1
In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin,
and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition
to Moses and Aaron.
3
They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell
dead before the LORD!
4
Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock
should die here?
5
Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain of figs,
grapevines or pomegranates. Ane there is no water to drink!"
6
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting
and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
7
The LORD said to Moses,
8
"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together.
Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring
water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
9
So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him.
10
He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses
said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring your water out of this rock?"
11
Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water
gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me
enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring
this community into the land I give them."
13
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the
LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.
14
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:
"this is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships
that have come upon us.
15
Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years.
The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,
16
but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel
and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge
of your territory.
17
Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or
vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway
and not turn to the right or left until we have passed through your territory."
18
But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march
out and attack you with the sword."
19
The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock
drink of any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through
on foot - nothing else."
20
Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out
against them with a large and powerful army.
21
Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away
from them.
22
The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.
23
At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
24
"Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give
the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the
waters of Meribah.
25
Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.
26
Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be
gathered to his people; he will die there."
27
Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of
the whole community.
28
Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar.
And Aaron died there on top of the mountain.
Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,
29
and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house
of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
