Min Shu Ji_Chapter 20

In the first month, all the Israelites came to the wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.

The assembly gathered against Moses and Aaron without water to drink.

The people quarreled with Moses, saying, Our brothers died before the Lord, and we wished we could die with them.

Why did you bring the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, causing us and our livestock to die here?

Why are you forcing us out of Egypt and bringing us to this bad place? This place is not easy to sow, and there are no fig trees, grape trees, pomegranate trees, and no water to drink.

Moses and Aaron left the assembly and went to the entrance of the tent of meeting, bowing down to the ground. The glory of the Lord appeared to them.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Take your staff and gather the assembly with your brother Aaron, and command the rock to send out water in front of them. The water will flow out of the rock and be given to the assembly and their livestock to drink.

So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him.

Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly to the rock. Moses said, “Listen to me, you rebels, will I make water flow out of this rock for you?”?

Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and a lot of water flowed out. The assembly and their livestock drank.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you do not believe in me and do not sanctify me in the eyes of the Israelites, you will not bring this congregation into the land I have given them.

This water is called the water of Meribah (which means strife), because the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and the Lord appeared holy before them.

Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying, This is what your brothers the Israelites have said: ‘All the difficulties we have encountered,

Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we stayed there for a long time. The Egyptians mistreated our ancestors and us,

When we cried out to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent messengers to bring us out of Egypt. You all know about this. Now, we are in the city of Kadesh on your border.

Please allow us to pass through your land. We do not walk in the fields or vineyards, nor drink water from wells. We only follow the royal path, not turning to the left or right, until we have crossed your realm.

The king of Edom said, You shall not pass through my land, lest I go out with a sword against you.

The Israelites said, “We will go up the high road.”. If we and livestock drink your water, we will give you value. I don’t ask for anything else, just let us walk over.

The king of Edom said, You shall not pass through. He led many people out to attack the Israelites with a strong hand.

So the king of Edom refused to allow the Israelites to pass through his territory. So they turned around and left him.

The entire Israelite assembly set out from Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor.

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron on Mount Hor near the border of Edom, saying,

Aaron shall return to his people. He will not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites. Because in the waters of Milibah, you have disobeyed my life.

Take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor,

Take off Aaron’s holy robe and put it on his son Eleazar. Aaron will die there and belong to his ancestors.

Moses did as the Lord commanded him. The three of them went up Mount Hor in front of the congregation.

Moses took off Aaron’s holy robe and put it on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died at the top of the mountain. So Moses and Eleazar went down from the mountain.

The whole assembly, including all the Israelites, mourned for Aaron for thirty days when they saw that he had died.