Chapter 20
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 AO!
4Why have you brought AO’s 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 AO appeared to them.
7And AO 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 AO’s 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 with his staff twice so that a great amount of water gushed out and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.
12But AO 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 AO and He showed His holiness among them.
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 AO, 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 cut through any field or vineyard [or] drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s 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; 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.
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, AO 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 Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered [to his people] and will die there.”
27So Moses did as AO had commanded and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation.
28After Moses had removed Aaron’s 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.