Numbers 20:22-29

Aaron Dies

22 And they set out from Kadesh. The {Israelites}, the whole community, came [to] Mount Hor.

23 Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron on Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom, saying,

24 "Let Aaron be gathered to his people; he will not come into the land that I have given to the {Israelites} because you rebelled against {my word} at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and take them up Mount Hor.

26 Strip off Aaron's garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; Aaron will be gathered [to his people], and he will die there."

27 So Moses did just as Yahweh commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor before the eyes of all the community.

28 And Moses stripped off Aaron's garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain; and Moses and Eleazar went down from the mountain.

29 All the community saw that Aaron died; so all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

Numbers 20:22-29 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [b] Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [c] Literally "my mouth"
• [d] Hebrew "day"