American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 20
1
Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
Reference
2
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
Reference
3
And the people strived with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would God that we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!
Reference
4
And why have you brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 17:3
5
And why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 16:14
6
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell on their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
Reference
Glory
Numbers 16:19
Parallel theme
Numbers 16:22
Numbers 16:45
References Moses
Numbers 14:5
Numbers 16:4
7
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
8
Take the rod, and gather you the assembly together, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak you to the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock: so you shall give the congregation and their beasts drink.
Reference
9
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
Reference
References Lord
Numbers 17:10
10
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Reference
Parallel theme
James 3:2
11
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:4
Deuteronomy 8:15
Numbers 20:8
Psalm 78:16
1 Chronicles 15:13
Matthew 28:20
James 1:20
Hosea 13:5
1 Samuel 15:24
References Moses
Exodus 17:6
12
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 27:14
References Israel
Numbers 20:24
References Lord
Deuteronomy 1:37
Ezekiel 36:23
13
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
Reference
📍 Meribah 1
14
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus said your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us:
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 23:7
15
How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelled in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
Reference
16
And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and has brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border:
Reference
17
Let us pass, I pray you, through your country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.
Reference
📍 King s Highway
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 2:27
18
And Edom said to him, You shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with the sword.
19
And the children of Israel said to him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of your water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet.
Reference
20
And he said, You shall not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
Reference
21
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: why Israel turned away from him.
Reference
22
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came to mount Hor.
Reference
📍 Mount Hor 1
23
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
📍 Mount Hor 1
24
Aaron shall be gathered to his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
Reference
📍 Meribah 1
25
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to mount Hor:
📍 Mount Hor 1
26
And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 20:24
27
And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
📍 Mount Hor 1
28
And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 10:6
29
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Reference
References Israel
Deuteronomy 34:8
Summary of Numbers 20
The book of Numbers chapter 20 contains several significant events that occur towards the end of Israel’s wilderness sojourn. The death of Miriam, a complaint by the people of Israel concerning the lack of water, Moses striking the rock instead of speaking to it as the Lord had commanded, and Edom’s refusal to give Israel passage through their land occur. The death of Aaron and the investiture of his priestly garments and office to his son Eleazar conclude the chapter.
The chapter opens with the Israelites camping in the wilderness of Zin. Here, Miriam dies and is buried. Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron and had played a significant role in Israel’s history from the time they were in Egypt. This is the second loss of a leader for Israel since leaving Egypt as Aaron would also soon pass away.
Shortly after Miriam’s death, there is no water for the congregation. The people grumble against Moses and Aaron. The people ask why Moses and Aaron have brought them up from Egypt to die in the wilderness with their children and animals. The people’s murmuring is the same as it was when they first left Egypt. They did not have faith that Moses and Aaron could get them out of Egypt or that God would provide for them in the wilderness.
Moses and Aaron are summoned before the congregation to the door of the tabernacle. They lay prostrate before the Lord, and the glory of the Lord appears to them. God commands Moses to take his rod and assemble the congregation with Aaron before the rock. God tells Moses to speak to the rock before them, and water shall come out of it for the congregation and their beasts to drink.
Moses takes the rod as God had commanded, and he and Aaron assemble the congregation before the rock. However, instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, Moses admonishes the people and says, “Hear now, ye rebels; we will bring you water out of this rock.” Moses then smites the rocks with his rod twice, and water comes out of them.
The congregation and their beasts drink, and the people’s thirst is slaked. However, God tells Moses and Aaron that they have not had faith in him and have not sanctified him before the congregation. Moses and Aaron will not bring the congregation into the promised land because of their disbelief. Moses and Aaron will die in the wilderness.
This is one of the most significant incidents in Moses’ later life. He has had to deal with many rebellions and unfaithfulness of the people, yet he still cannot bring himself to do what God has asked. Moses strikes the rocks with his rod, and although the water comes out, Moses and Aaron are still held accountable for their actions.
This place is called the waters of Meribah because the children of Israel strove with the Lord. God commanded that this be a memorial to the children of Israel concerning the importance of obeying him.
The children of Israel sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom demanding passage through their land. The messengers said that they had come through the wilderness from Egypt. They said that God had heard their prayers and brought them to this place. They promised to keep off the main roads and not take from the fields or the vineyards or the wells and that if they did take any of these things, they would pay for them.
Edom refused to grant them passage. They sent messengers back saying that Israel was too numerous and that they could not pass through their land. However, the children of Israel sent messengers saying they would keep to the King’s Highway and not take anything from the land. Again, Edom refused their request and came out against them with a great army. Israel turns away from Edom and takes another route because they cannot pass through their land.
Edom is closely related to Israel because Esau is the brother of Jacob, and Edom is the son of Esau. The people of Edom are the descendants of Esau, and the people of Israel are the descendants of Jacob. However, Edom will not let Israel pass through their land despite being related to them.
The last part of the chapter deals with the death of Aaron. God told Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s son Eleazar to go up Mount Hor. God said to Aaron that he would die there and that Moses and Aaron would not bring the congregation into the promised land because of the rebellion of the people at the waters of Meribah.
Moses takes Aaron and Eleazar up the mountain, and there Moses removes Aaron’s priestly garments and puts them on his son Eleazar. Aaron dies on the mountain, and Eleazar takes over his father’s duties as high priest. The children of Israel mourn for Aaron for thirty days when they learn of his death.
Aaron was the first high priest, and he had been with Moses from the time Israel left Egypt. His death is a great loss to the people because they had not known another priest. Eleazar must now take over Aaron’s duties as high priest, and the burden of leading the people into the promised land falls upon him.
Numbers chapter 20 is a chapter of losses, frustrations, failures, and the march towards Canaan. Miriam dies, Moses and Aaron are told they will not be allowed into the promised land, Edom refuses to let Israel pass through their land, and Aaron dies before the nation reaches its destination. However, the march towards Canaan continues.
The chapter also reveals God’s faithfulness to his people despite their failures. The people lacked faith, but God still provided for them. When the people complained about having no water, God provided it for them, yet Moses and Aaron were still held accountable for their unfaithfulness. Their position as leaders of the people did not excuse them from their sins.
By the end of the chapter, Israel has lost three of its leaders from the older generation: Miriam had died, and Aaron had died, and Moses knew he too would soon die before Israel reached the promised land. The burden of leadership was now being transferred to the younger generation as Israel drew near to the promised land.
The chapter opens with the Israelites camping in the wilderness of Zin. Here, Miriam dies and is buried. Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron and had played a significant role in Israel’s history from the time they were in Egypt. This is the second loss of a leader for Israel since leaving Egypt as Aaron would also soon pass away.
Shortly after Miriam’s death, there is no water for the congregation. The people grumble against Moses and Aaron. The people ask why Moses and Aaron have brought them up from Egypt to die in the wilderness with their children and animals. The people’s murmuring is the same as it was when they first left Egypt. They did not have faith that Moses and Aaron could get them out of Egypt or that God would provide for them in the wilderness.
Moses and Aaron are summoned before the congregation to the door of the tabernacle. They lay prostrate before the Lord, and the glory of the Lord appears to them. God commands Moses to take his rod and assemble the congregation with Aaron before the rock. God tells Moses to speak to the rock before them, and water shall come out of it for the congregation and their beasts to drink.
Moses takes the rod as God had commanded, and he and Aaron assemble the congregation before the rock. However, instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, Moses admonishes the people and says, “Hear now, ye rebels; we will bring you water out of this rock.” Moses then smites the rocks with his rod twice, and water comes out of them.
The congregation and their beasts drink, and the people’s thirst is slaked. However, God tells Moses and Aaron that they have not had faith in him and have not sanctified him before the congregation. Moses and Aaron will not bring the congregation into the promised land because of their disbelief. Moses and Aaron will die in the wilderness.
This is one of the most significant incidents in Moses’ later life. He has had to deal with many rebellions and unfaithfulness of the people, yet he still cannot bring himself to do what God has asked. Moses strikes the rocks with his rod, and although the water comes out, Moses and Aaron are still held accountable for their actions.
This place is called the waters of Meribah because the children of Israel strove with the Lord. God commanded that this be a memorial to the children of Israel concerning the importance of obeying him.
The children of Israel sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom demanding passage through their land. The messengers said that they had come through the wilderness from Egypt. They said that God had heard their prayers and brought them to this place. They promised to keep off the main roads and not take from the fields or the vineyards or the wells and that if they did take any of these things, they would pay for them.
Edom refused to grant them passage. They sent messengers back saying that Israel was too numerous and that they could not pass through their land. However, the children of Israel sent messengers saying they would keep to the King’s Highway and not take anything from the land. Again, Edom refused their request and came out against them with a great army. Israel turns away from Edom and takes another route because they cannot pass through their land.
Edom is closely related to Israel because Esau is the brother of Jacob, and Edom is the son of Esau. The people of Edom are the descendants of Esau, and the people of Israel are the descendants of Jacob. However, Edom will not let Israel pass through their land despite being related to them.
The last part of the chapter deals with the death of Aaron. God told Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s son Eleazar to go up Mount Hor. God said to Aaron that he would die there and that Moses and Aaron would not bring the congregation into the promised land because of the rebellion of the people at the waters of Meribah.
Moses takes Aaron and Eleazar up the mountain, and there Moses removes Aaron’s priestly garments and puts them on his son Eleazar. Aaron dies on the mountain, and Eleazar takes over his father’s duties as high priest. The children of Israel mourn for Aaron for thirty days when they learn of his death.
Aaron was the first high priest, and he had been with Moses from the time Israel left Egypt. His death is a great loss to the people because they had not known another priest. Eleazar must now take over Aaron’s duties as high priest, and the burden of leading the people into the promised land falls upon him.
Numbers chapter 20 is a chapter of losses, frustrations, failures, and the march towards Canaan. Miriam dies, Moses and Aaron are told they will not be allowed into the promised land, Edom refuses to let Israel pass through their land, and Aaron dies before the nation reaches its destination. However, the march towards Canaan continues.
The chapter also reveals God’s faithfulness to his people despite their failures. The people lacked faith, but God still provided for them. When the people complained about having no water, God provided it for them, yet Moses and Aaron were still held accountable for their unfaithfulness. Their position as leaders of the people did not excuse them from their sins.
By the end of the chapter, Israel has lost three of its leaders from the older generation: Miriam had died, and Aaron had died, and Moses knew he too would soon die before Israel reached the promised land. The burden of leadership was now being transferred to the younger generation as Israel drew near to the promised land.