Numbers 20

The Death of Miriam

1 Then a the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in b Kadesh; and c Miriam died there and was buried there.

The Waters of Meribah

2 d Now there was no water for the congregation; e so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people f contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died g when our brethren died before the LORD! 4 h "Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? 5 "And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink." 6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and i they 1 fell on their faces. And j the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 k "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus l you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." 9 So Moses took the rod m from before the LORD as He commanded him.

Moses Strikes the Rock

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, n "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; o and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because p you did not believe Me, to q hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." 13 r This was the water of 2 Meribah, 3 because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them.

Edom Refuses Passage

14 s Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of t Edom. u "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15 v 'how our fathers went down to Egypt, w and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, x and the Egyptians 4 afflicted us and our fathers. 16 y 'When we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and z sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. 17 'Please a let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.' " 18 Then b Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword." 19 So the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, c then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more." 20 Then he said, d "You shall not pass through." So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom e refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel f turned away from him.

The Death of Aaron

22 Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from g Kadesh h 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, saying: 24 "Aaron shall 5 be i gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah. 25 j "Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 "and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there." 27 So Moses did just as the LORD commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 k Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and l Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron m thirty days.

  1. Cross References
    Numbers 13:21
    So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath.
    Numbers 33:36
    They moved from Ezion Geber and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
  2. Cross References
    Numbers 13:26
    Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 15:20
    Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
    Numbers 26:59
    The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 17:1
    Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
  5. Cross References
    Numbers 16:19
    And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.
    Numbers 16:42
    Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 17:2
    Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, "Give us water, that we may drink." So Moses said to them, "Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?
    Numbers 14:2
    And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 11:1
    Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.
    Numbers 11:33
    But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.
    Numbers 14:37
    Those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
    Numbers 16:31 - 35
    Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them.
    Numbers 16:49
    Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 17:3
    And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?
  9. Cross References
    Numbers 14:5
    Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
    Numbers 16:4
    So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face.
    Numbers 16:22
    Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?
    Numbers 16:45
    Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 14:10
    And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 4:17
    "And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."
    Exodus 4:20
    Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
    Exodus 17:5
    And the LORD said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.
    Exodus 17:6
    Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
  12. Cross References
    Nehemiah 9:15
    You gave them bread from heaven for their hunge...
    Psalms 78:15
    He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave ...
    Psalms 78:16
    He also brought streams out of the rock, And ca...
    Psalms 105:41
    He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ra...
    Isaiah 43:20
    The beast of the field will honor Me, The jacka...
    Isaiah 48:21
    And they did not thirst When He led them throug...
    1 Corinthians 10:4
    And all drank the same spiritual drink. For the...
  13. Cross References
    Numbers 17:10
    And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 106:33
    Because they rebelled against His Spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his lips.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 17:6
    Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
    Deuteronomy 8:15
    Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock.
    Psalms 78:16
    He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
    Isaiah 48:21
    And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.
    1 Corinthians 10:4
    And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
  16. Cross References
    Numbers 20:28
    Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put th...
    Numbers 27:14
    For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife...
    Deuteronomy 1:37
    The LORD was also angry with me for your sakes,...
    Deuteronomy 3:26
    But the LORD was angry with me on your account,...
    Deuteronomy 3:27
    Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes ...
    Deuteronomy 34:5
    So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in ...
  17. Cross References
    Leviticus 10:3
    And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace.
    Ezekiel 20:41
    I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles.
    Ezekiel 36:23
    And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
    1 Peter 3:15
    But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
  18. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:8
    And of Levi he said: " Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one, Whom You tested at Massah, And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah.
    Psalms 106:32
    They angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them.
  19. Cross References
    Judges 11:16
    For when Israel came up from Egypt, they walked through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
    Judges 11:17
    Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, "Please let me pass through your land." But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained in Kadesh.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 36:31 - 39
    Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel:
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:4
    And command the people, saying, "You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully.
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 46:6
    So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.
    Acts 7:15
    So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers.
  23. Cross References
    Exodus 12:40
    Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.
  24. Cross References
    Exodus 1:11
    Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.
    Deuteronomy 26:6
    But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us.
    Acts 7:19
    This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 2:23
    Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.
    Exodus 3:7
    And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
  26. Cross References
    Exodus 3:2
    And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
    Exodus 14:19
    And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.
  27. Cross References
    Numbers 21:22
    "Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory."
  28. Cross References
    Numbers 24:18
    And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly.
    Psalms 137:7
    Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, "Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!
    Ezekiel 25:12
    'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,"
    Ezekiel 25:13
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword.
  29. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:6
    You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.
    Deuteronomy 2:28
    You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink; only let me pass through on foot.
  30. Cross References
    Judges 11:17
    Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, "Please let me pass through your land." But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained in Kadesh.
  31. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:27
    Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will turn neither to the right nor to the left.
    Deuteronomy 2:30
    But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.
  32. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:8
    And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the plain, away from Elath and Ezion Geber, we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab.
    Judges 11:18
    And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
  33. Cross References
    Numbers 33:37
    They moved from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom.
  34. Cross References
    Numbers 21:4
    Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 25:8
    Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
    Deuteronomy 32:50
    And die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
  36. Cross References
    Numbers 33:38
    Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
    Deuteronomy 32:50
    And die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 29:29
    And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed in them and to be consecrated in them.
    Exodus 29:30
    That son who becomes priest in his place shall put them on for seven days, when he enters the tabernacle of meeting to minister in the holy place.
    Deuteronomy 10:6
    (Now the children of Israel journeyed from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died, and where he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his stead.
  38. Cross References
    Numbers 33:38
    Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
  39. Cross References
    Genesis 50:3
    Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
    Genesis 50:10
    Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.
    Deuteronomy 34:8
    And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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