20 In the first month, the Israelites came to the Zin desert. They put up their tents at Kadesh. Miriam died there and the people buried her.
2 The people did not have any water to drink. They complained to Moses and Aaron. 3 They said to Moses, ‘We would rather be dead! When the Lord killed our brothers, he should have killed us too. 4 We are the Lord 's people. Have you brought us and our animals here to die? 5 You should not have brought us to this very bad place. When we were in Egypt, we had grain, figs, grapes and pomegranates. There is no food like that here! And there is no water to drink!’
6 Moses and Aaron went away from the people to the door of the Tent of Meeting. They threw themselves down with their faces towards the ground. The glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 ‘Get the stick. Take your brother Aaron with you and go to the whole group of the Israelites. Then speak to that rock that you can all see. Water will pour out from it. Then the people and their animals can drink it.’
9 So Moses did what the Lord had told him. He took the stick from its place in the Lord 's Tent of Meeting. 10 Then Moses and Aaron brought all the people to meet in front of the rock. Moses said to them, ‘Listen now, you people who refuse to obey God. It seems that we must bring water out of this rock for you!’ 11 Moses lifted up his arm. He hit the rock twice with his stick. Water poured out from the rock. The people and their animals drank the water.
12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘You did not trust me enough to show the Israelites that I am holy. So you will not lead them into the land that I have promised to give to them.’
13 The place where this happened was called ‘Meribah’, because the Israelites quarrelled with the Lord there. [ a ] But he showed them there that he was their holy God.
14 From Kadesh, Moses sent men to the king of Edom with this message: ‘We are Israelites, your relatives. We should be friendly to each other. You know about all the troubles that have happened to us. 15 Our ancestors went to Egypt. We lived there for many years. The people in Egypt were cruel to us. 16 But when we asked the Lord to help us, he heard us. He sent an angel and he brought us out from Egypt.
Now we are here at Kadesh, which is a town at the border of your land. 17 Please let us travel through your land. We will not go through any fields or through any vineyards. We will not even drink water from your wells. We will go along the main road. We will not leave that road on either side until we have gone through all your land.’
18 The king of Edom said, ‘You must not travel through my country. If you do, we will bring our army to attack you.’
19 The Israelites replied, ‘We will stay on the main road. If our animals drink your water, we will pay for it. We only want to travel through your country. We do not want anything else.’
20 The king of Edom said, ‘No, you must not travel through our country.’ He sent many strong soldiers to attack the Israelites. 21 In that way, the Edomites stopped the Israelites from travelling through Edom. So the Israelites turned away from there.
22 All the Israelites went from Kadesh to Hor mountain. 23 When they were there, at the border of Edom's land, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. 24 He said, ‘Aaron will soon die. He will not go in to the land that I am giving to the Israelites. That is because you both refused to obey me at Meribah. 25 Moses, you must take Aaron and his son Eleazar to climb up Hor mountain. 26 Take the priest's clothes from Aaron and put them on Eleazar. Aaron will die there.’
27 Moses did what the Lord told him to do. Moses, Aaron and Eleazar climbed up Hor mountain, while the Israelites watched. 28 Moses took the priest's clothes from Aaron and he put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died there, at the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar walked back down the mountain. [ b ] 29 The Israelites wept for 30 days because Aaron died.
20 The Israelites arrived at the desert of Zin in the first month of the year. The people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.
2 There was not enough water for the people at that place. So the people met together to complain against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people argued with Moses and said, “Maybe we should have died in front of the Lord like our brothers did. 4 Why did you bring the Lord ’s people into this desert? Do you want us and our animals to die here? 5 Why did you bring us from Egypt? Why did you bring us to this bad place? There is no grain. There are no figs, grapes, or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
6 So Moses and Aaron left the crowd of people and went to the entrance of the Meeting Tent. They bowed down to the ground, and the Glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 8 “Get the special walking stick. Take your brother Aaron and the crowd of people and go to that rock. Speak to the rock in front of the people. Then water will flow from the rock, and you can give that water to the people and to their animals.”
9 The walking stick was in the Holy Tent, in front of the Lord . Moses took the walking stick as the Lord said. 10 Moses and Aaron told the people to meet together in front of the rock. Then Moses said, “You people are always complaining. Now listen to me. I will cause water to flow from this rock.” 11 Moses lifted his arm and hit the rock twice. Water began flowing from the rock, and the people and their animals drank that water.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not trust me enough to honor me and show the people that I am holy. You did not show the Israelites that the power to make the water came from me. So you will not lead the people into the land that I have given them.”
13 This place was called the waters of Meribah. [ a ] This is where the Israelites argued with the Lord and where he showed them that he was holy.
14 While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent some men with a message to the king of Edom. The message said,
“This is what your brothers, the Israelites, say to you: You know about all the troubles we have had. 15 Many years ago our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to us. 16 But we asked the Lord for help, and he heard us and sent an angel to help us. The Lord has brought us out of Egypt.
“Now we are here at Kadesh, where your land begins. 17 Please let us travel through your country. We will not travel through any fields or vineyards. We will not drink water from any of your wells. We will travel only along King’s Road. We will not leave that road to the right or to the left. We will stay on the road until we have traveled through your country.”
18 But the king of Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land. If you try to travel through our land, we will come and fight you with swords.”
19 The Israelites answered, “We will travel along the main road. If our animals drink any of your water, we will pay you for it. We only want to walk through your country. We don’t want to take it for ourselves.”
20 But again the king of Edom answered, “We will not allow you to come through our country.”
Then the king of Edom gathered a large and powerful army and went out to fight against the Israelites. 21 The king of Edom refused to let the Israelites travel through his country, so the Israelites turned around and went another way.
22 All the Israelites traveled from Kadesh to Mount Hor. 23 Mount Hor was near the border of Edom. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “It is time for Aaron to die and go to be with his ancestors. Aaron will not enter the land that I promised to the Israelites. Moses, I say this to you because both you and Aaron did not fully obey the command I gave you at the waters of Meribah.
25 “Now, bring Aaron and his son Eleazar up to Mount Hor. 26 Take Aaron’s special clothes from him and put these clothes on his son Eleazar. Aaron will die there on the mountain. And he will go to be with his ancestors.”
27 Moses obeyed the Lord ’s command. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar went up on Mount Hor. All the Israelites watched them go. 28 Moses removed Aaron’s special clothes and put them on Aaron’s son Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came back down the mountain. 29 All the Israelites learned that Aaron was dead. So everyone in Israel mourned for 30 days.
20 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.
2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord !
4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5 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.
6 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.
7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8 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.
9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord , as he commanded him.
10 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?
11 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.
12 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.
13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord , and he was sanctified in them.
14 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:
15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
16 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:
17 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.
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
19 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 anything else, go through on my feet.
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
23 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
24 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.
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
26 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.
27 And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28 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.
29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
20 Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the ( A ) wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 ( B ) There was no water for the congregation, ( C ) and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 3 ( D ) Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “ ( E ) If only we had perished ( F ) when our brothers perished before the Lord ! 4 ( G ) Why then have you brought the Lord ’ s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die [ a ] here? 5 Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? ( H ) It is not a place of [ b ] grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and ( I ) fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; 7 then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
8 “Take ( J ) the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff ( K ) from before the Lord , just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “ ( L ) Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and ( M ) water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “ ( N ) Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were called the waters of [ c ] ( O ) Meribah, [ d ] because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord , and He proved Himself holy among them.
14 From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to ( P ) the king of Edom to say , “This is what your brother Israel has said: ‘You ( Q ) know all the hardship that has [ e ] overtaken us; 15 that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly. 16 But ( R ) when we cried out to the Lord , He heard our voice and sent ( S ) an angel, and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17 Please ( T ) let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s road, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”
18 ( U ) Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through [ f ] us, or I will come out with the sword against you.” 19 Again, the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the road, and if I and ( V ) my livestock do drink any of your water, ( W ) then I will [ g ] pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, [ h ] nothing more .” 20 But he said, “ ( X ) You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against him with a heavy [ i ] force and a strong hand. 21 ( Y ) So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; ( Z ) then Israel turned away from him.
22 Now when they set out from ( AA ) Kadesh, the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at ( AB ) Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron will be ( AC ) gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because ( AD ) you rebelled against My [ j ] command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and his son ( AE ) Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be ( AF ) gathered to his people and will die there.” 27 So Moses did just as the Lord had commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And after Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and ( AG ) put them on his son Eleazar, ( AH ) Aaron died there on the mountain top. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, the whole house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty ( AI ) days.
20 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, ( A ) and they stayed at Kadesh. ( B ) There Miriam ( C ) died and was buried.
2 Now there was no water ( D ) for the community, ( E ) and the people gathered in opposition ( F ) to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled ( G ) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead ( H ) before the Lord ! ( I ) 4 Why did you bring the Lord ’s community into this wilderness, ( J ) that we and our livestock should die here? ( K ) 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. ( L ) And there is no water to drink! ( M ) ”
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting ( N ) and fell facedown, ( O ) and the glory of the Lord ( P ) appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, ( Q ) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. ( R ) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff ( S ) from the Lord ’s presence, ( T ) just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together ( U ) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” ( V ) 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water ( W ) 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 ( X ) in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” ( Y )
13 These were the waters of Meribah, [ a ] ( Z ) where the Israelites quarreled ( AA ) with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them. ( AB )
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh ( AC ) to the king of Edom, ( AD ) saying:
“This is what your brother Israel says: You know ( AE ) about all the hardships ( AF ) that have come on us. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt, ( AG ) and we lived there many years. ( AH ) The Egyptians mistreated ( AI ) us and our ancestors, 16 but when we cried out to the Lord , he heard our cry ( AJ ) and sent an angel ( AK ) and brought us out of Egypt. ( AL )
“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. ( AM ) 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. ( AN ) ”
18 But Edom ( AO ) answered:
“You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword. ( AP ) ”
19 The Israelites replied:
“We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock ( AQ ) drink any of your water, we will pay for it. ( AR ) We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”
20 Again they answered:
“You may not pass through. ( AS ) ”
Then Edom ( AT ) came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, ( AU ) Israel turned away from them. ( AV )
22 The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh ( AW ) and came to Mount Hor. ( AX ) 23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, ( AY ) the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people. ( AZ ) He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command ( BA ) at the waters of Meribah. ( BB ) 25 Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. ( BC ) 26 Remove Aaron’s garments ( BD ) and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; ( BE ) he will die there.”
27 Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor ( BF ) in the sight of the whole community. 28 Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. ( BG ) And Aaron died there ( BH ) 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, ( BI ) all the Israelites mourned for him ( BJ ) thirty days.
