Numbers 20
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 1407 BC – 1406 BC · Egypt & the Exodus · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
29 verses · 721 words · ~4 min read · ~5 min listen
Water from the Rock
1In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the Lord! 4Why have you brought the Lordʼs assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”
6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7And the Lord said to Moses, 8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
9So Moses took the staff from the Lordʼs presence, just as he had been commanded. 10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.
12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and He showed His holiness among them.
Edom Refuses Passage
14From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, 16and when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt.
Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the Kingʼs Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
18But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”
20But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. 21So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.
The Death of Aaron
22After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. 23And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24“Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. 26Remove Aaronʼs priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
27So Moses did as the Lord had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. 28After Moses had removed Aaronʼs garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
Footnotes (1)
- a v13 Meribah means quarreling; also in verse 24; see Exodus 17:7.
Study notes on this chapter · 1
The rock that followed them
Israel drank water from the rock at Horeb and again at Kadesh. Paul says that the spiritual rock that followed them was Christ. His words reflect a Jewish tradition about a water-giving rock, and he draws a lesson about Israel's failure despite these gifts.
When: Exodus and Numbers (wilderness period); 1 Corinthians, c. AD 55.
Ways people read this (3)
- Paul sees Christ as present with Israel in the wilderness, providing for them.
- Paul is reading the rock as a pattern: its provision of water corresponds to what Christ gives.
- Some interpreters connect the rock being struck once (Exodus) and then spoken to (Numbers 20) with Christ's single sacrifice.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.