Numbers 20:5-15

5 Why have you made us to come up out of Mitzrayim, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6 Moshe and Aharon went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

7 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,

8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aharon your brother, and speak you to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their cattle drink.

9 Moshe took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

10 Moshe and Aharon gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?

11 Moshe lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

12 The LORD said to Moshe and Aharon, Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Yisra'el, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

13 These are the waters of Merivah; because the children of Yisra'el strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

14 Moshe sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Yisra'el, You know all the travail that has befallen us:

15 how our fathers went down into Mitzrayim, and we lived in Mitzrayim a long time; and the Mitzrim dealt ill with us, and our fathers:

Numbers 20:5-15 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.