Numbers 20 :: New English Translation (NET)

Death of Miriam

(Exo 17:1–7 )

Num 20:1Then the entire community of Israel entered the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

Num 20:2

Num 20:2And there was no water for the community, and so they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron.

Num 20:3

Num 20:3The people contended with Moses, saying, "If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!

Num 20:4

Num 20:4Why have you brought up the LORD's community into this wilderness? So that we and our cattle should die here?

Num 20:5

Num 20:5Why have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!"

Num 20:6

Num 20:6So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting. They then threw themselves down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

Num 20:7

Num 20:7Then the LORD spoke to Moses:

The Water of Meribah

Num 20:8

Num 20:8"Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink."

Num 20:9

Num 20:9So Moses took the staff from before the LORD, just as he commanded him.

Num 20:10

Num 20:10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?"

Num 20:11

Num 20:11Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too.

Num 20:12

Num 20:12Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them."

Num 20:13

Num 20:13These are the waters of Meribah, because the Israelites contended with the LORD, and his holiness was maintained among them.

Num 20:14

Num 20:14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardships we have experienced,

Num 20:15

Num 20:15how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.

Num 20:16

Num 20:16So when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent a messenger, and has brought us up out of Egypt. Now we are here in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your country.

Num 20:17

Num 20:17Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well. We will go by the King's Highway; we will not turn to the right or the left until we have passed through your region.'"

Num 20:18

Num 20:18But Edom said to him, "You will not pass through me, or I will come out against you with the sword."

Num 20:19

Num 20:19Then the Israelites said to him, "We will go along the highway, and if we or our cattle drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We will only pass through on our feet, without doing anything else."

Num 20:20

Num 20:20But he said, "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful force.

Num 20:21

Num 20:21So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.

Num 20:22

Num 20:22So the entire company of Israelites traveled from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.

Death of Aaron

Num 20:23

Num 20:23And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom. He said:

Num 20:24

Num 20:24"Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors, for he will not enter into the land I have given to the Israelites because both of you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

Num 20:25

Num 20:25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up on Mount Hor.

Num 20:26

Num 20:26Remove Aaron's priestly garments and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors and will die there."

Num 20:27

Num 20:27So Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.

Num 20:28

Num 20:28And Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Num 20:29

Num 20:29When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.

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Pericope

Numbers Chapter 20 — Additional Translations: