Numbers 20
1 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.
So the people of Israel, the whole community, went into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 And when the people were in need of water, they came together against Moses and Aaron.
There was no water for the community, so they assembled together against Moses and Aaron.
3 And as it turned into sedition, they said: “If only we had perished among our brothers in the sight of the Lord.
The people complained against Moses. They said, “It would have been better if we had died when our fellow Israelites died in front of Yahweh!
4 Why have you led away the Church of the Lord, into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle would die?
Why have you brought Yahweh's community into this wilderness to die here, we and our animals?
5 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?”
Why did you make us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this horrible place? Here there is no seed, figs, vines, or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
6 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.
So Moses and Aaron went away from in front of the assembly. They went to the entrance of the tent of meeting and lay facedown. There Yahweh's brilliant glory appeared to them.
7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
8 “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.”
“Take the staff and assemble the community, you, and Aaron your brother. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and command it to flow with water. You will produce water for them out of that rock, and you must give it to the community and their cattle to drink.”
9 Therefore, Moses took the rod, which was in the sight of the Lord, just as he had instructed him.
Moses took the staff from before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.
10 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?”
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels. Must we bring water out of this rock for you?”
11 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.
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and much water came out. The community drank, and their cattle drank.
12 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.”
Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me or honor me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.”
13 This is the Water of Contradiction, where the sons of Israel were quarreling against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
This place was called the waters of Meribah because the people of Israel had quarreled with Yahweh there, and he showed himself to them as holy.
14 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,
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: Your brother Israel says this: “You know all the difficulties that have happened to us.
15 how our fathers descended into Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted both us and our fathers,
You know that our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians treated us harshly and also our ancestors.
16 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.
When we called out to Yahweh, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your land.
17 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.”
I am asking you to let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, nor will we drink the water in your wells. We will go along the king's highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed your border.”
18 Edom responded to them: “You shall not cross through me, otherwise, I will meet you armed.”
But the king of Edom replied to him, “You may not pass through here. If you do, I will come with the sword to attack you.”
19 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.”
Then the people of Israel said to him, “We will go along the highway. If we or our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us walk through on foot, without doing anything else.”
20 But he answered, “You shall not cross.” And immediately he went out to meet them with a countless multitude and a strong hand;
But the king of Edom replied, “You may not pass through.” So the king of Edom came against Israel with a strong hand with many soldiers.
21 neither was he willing to agree to their petition to concede passage through his borders. For this reason, Israel diverted away from him.
The king of Edom refused to allow Israel to cross over their border. Because of this, Israel turned away from the land of Edom.
22 And when they had moved the camp from Kadesh, they arrived at mount Hor, which is at the borders of the land of Edom,
So the people journeyed from Kadesh. The people of Israel, the whole community, came to Mount Hor.
23 where the Lord spoke to Moses:
Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on Edom's border. He said,
24 “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.
“Aaron must be gathered to his people, for he will not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel. This is because you both rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
25 Take Aaron, and his son with him, and lead them on to mount Hor.
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor.
26 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.”
Take Aaron's priestly garments off him and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron must die and be gathered to his people there.”
27 Moses did just as the Lord had instructed. And they ascended mount Hor, in the sight of the entire multitude.
Moses did as Yahweh commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the community.
28 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.
Moses took Aaron's priestly garments off him and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down.
29 And the entire multitude, seeing that Aaron lay dead, wept over him for thirty days, throughout all their families.
When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the entire nation wept for Aaron for thirty days.
