Old Testament · Law

Numbers chapter 20

The entire Israelite community arrived at the Zin in the first month and settled at . That’s where died and was buried.But there was no water for the community, so they Moses and Aaron.The people Moses and said, “If only we had died when our relatives !”“Why did you bring Yahweh’s into this wilderness just to die here — us and our livestock?”“Why did you even bring us up out of Egypt to dump us in this ? There’s nothing growing here — no grain, no figs, no grapevines, no pomegranates — and there’s no water to drink!”Moses and Aaron stepped away from the crowd to the entrance of the and fell facedown. And the of Yahweh appeared to them.Yahweh said to Moses,“Take the and gather the community — you and your brother Aaron. Then right in front of them, and it will pour out its water. You’ll bring water out of the rock for them and give the community and their livestock something to drink.”So Moses took the staff , just as he had been told.Moses and Aaron gathered the community in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen up, you ! of this rock for you?”Then Moses raised his arm and with his staff. Water in huge quantities, and the whole community and their livestock drank.But Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t enough to show the Israelites that , you will not be the ones to bring this community into the land I’ve given them.”These are the waters of , where the Israelites argued with Yahweh, and where he showed them .Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Here’s what says: You know about all the hardship we’ve been through.Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there a long time. The Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.We cried out to Yahweh, and he heard our voice. He sent a and brought us out of Egypt. And now here we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.Please let us pass through your land. We won’t go through any fields or vineyards, and we won’t drink water from any wells. We’ll stick to the — we won’t turn right or left — until we’ve crossed through your territory.”But Edom said to him, “You’re not passing through here. If you try, I’ll come out and .”The Israelites said to him, “We’ll go along the , and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we’ll pay for it. We’re just asking to pass through on foot — nothing more.”But Edom said, “You are not coming through.” And Edom marched out against them with a , .Since Edom refused to let Israel pass through their territory, Israel from them.The entire Israelite community set out from Kadesh and arrived at .Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom’s territory,“Aaron is about to be . He will not enter the land I’ve given to the Israelites, because you both at the waters of Meribah.Take Aaron and his son and bring them up Mount Hor.Strip Aaron of his and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be there — he will die there.”Moses did exactly what Yahweh commanded. They climbed Mount Hor while .Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron . Then Moses and Eleazar came back down the mountain.When the entire community realized that Aaron had died, the whole for him for thirty days.