Numbers 20

Numbers 20:1-29 . THE DEATH OF MIRIAM.

1. Then came the children of Israel . . . into the desert of Zin in the first month--that is, of the fortieth year (compare Numbers 20:22 Numbers 20:23 , with Numbers 33:38 ). In this history only the principal and most important incidents are recorded, those confined chiefly to the first or second and the last years of the journeyings in the wilderness, thence called Et-Tih. Between Numbers 19:22 and Numbers 20:1 there is a long and undescribed interval of thirty-seven years.
the people abode in Kadesh--supposed to be what is now known as Ain-el-Weibeh, three springs surrounded by palms. of thirty-eight years ( Deuteronomy 1:19 ). The old generation had nearly all died, and the new one encamped in it with the view of entering the promised land, not, however, as formerly on the south, but by crossing the Edomite region on the east.
Miriam died there--four months before Aaron [ Numbers 33:38 ].

2-13. there was no water for the congregation--There was at Kadesh a fountain, En-Mishpat ( Genesis 14:7 ), and at the first encampment of the Israelites there was no want of water. It was then either partially dried up by the heat of the season, or had been exhausted by the demands of so vast a multitude.

6. Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly--Here is a fresh ebullition of the untamed and discontented spirit of the people. The leaders fled to the precincts of the sanctuary, both as an asylum from the increasing fury of the highly excited rabble, and as their usual refuge in seasons of perplexity and danger, to implore the direction and aid of God.

8. Take the rod--which had been deposited in the tabernacle ( Numbers 17:10 ), the wonder-working rod by which so many miracles had been performed, sometimes called "the rod of God" ( Exodus 4:20 ), sometimes Moses' ( Numbers 20:11 ) or Aaron's rod ( Exodus 7:12 ).

10. [Moses] said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?--The conduct of the great leader on this occasion was hasty and passionate ( Psalms 106:33 ). He had been directed to speak to the rock [ Numbers 20:8 ], but he smote it twice [ Numbers 20:11 ] in his impetuosity, thus endangering the blossoms of the rod, and, instead of speaking to the rock, he spoke to the people in a fury.

11. the congregation drank, and their beasts--Physically the water afforded the same kind of needful refreshment to both. But from a religious point of view, this, which was only a common element to the cattle, was a sacrament to the people ( 1 Corinthians 10:3 1 Corinthians 10:4 )--It possessed a relative sanctity imparted to it by its divine origin and use.

12. The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, &c.--The act of Moses in smiting twice betrayed a doubt, not of the power, but of the will of God to gratify such a rebellious people, and his exclamation seems to have emanated from a spirit of incredulity akin to Sarai's ( Genesis 18:13 ). These circumstances indicate the influence of unbelief, and there might have been others unrecorded which led to so severe a chastisement.

13. This is the water of Meribah--The word "Kadesh" is added to it [ Deuteronomy 32:51 ] to distinguish it from another Meribah ( Exodus 17:7 ).

14-16. Moses sent messengers . . . to the king of Edom--The encampment at Kadesh was on the confines of the Edomite territory, through which the Israelites would have had an easy passage across the Arabah by Wady-el-Ghuweir, so that they could have continued their course around Moab, and approached Palestine from the east [ROBERTS]. The Edomites, being the descendants of Esau and tracing their line of descent from Abraham as their common stock, were recognized by the Israelites as brethren, and a very brotherly message was sent to them.