Numbers 20

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 or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And

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 you 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 in 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 to the 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 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.