Numbers 20:13-23

13 This is the water of Strife, because the children of Israel spoke insolently before the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Cades to the king of Edom, saying, Thus says thy brother Israel; Thou knowest all the distress that has come upon us.

15 And our fathers went down into Egypt, and we sojourned in Egypt many days, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.

16 And we cried to the Lord, and the Lord heard our voice, and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and now we are in the city of Cades, at the extremity of thy coasts.

17 We will pass through thy land: we will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards, nor will we drink water out of thy cistern: we will go by the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

18 And Edom said to him, Thou shalt not pass through me, and if otherwise, I will go forth to meet thee in war.

19 And the children of Israel say to him, We will pass by the mountain; and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, I will pay thee: but it is no matter of importance, we will go by the mountain.

20 And he said, Thou shalt not pass through me; and Edom went forth to meet him with a great host, and a mighty hand.

21 So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his borders, and Israel turned away from him.

22 And they departed from Cades; and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Or.

23 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in mount Or, on the borders of the land of Edom, saying,

Numbers 20:13-23 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

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