Numbers 20
1 The Israelites, the whole community, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 There was no water for the community, and they gathered against Moses and Aaron.
3 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!
4 Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here?
5 Why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this miserable place? It is not a place for grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
6 Moses and Aaron left the assembly and went to the entrance of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
7 The LORD spoke to Moses:
8 “Take the staff and gather the community—you and your brother Aaron. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give its water. You will bring water out of the rock for them and give the community and their livestock a drink.”
9 Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he had commanded him.
10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?”
11 Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff. A great amount of water came out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me and honor me as holy before the eyes of the Israelites, you will not lead this assembly into the land I have given them.”
13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and he showed himself holy among them.
14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: “This is what your brother Israel says: ‘You know all the hardship that has come upon us.
15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt for a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors.’”
16 “‘We cried out to the LORD, and he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, and we will not drink water from any well. We will travel along the king’s highway, turning neither right nor left, until we have passed through your territory.’”
18 Edom answered, “You may not pass through my land, or I will come out against you with the sword.”
19 The Israelites said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, I will pay for it. That is all; it is no hardship. Let me pass through on foot.”
20 He answered, “You may not pass through.” Edom came out against them with a large force and a strong hand.
21 So Edom refused to let Israel pass through its territory, and Israel turned away from them.
22 They set out from Kadesh, and the Israelites, the whole community, came to Mount Hor.
23 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom:
24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people, for he will not enter the land I have given the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.
25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.
26 Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
27 Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they went up Mount Hor before the eyes of the whole community.
28 Moses 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.
29 The whole community saw that Aaron had died, and all the house of Israel mourned Aaron for thirty days.
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