Miriam Dies at Kadesh
20 1 In the first month the whole community of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin; the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 Now there was no water for the community, so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people argued with Moses: "If only we'd died when our brothers died in our Father's presence!" 4 Why bring our Father's assembly into this wilderness to die here, us and our livestock? 5 Why did you bring us up from Egypt to this evil place? No grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—no water to drink.
6 Moses and Aaron went from before the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting, fell facedown, and the glory of our Father appeared to them. 7 Our Father said to Moses,
8 "Take the staff, gather the community—you and Aaron your brother—and speak to the rock before their eyes; it will give its water. Bring water from the rock for them, and give the community and their livestock drink."
9 So Moses took the staff from before our Father, as he had commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock. He said, "Listen, you rebels—must we bring water for you out of this rock?" 11 Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water gushed out abundantly, and the community and their livestock drank. a a v11 Paul tells us this rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). The rock had already been struck once before (Exodus 17); this time our Father said only to speak to it. Christ was struck once for all—now we need only call on him.
12 But our Father told Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy before the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them."
13 These are the waters of Meribah, where Israel's children quarreled with our Father, and he showed himself holy among them.
Edom Refuses Safe Passage
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to Edom's king: 'Your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has found us.' 15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt; we lived in Egypt many years, and the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. 16 So we cried out to our Father; he heard our voice, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt. Now we're at Kadesh, a town on your border's edge. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We won't cross field or vineyard, or drink well water. We'll stay on the King's Highway, not turning right or left, until we've passed through your territory. 18 Edom said to him, "You will not pass through me, or I'll come out against you with the sword." 19 Israel's people told him, 'We'll take the highway. If we or our herds drink your water, we'll pay for it. Just let us cross on foot, nothing more.' 20 But he said, "You will not pass through." Edom came against him with great numbers and a strong hand. 21 So Edom refused to let Israel pass through his territory, and Israel turned away from him.
Aaron Is Gathered to His People
22 The whole community of the children of Israel set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 At Mount Hor, on Edom's border, our Father said to Moses and Aaron,
24 Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land I gave the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. b b v24 "Gathered to his people" is a gentle expression meaning Aaron would die and join his ancestors; used again in verse 26. 25 "Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up Mount Hor." 26 Strip Aaron of his garments, dress Eleazar his son in them; Aaron will be gathered to his people and die there.
27 Moses did as our Father commanded, and they went up Mount Hor as the whole community watched. 28 Moses stripped Aaron's garments and dressed his son Eleazar in them. Aaron died there atop the mountain; Moses and Eleazar went down. 29 The whole community saw Aaron had died, and Israel's whole house mourned him thirty days.
