Numbers 20:1-6

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.

Numbers 20:1-6 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]. 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