Numbers 20:1-13

Water from the Rock

1 The entire Israelite community entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and they^[a] settled in Kadesh. Miriam^[b] died and was buried there.

2 There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron.

3 The people quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord.^[c]

4 Why have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?

5 Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It's not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates,^[d] and there is no water to drink!"

6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell down with their faces [to the ground], and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.

7 The Lord spoke to Moses,

8 "Take the staff^[e] and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock."

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence^[f] just as He had commanded him.

10 Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?"

11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.^[g]

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them."^[h]

13 These are the waters of Meribah,^[i] ^[j] where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and He showed His holiness to them.

Read Chapter Compare

Numbers 20:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 20

In this chapter is an account of the children of Israel coming to the wilderness of Zin, where Miriam died, and where wanting water they murmured, Nu 20:1-5, upon which Moses and Aaron applied to the Lord, who ordered Moses to speak to a rock, which should give forth water, and which being smitten by him, accordingly did, Nu 20:6-11, but Moses and Aaron, in their conduct of this affair, displeased the Lord, Nu 20:12,13, after this, Moses sent to the king of Edom to desire a passage through his country, which request was refused, Nu 20:14-21, upon Israel's coming to Mount Hor, Aaron, by order, went up to the mount, and, when stripped of his clothes, which were put on his son Eleazar, he died, lamented by all the people, Nu 20:22-29.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 10

[a]. Lit the people
[b]. Nm 12:1; 26:59; Ex 15:20-21; Dt 24:9
[c]. Nm 16:31-35,41-50
[d]. Nm 13:23-27; Ex 13:5; Dt 8:8
[e]. Nm 17:8; Ex 4:2-5; 17:4-9
[f]. Nm 17:10
[g]. Ex 17:6; Ps 78:15; 1 Co 10:4
[h]. Nm 27:12-14
[i]. quarreling
[j]. Nm 27:14; Ex 17:7; Dt 32:51; Ps 95:8; 106:32

Numbers 20:1-13

Share

Settings

Water from the Rock

Numbers 20:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 20

Footnotes 10