Liber Numeri 20
1 Veneruntque filii Israel, et omnis multitudo in desertum Sin, mense primo: et mansit populus in Cades. Mortuaque est ibi Maria, et sepulta in eodem loco.
In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 Cumque indigeret aqua populus, convenerunt adversum Moysen et Aaron:
Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.
3 et versi in seditionem, dixerunt: Utinam periissemus inter fratres nostros coram Domino.
The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!
4 Cur eduxistis Ecclesiam Domini in solitudinem, ut et nos et nostra iumenta moriamur?
Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?
5 Quare nos fecistis ascendere de Ægypto, et adduxistis in locum istum pessimum, qui seri non potest, qui nec ficum gignit, nec vineas, nec malogranata, insuper et aquam non habet ad bibendum?
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!”
6 Ingressusque Moyses et Aaron, dimissa multitudine, tabernaculum fœderis, corruerunt proni in terram, clamaveruntque ad Dominum, atque dixerunt: Domine Deus audi clamorem huius populi, et aperi eis thesaurum tuum fontem aquæ vivæ, ut satiati, cesset murmuratio eorum. Et apparuit gloria Domini super eos.
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.
7 Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens:
And the LORD said to Moses,
8 Tolle virgam, et congrega populum, tu et Aaron frater tuus, et loquimini ad petram coram eis, et illa dabit aquas. Cumque eduxeris aquam de petra, bibet omnis multitudo et iumenta eius.
“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.”
9 Tulit igitur Moyses virgam, quæ erat in conspectu Domini, sicut præceperat ei,
So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded.
10 congregata multitudine ante petram, dixitque eis: Audite rebelles et increduli: Num de petra hac vobis aquam poterimus eiicere?
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?”
11 Cumque elevasset Moyses manum, percutiens virga bis silicem, egressæ sunt aquæ largissimæ, ita ut populus biberet et iumenta.
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.
12 Dixitque Dominus ad Moysen et Aaron: Quia non credidistis mihi, ut sanctificaretis me coram filiis Israel, non introducetis hos populos in terram, quam dabo eis.
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.”
13 Hæc est aqua contradictionis, ubi iurgati sunt filii Israel contra Dominum, et sanctificatus est in eis.
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.
14 Misit interea nuncios Moyses de Cades ad regem Edom, qui dicerent: Hæc mandat frater tuus Israel: Nosti omnem laborem qui apprehendit nos,
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,
15 quo modo descenderint patres nostri in Ægyptum, et habitaverimus ibi multo tempore, afflixerintque nos Ægyptii, et patres nostros:
how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,
16 et quo modo clamaverimus ad Dominum, et exaudierit nos, miseritque angelum, qui eduxerit nos de Ægypto. Ecce in urbe Cades, quæ est in extremis finibus tuis, positi,
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.
17 obsecramus ut nobis transire liceat per terram tuam. Non ibimus per agros, nec per vineas, non bibemus aquas de puteis tuis, sed gradiemur via publica, nec ad dexteram nec ad sinistram declinantes, donec transeamus terminos tuos.
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.”
18 Cui respondit Edom: Non transibis per me, alioquin armatus occurram tibi.
But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
19 Dixeruntque filii Israel: Per tritam gradiemur viam: et si biberimus aquas tuas nos et pecora nostra, dabimus quod iustum est: nulla erit in pretio difficultas, tantum velociter transeamus.
“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.”
20 At ille respondit: Non transibis. Statimque egressus est obvius, cum infinita multitudo, et manu forti,
But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand.
21 nec voluit acquiescere deprecanti, ut concederet transitum per fines suos. quam ob rem divertit ab eo Israel.
So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.
22 Cumque castra movissent de Cades, venerunt in montem Hor, qui est in finibus terræ Edom:
After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor.
23 ubi locutus est Dominus ad Moysen:
And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
24 Pergat, inquit, Aaron ad populos suos: non enim intrabit Terram, quam dedi filiis Israel, eo quod incredulus fuerit ori meo, ad Aquas contradictionis.
“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.
25 Tolle Aaron et filium eius cum eo, et duces eos in montem Hor.
Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.
26 Cumque nudaveris patrem veste sua, indues ea Eleazarum filium eius: Aaron colligetur, et morietur ibi.
Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
27 Fecit Moyses ut præceperat Dominus: et ascenderunt in montem Hor coram omni multitudine.
So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation.
28 Cumque Aaron spoliasset vestibus suis, induit eis Eleazarum filium eius. Illo mortuo in montis supercilio, descendit cum Eleazaro.
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.
29 Omnis autem multitudo videns occubuisse Aaron, flevit super eo triginta diebus per cunctas familias suas.
When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
