Numbers 20:9-19

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence^[a] 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.^[b]

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."^[c]

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

Edom Denies Passage

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, "This is what your brother Israel^[f] says, 'You know all the hardships that have overtaken us.

15 Our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, but the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.

16 When we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice, sent an Angel,^{[g] [h]} and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your territory.

17 Please let us travel through your land. We won't travel through [any] field or vineyard, or drink [any] well water. We will travel the King's Highway; we won't turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.' "^[i]

18 But Edom answered him, "You must not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword."

19 "We will go on the main road," the Israelites replied to them, "and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price.^[j] There will be no problem; only let us travel through on foot."

Numbers 20:9-19 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Nm 17:10
• [b]. Ex 17:6; Ps 78:15; 1 Co 10:4
• [c]. Nm 27:12-14
• [d]. quarreling
• [e]. Nm 27:14; Ex 17:7; Dt 32:51; Ps 95:8; 106:32
• [f]. Gn 25:23-26,30; 36:8
• [g]. Or a messenger
• [h]. Ex 3:7-10; 14:19; 23:20
• [i]. Nm 21:22
• [j]. Dt 2:1-7