Numbers

The fourth book of Moses, called Numbers, chapter 20, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 20 New English Translation

The Israelites Complain Again

   1 Then 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.
   2 And there was no water for the community, and so they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people contended with Moses, saying, "If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! 4 Why have you brought up the LORD's community into this wilderness? So that we and our cattle should die here? 5 Why 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!"

Moses Responds

   6 So 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. 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 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."
   9 So Moses took the staff from before the LORD, just as he commanded him. 10 Then 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?" 11 Then 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.

The LORD's Judgment

   12 Then 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."
   13 These are the waters of Meribah, because the Israelites contended with the LORD, and his holiness was maintained among them.

Rejection by the Edomites

   14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardships we have experienced, 15 how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly. 16 So 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. 17 Please 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.'"
   18 But Edom said to him, "You will not pass through me, or I will come out against you with the sword." 19 Then 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."
   20 But he said, "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful force. 21 So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.

Aaron's Death

   22 So the entire company of Israelites traveled from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom. He said: 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. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up on Mount Hor. 26 Remove Aaron's priestly garments and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors and will die there."
   27 So Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. 28 And 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. 29 When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.

King James Version

   1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
   2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
   3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
   4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
   5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto 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.
   6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
   7 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
   8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
   9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
   10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
   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.
   12 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
   13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
   14 ¶ And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
   15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
   16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
   17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy 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 thy borders.
   18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
   19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
   20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
   21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
   22 ¶ And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
   23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
   24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
   25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
   26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
   27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
   28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
   29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.