Chapter 20

Then came⁴ the children of Israel, [even] the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode⁴ in Kadesh; and Miriam died⁴ there, and was buried¹¹ there.

And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together¹¹ against Moses and against Aaron.

And the people chode⁴ with Moses, and spake,⁴ saying,² Would God that we had died¹ when our brethren died² before the LORD!

And why have ye brought⁵² up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die² there?

And wherefore have ye made us to come up⁵² out of Egypt, to bring⁵³ 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.²

And Moses and Aaron went⁴ from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell⁴ upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared¹¹ unto them.

And the LORD spake¹⁷ unto Moses, saying,²

Take³ the rod, and gather thou the assembly together,⁵⁴ thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak¹⁴ ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth¹ his water, and thou shalt bring forth⁵² to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.⁵²

And Moses took⁴ the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded¹⁴ him.

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together⁵⁵ before the rock, and he said⁴ unto them, Hear³ now, ye rebels;⁶ must we fetch you water out⁵⁵ of this rock?

And Moses lifted up⁵⁵ his hand, and with his rod he smote⁵⁵ the rock twice: and the water came out⁴ abundantly, and the congregation drank,⁴ and their beasts [also].

And the LORD spake⁴ unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed⁵² me not, to sanctify⁵³ me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring⁵⁵ this congregation into the land which I have given¹ them.

This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove¹ with the LORD, and he was sanctified¹¹ in them.

And Moses sent⁴ messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith¹ thy brother Israel, Thou knowest¹ all the travail that hath befallen¹ us:

How our fathers went down⁴ into Egypt, and we have dwelt⁴ in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed⁵⁵ us, and our fathers:

And when we cried⁴ unto the LORD, he heard⁴ our voice, and sent⁴ an angel, and hath brought us forth⁵⁵ out of Egypt: and, behold, we [are] in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Let us pass,⁴ I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass⁴ through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink⁴ [of] the water of the wells: we will go⁴ by the king's [high] way, we will not turn⁴ to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed⁴ thy borders.

And Edom said⁴ unto him, Thou shalt not pass⁴ by me, lest I come out⁴ against² thee with the sword.

And the children of Israel said⁴ unto him, We will go⁴ by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink⁴ of thy water, then I will pay^{1 4377} for it: I will only, without [doing] any thing [else], go through⁴ on my feet.

And he said,⁴ Thou shalt not go through.⁴ And Edom came out⁴ against² him with much people, and with a strong hand.

Thus Edom refused¹⁷ to give² Israel passage² through his border: wherefore Israel turned⁴ away from him.

And the children of Israel, [even] the whole congregation, journeyed⁴ from Kadesh, and came⁴ unto mount Hor.

And the LORD spake⁴ unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,²

Aaron shall be gathered¹¹ unto his people: for he shall not enter⁴ into the land which I have given¹ unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled¹ against my word at the water of Meribah.

Take³ Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up⁵⁴ unto mount Hor:

And strip⁵⁴ Aaron of his garments, and put⁵² them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered¹¹ [unto his people], and shall die¹ there.

And Moses did⁴ as the LORD commanded:¹⁴ and they went up⁴ into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

And Moses stripped⁵⁵ Aaron of his garments, and put⁵⁵ them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died⁴ there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down⁴ from the mount.

And when all the congregation saw⁴ that Aaron was dead,¹ they mourned⁴ for Aaron thirty days, [even] all the house of Israel.