Numbers 20:20-29

20 But he said, You are not to go through. And Edom came out against them in his strength, with a great army.

21 So Edom would not let Israel go through his land; and Israel went in another direction.

22 And they went on from Kadesh, and came, with all their people, to Mount Hor.

23 And at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

24 Aaron will be put to rest with his people; he will not go into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you went against my word at the waters of Meribah.

25 So take Aaron and Eleazar, his son, up into Mount Hor;

26 And take Aaron's robes off him and put them on Eleazar, his son: and death will come to Aaron there, and he will be put to rest with his people.

27 So Moses did as the Lord had said, and before the eyes of all the people they went up Mount Hor.

28 And Moses took off Aaron's robes, and put them on Eleazar, his son; and there on the top of the mountain death came to Aaron: then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29 And when the people saw that Aaron was dead, all the children of Israel gave themselves up to weeping for him for thirty days.

Numbers 20:20-29 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.