Numbers 20:10-13

Moses Strikes the Rock

10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ¹“Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock? ”

11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, ²and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because ³you did not believe in me, ⁴to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them. ”

13 ⁵These are the waters of Meribah, ^[a] where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy.

Numbers 20:10-13 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. 20:10 Ps. 106:32, 33
• 2. 20:11 [See ver. 8 above]
• 3. 20:12 ch. 27:14; Deut. 1:37; 3:26; 32:51
• 4. 20:12 Ezek. 20:41; 36:23; 38:16
• 5. 20:13 ch. 27:14; Ex. 17:7; Deut. 32:51; 33:8; Ps. 81:7; 95:8; 106:32

Footnotes

• [a] 20:13 'Meribah' means 'quarreling'