Numbers 20:19-29

19 The people of Israel said, "We will stay on the main road, and if we or our animals drink any of your water, we will pay for it - all we want is to pass through."

20 The Edomites repeated, "We refuse!" and they marched out with a powerful army to attack the people of Israel.

21 Because the Edomites would not let the Israelites pass through their territory, the Israelites turned and went another way.

22 The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor,

23 on the border of Edom. There the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

24 "Aaron is not going to enter the land which I promised to give to Israel; he is going to die, because the two of you rebelled against my command at Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor,

26 and there remove Aaron's priestly robes and put them on Eleazar. Aaron is going to die there."

27 Moses did what the Lord had commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community,

28 and Moses removed Aaron's priestly robes and put them on Eleazar. There on the top of the mountain Aaron died, and Moses and Eleazar came back down. ¹

29 The whole community learned that Aaron had died, and they all mourned for him for thirty days.

Numbers 20:19-29 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.

Cross References

• 1. 20.28Exodus 29.29;Numbers 33.38;Deuteronomy 10.6.