Numbers 20: A Journey Marked by Disobedience and Transition
Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
And when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
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.
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Numbers 20 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness wanderings, highlighting themes of obedience, leadership, and the consequences of sin. This chapter marks the end of an era, with the passing of key figures and the continued struggle of the Israelites to trust in God's provision. Understanding the events of Numbers 20 provides valuable insights into God's character, His expectations for leadership, and the importance of honoring Him in all we do.
The Thirst of Rebellion (20:1-13)
Numbers 20:1 places us in the fortieth year of Israel's wilderness journey, signifying the completion of the judgment upon the generation that refused to enter the Promised Land. It is the first month of that year, and the Israelites are back in Kadesh, the very place where they had previously rebelled. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, dies and is buried there. This marks the beginning of the end for the older generation. The text doesn't detail what happened between the second and fortieth year of Israel’s wandering, but it does reveal that the Israelites' propensity for grumbling had not diminished.
In Numbers 20:2-5, a familiar scene unfolds: the people, lacking water, assemble against Moses and Aaron, echoing their past complaints. They question why they were brought out of Egypt, lamenting the lack of water, figs, vines, pomegranates, and even the familiar vegetables they enjoyed in Egypt. The people essentially ask, "Why have you brought us out here to die?"
Moses and Aaron, weary from years of leading a complaining people, turn to the Lord for guidance. They went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them (Numbers 20:6). God instructs Moses to take his staff, gather the people, and speak to the rock so that it may yield water (Numbers 20:8). However, frustration and perhaps a sense of being overwhelmed lead Moses to a critical error.
Numbers 20:9-11 narrates Moses' disobedience. He gathers the assembly before the rock and, instead of speaking to it as God commanded, he angrily rebukes the people: "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10). He then strikes the rock twice with his staff, and water gushes out, satisfying the people's thirst.
The consequences of Moses' actions are severe. In Numbers 20:12, God declares that because Moses and Aaron did not trust Him enough to honor Him as holy in the sight of the Israelites, they would not lead the people into the Promised Land. This is a harsh sentence, especially for Moses, who had faithfully served God for so many years.
This passage underscores the importance of obedience and honoring God's holiness. Moses' failure, though seemingly small, had significant implications. He took credit for God's provision, diminishing God's glory in the eyes of the people. The place was named Meribah (meaning "quarreling") because there the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and there he showed himself holy among them (Numbers 20:13).
Seeking Passage Through Edom (20:14-21)
Despite his impending fate, Moses continues to lead the Israelites. Numbers 20:14-17 describes Moses sending messengers to the king of Edom, requesting permission to pass through their land. Recognizing their shared ancestry through Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom), Moses appeals to their kinship, referring to Israel as "your brother Israel" (Numbers 20:14). He recounts their history, from their captivity in Egypt to their current location, and promises to cause no trouble, offering to stay on the main road and even pay for any water consumed by the people and their livestock.
However, the king of Edom refuses passage, even threatening military action (Numbers 20:18-21). Despite Moses' further entreaties and offers to pay for water, the Edomite king remains steadfast in his refusal, forcing the Israelites to turn away. This rejection highlights the challenges and obstacles the Israelites faced as they sought to reach the Promised Land.
Aaron's Death at Mount Hor (20:22-29)
The chapter concludes with the death of Aaron. In Numbers 20:22-29, the Israelites journey to Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. There, the Lord announces to Moses and Aaron that Aaron will die, because he rebelled against God’s command at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:24).
In a solemn ceremony, Moses removes Aaron's priestly garments and puts them on his son Eleazar, who would succeed him as high priest. Aaron dies on the summit of Mount Hor, and Moses and Eleazar come down from the mountain. The entire nation mourns Aaron for thirty days (Numbers 20:29). The death of Aaron marks another significant loss for the Israelites and signifies the passing of the old guard.
The transfer of the priestly garments to Eleazar symbolizes the continuation of God's covenant and the importance of the priesthood in Israel's worship and relationship with God.
Numbers 20 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience, the consequences of sin, and the need to honor God's holiness in all aspects of life. It also highlights the challenges of leadership and the importance of trusting in God's provision, even in the face of adversity. The events of this chapter set the stage for the next phase of Israel's journey towards the Promised Land, a journey that would be led by a new generation under the leadership of Joshua.
Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
And when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
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.
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Numbers 20 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness wanderings, highlighting themes of obedience, leadership, and the consequences of sin. This chapter marks the end of an era, with the passing of key figures and the continued struggle of the Israelites to trust in God's provision. Understanding the events of Numbers 20 provides valuable insights into God's character, His expectations for leadership, and the importance of honoring Him in all we do.
The Thirst of Rebellion (20:1-13)
Numbers 20:1 places us in the fortieth year of Israel's wilderness journey, signifying the completion of the judgment upon the generation that refused to enter the Promised Land. It is the first month of that year, and the Israelites are back in Kadesh, the very place where they had previously rebelled. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, dies and is buried there. This marks the beginning of the end for the older generation. The text doesn't detail what happened between the second and fortieth year of Israel’s wandering, but it does reveal that the Israelites' propensity for grumbling had not diminished.
In Numbers 20:2-5, a familiar scene unfolds: the people, lacking water, assemble against Moses and Aaron, echoing their past complaints. They question why they were brought out of Egypt, lamenting the lack of water, figs, vines, pomegranates, and even the familiar vegetables they enjoyed in Egypt. The people essentially ask, "Why have you brought us out here to die?"
Moses and Aaron, weary from years of leading a complaining people, turn to the Lord for guidance. They went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them (Numbers 20:6). God instructs Moses to take his staff, gather the people, and speak to the rock so that it may yield water (Numbers 20:8). However, frustration and perhaps a sense of being overwhelmed lead Moses to a critical error.
Numbers 20:9-11 narrates Moses' disobedience. He gathers the assembly before the rock and, instead of speaking to it as God commanded, he angrily rebukes the people: "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10). He then strikes the rock twice with his staff, and water gushes out, satisfying the people's thirst.
The consequences of Moses' actions are severe. In Numbers 20:12, God declares that because Moses and Aaron did not trust Him enough to honor Him as holy in the sight of the Israelites, they would not lead the people into the Promised Land. This is a harsh sentence, especially for Moses, who had faithfully served God for so many years.
This passage underscores the importance of obedience and honoring God's holiness. Moses' failure, though seemingly small, had significant implications. He took credit for God's provision, diminishing God's glory in the eyes of the people. The place was named Meribah (meaning "quarreling") because there the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and there he showed himself holy among them (Numbers 20:13).
Seeking Passage Through Edom (20:14-21)
Despite his impending fate, Moses continues to lead the Israelites. Numbers 20:14-17 describes Moses sending messengers to the king of Edom, requesting permission to pass through their land. Recognizing their shared ancestry through Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom), Moses appeals to their kinship, referring to Israel as "your brother Israel" (Numbers 20:14). He recounts their history, from their captivity in Egypt to their current location, and promises to cause no trouble, offering to stay on the main road and even pay for any water consumed by the people and their livestock.
However, the king of Edom refuses passage, even threatening military action (Numbers 20:18-21). Despite Moses' further entreaties and offers to pay for water, the Edomite king remains steadfast in his refusal, forcing the Israelites to turn away. This rejection highlights the challenges and obstacles the Israelites faced as they sought to reach the Promised Land.
Aaron's Death at Mount Hor (20:22-29)
The chapter concludes with the death of Aaron. In Numbers 20:22-29, the Israelites journey to Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. There, the Lord announces to Moses and Aaron that Aaron will die, because he rebelled against God’s command at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:24).
In a solemn ceremony, Moses removes Aaron's priestly garments and puts them on his son Eleazar, who would succeed him as high priest. Aaron dies on the summit of Mount Hor, and Moses and Eleazar come down from the mountain. The entire nation mourns Aaron for thirty days (Numbers 20:29). The death of Aaron marks another significant loss for the Israelites and signifies the passing of the old guard.
The transfer of the priestly garments to Eleazar symbolizes the continuation of God's covenant and the importance of the priesthood in Israel's worship and relationship with God.
Numbers 20 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience, the consequences of sin, and the need to honor God's holiness in all aspects of life. It also highlights the challenges of leadership and the importance of trusting in God's provision, even in the face of adversity. The events of this chapter set the stage for the next phase of Israel's journey towards the Promised Land, a journey that would be led by a new generation under the leadership of Joshua.