Numbers 20

1 In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

And the sons of Israel, and the entire multitude, went into the desert of Sin, in the first month. And the people stayed at Kadesh. And Miriam died there, and she was buried in the same place.

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

And when the people were in need of water, they came together against Moses and Aaron.

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

And as it turned into sedition, they said: “If only we had perished among our brothers in the sight of the Lord.

4 Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?

Why have you led away the Church of the Lord, into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle would die?

5 Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”

Why did you cause us to ascend from Egypt, and why have you led us into this most wretched place, which is not able to be sown, which does not produce figs, or vines, or pomegranates, and which, moreover, does not even have water to drink?”

6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

And Moses and Aaron, dismissing the multitude, entered the tabernacle of the covenant, and they fell prone on the ground, and they cried out to the Lord, and they said: “O Lord God, listen to the outcry of this people, and open for them, from your storehouse, a fountain of living water, so that, being satisfied, their murmuring may cease.” And the glory of the Lord appeared over them.

7 And the LORD said to Moses,

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

8 “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

“Take the rod, and gather the people, you and your brother Aaron, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall bestow waters. And when you have brought forth water from the rock, the entire multitude and their cattle shall drink.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded.

Therefore, Moses took the rod, which was in the sight of the Lord, just as he had instructed him.

10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”

And having gathered the multitude before the rock, he said to them: “Listen, you who are rebellious and unbelieving. Would we be able to cast out water from this rock?”

11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

And when Moses had lifted up his hand, striking the stone twice with the rod, very great waters went forth, so much so that the people and their cattle were able to drink.

12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, so as to sanctify me before the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this people into the land, which I will give to them.”

13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

This is the Water of Contradiction, where the sons of Israel were quarreling against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.

14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

Meanwhile, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. They said: “Your brother Israel says this: You know of all the hardships which have overtaken us,

15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,

how our fathers descended into Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted both us and our fathers,

16 and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.

and how we cried out to the Lord, and he heeded us and sent an Angel, who led us away from Egypt. Behold, we are situated in the city of Kadesh, which is at the extremity of your borders.

17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

And we beg you to permit us to cross through your land. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards; we will not drink the waters of your wells, but we will travel by the public ways, neither turning aside to the right, nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.”

18 But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

Edom responded to them: “You shall not cross through me, otherwise, I will meet you armed.”

19 “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”

And the sons of Israel said: “We will travel by the well-trodden path. And if we or our cattle drink from your waters, we will give you what is just. There shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us cross through quickly.”

20 But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand.

But he answered, “You shall not cross.” And immediately he went out to meet them with a countless multitude and a strong hand;

21 So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

neither was he willing to agree to their petition to concede passage through his borders. For this reason, Israel diverted away from him.

22 After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor.

And when they had moved the camp from Kadesh, they arrived at mount Hor, which is at the borders of the land of Edom,

23 And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

where the Lord spoke to Moses:

24 “Aaron 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.

“Let Aaron,” he said, “go to his people. For he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because he did not believe my mouth at the Waters of Contradiction.

25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.

Take Aaron, and his son with him, and lead them on to mount Hor.

26 Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”

And when you have stripped the father of his vestments, you shall put them on Eleazar, his son. Aaron shall be gathered and shall die there.”

27 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation.

Moses did just as the Lord had instructed. And they ascended mount Hor, in the sight of the entire multitude.

28 After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

And when he had despoiled Aaron of his vestments, he clothed his son Eleazar with them. And when Aaron had died at the top of the mountain, Moses came down with Eleazar.

29 When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

And the entire multitude, seeing that Aaron lay dead, wept over him for thirty days, throughout all their families.