Numeri 20:10

10 E Mosè ed Aaronne convocarono la raunanza dirimpetto al sasso, e Mosè disse loro: "Ora ascoltate, o ribelli; vi farem noi uscir dell’acqua da questo sasso?"

Numeri 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 20:10

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before
the rock
To which they were directed, and were to speak unto; before this they gathered not only the elders of the people, but as many of the congregation as could be well assembled together:

and he said unto them;
Moses, who was bid to take the rod, and was the principal person concerned in this affair:

hear now, ye rebels;
such their fathers had been, and such they now were, a rebellious generation ever since they were known by him; not only rebellious against him their chief magistrate, but against the Lord himself, murmuring against him, being discontented and disobedient, see ( Deuteronomy 9:23 Deuteronomy 9:24 ) :

must we fetch you water out of this rock?
not only signifying their unworthiness of having such a miracle wrought for them, and as showing some degree of reluctance to attempt it, but as expressing diffidence about it; not of the power of God to bring water out of the rock, but of his will to do it for such a rebellious people; or else their unreasonableness to expect any such thing should be done for them: when they were so wicked, how could they think that such a miracle should be wrought for them? so the Targum of Jonathan,

``out of this rock is it possible for us to fetch out water for you?''

so Aben Ezra, have we power to bring out water to you from it? This was said in a passion, as the manner of speaking shows; see ( Psalms 106:32 Psalms 106:33 ) many of the congregation as could be well assembled together:

Numeri 20:10 In-Context

8 "Prendi il bastone; e tu e tuo fratello Aaronne convocate la raunanza e parlate a quel sasso, in loro presenza, ed esso darà la sua acqua; e tu farai sgorgare per loro dell’acqua dal sasso, e darai da bere alla raunanza e al suo bestiame".
9 Mosè dunque prese il bastone ch’era davanti all’Eterno, come l’Eterno gli aveva ordinato.
10 E Mosè ed Aaronne convocarono la raunanza dirimpetto al sasso, e Mosè disse loro: "Ora ascoltate, o ribelli; vi farem noi uscir dell’acqua da questo sasso?"
11 E Mosè alzò la mano, percosse il sasso col suo bastone due volte, e ne uscì dell’acqua in abbondanza; e la raunanza e il suo bestiame bevvero.
12 Poi L’Eterno disse a Mosè e ad Aaronne: "Siccome non avete avuto fiducia in me per dar gloria al mio santo nome agli occhi dei figliuoli d’Israele, voi non introdurrete questa raunanza nel paese che io le do".
The Riveduta Bible is in the public domain.