20Numbers 20

Water from a Rock

1The people of Israel arrived at the Zin Desert during the first month and set up camp near the town of Kadesh. It was there that Miriam died and was buried.Select Numbers 20:1

2The Israelites had no water, so they went to Moses and AaronSelect Numbers 20:2

3and complained, “Moses, we'd be better off if we had died along with the others in front of the Lord's sacred tent.Select Numbers 20:3

4You brought us into this desert, and now we and our livestock are going to die!Select Numbers 20:4

5Egypt was better than this horrible place. At least there we had grain and figs and grapevines and pomegranates. But now we don't even have any water.”Select Numbers 20:5

6Moses and Aaron went to the entrance to the sacred tent, where they bowed down. The Lord appeared to them in all of his glorySelect Numbers 20:6

8and said, “Moses, get your walking stick. Then you and Aaron call the people together and command that rock to give you water. That's how you will provide water for the people of Israel and their livestock.”Select Numbers 20:8

9Moses obeyed and took his stick from the sacred tent.Select Numbers 20:9

10After he and Aaron had gathered the people around the rock, he said, “Look, you rebellious people, and you will see water flow from this rock!”Select Numbers 20:10

11He raised his stick in the air and struck the rock two times. At once, water gushed from the rock, and the people and their livestock had water to drink.Select Numbers 20:11

12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you refused to believe in my power, these people did not respect me. And so, you will not be the ones to lead them into the land I have promised.”Select Numbers 20:12

13The Israelites had complained against the Lord, and he had shown them his holy power by giving them water to drink. So they named the place Meribah, which means “Complaining.”Select Numbers 20:13

Israel Isn't Allowed To Go through Edom

14Moses sent messengers from Israel's camp near Kadesh with this message for the king of Edom: We are Israelites, your own relatives, and we're sure you have heard the terrible things that have happened to us.Select Numbers 20:14

15Our ancestors settled in Egypt and lived there a long time. But later the Egyptians were cruel to us,Select Numbers 20:15

16and when we begged our Lord for help, he answered our prayer and brought us out of that land. Now we are camped at the border of your territory, near the town of Kadesh.Select Numbers 20:16

17Please let us go through your country. We won't go near your fields or vineyards, and we won't drink any water from your wells. We will stay on the main road until we leave your territory.Select Numbers 20:17

18But the king of Edom answered, “No, I won't let you go through our country! And if you try, we will attack you.”Select Numbers 20:18

19Moses sent back this message: “We promise to stay on the main road, and if any of us or our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. We just want to pass through.”Select Numbers 20:19

20But the king insisted, “You can't go through our land!” Then Edom sent out its strongest troopsSelect Numbers 20:20

21to keep Israel from passing through its territory. So the Israelites had to go in another direction.Select Numbers 20:21

Aaron Dies

22After the Israelites had left Kadesh and had gone as far as Mount HorSelect Numbers 20:22

23on the Edomite border, the Lord said,Select Numbers 20:23

24“Aaron, this is where you will die. You and Moses disobeyed me at Meribah, and so you will not enter the land I promised the Israelites.Select Numbers 20:24

25Moses, go with Aaron and his son Eleazar to the top of the mountain.Select Numbers 20:25

26Then take Aaron's priestly robe from him and place it on Eleazar. Aaron will die there.”Select Numbers 20:26

27Moses obeyed, and everyone watched as he and Aaron and Eleazar walked to the top of Mount Hor.Select Numbers 20:27

28Moses then took the priestly robe from Aaron and placed it on Eleazar. Aaron died there. When Moses and Eleazar came down,Select Numbers 20:28

29the people knew that Aaron had died, and they mourned his death for 30 days.Select Numbers 20:29