribah")). The people's incessant rebellion and grumbling pushed Moses to a breaking point, leading him to strike the rock twice in anger instead of speaking to it as God commanded. This act, born of frustration and a momentary lack of faith and reverence for God's holiness, resulted in Moses and Aaron being barred from entering the Promised Land ([Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - Moses and Aaron Punished")). Thus, this complaint is not just another instance of Israel's grumbling; it marks a tragic turning point for their revered leader, underscoring the severe consequences of unbelief and disobedience, even for those closest to God. It serves as a powerful reminder that even leaders are not immune to the pressures of ministry and the need for constant reliance on God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The persistent grumbling and death wish of the Israelites in Numbers 20:3, born out of their spiritual thirst and profound lack of faith, find a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. Israel's constant need for water in the wilderness, which led to their complaints, points to humanity's deeper spiritual thirst that can only be quenched by Christ. Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). He is the true spiritual "rock" from which living water flows, as Paul affirms in [1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ as the Spiritual Rock"), stating that the Israelites "drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." While Israel longed for death to escape their trials, Christ willingly embraced death on the cross, not as an escape, but as a triumphant act to conquer sin and death, offering eternal life to all who believe. He endured the ultimate wilderness temptation without sin ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness")), demonstrating perfect trust and obedience where Israel failed. Therefore, Israel's failures in the wilderness, including their grumbling for water and their desire for death, serve as a stark backdrop that magnifies the perfect provision, unwavering faithfulness, and life-giving power of Jesus, our ultimate deliverer and the source of living water ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman")). He is the one who leads His people through the wilderness of this world into the true Promised Land, not through their merit, but through His finished work on the cross and His ongoing intercession.

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

Exodus 17:2

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

Numbers 16:31

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them:

Numbers 16:35

¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Numbers 14:1

¶ And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

Numbers 14:2

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

Numbers 11:1

¶ And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it]; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Numbers 16:49

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.