Numbers 20:23-29

Death of Aaron

23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at ¹Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24 "Aaron will be ²gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because * ³you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

25 "Take Aaron and his son ⁴Eleazar and bring them up to Mount Hor;

26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron will be ⁵gathered 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 After Moses had stripped Aaron of his garments and ⁶put them on his son Eleazar, ⁷Aaron 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, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty ⁸days.

Numbers 20:23-29 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.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 33:37
• 2. Genesis 25:8
• 3. Numbers 20:5, 10
• 4. Numbers 3:4
• 5. Numbers 20:24
• 6. Exodus 29:29
• 7. Numbers 33:38; Deuteronomy 10:6; Deuteronomy 32:50
• 8. Genesis 1:5; Genesis 50:3, 10; Deuteronomy 34:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "mouth"