Numbers 20, The Waters of Meribah

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

After the rebellion of Korah, and some more regulations regarding sacrifices and ceremonial uncleanliness, we return to a history of the travels in the wilderness.

Numbers 20:1, Death of Miriam

In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron (and a prophetess in Exodus 15:20-21) dies in the desert.

Numbers 20:2-5, No water!

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"

 

Once again, the people whine and complain. They have run out of water. They and their animals face death and so, the thirsty people come to Moses.

Numbers 20:6-8, Speak to the rock

Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

The LORD said to Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."

Moses is to take his staff and go to a certain rock and speak to it and watch water come out of it. (It is not clear what role his staff plays.)

Numbers 20:9-11, Struck twice

So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

Moses gathers the people at the rock and strikes it twice with his staff. Water pours out and everyone drinks.

Moses appears to be striking the rock in anger, and uses the first person plural term "we", as he strikes the rock. Is he claiming that he can bring out the water. Either his temper or his claims to power (or both) will be disciplined.

Numbers 20:12-13

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.

Apparently Moses did not truly trust YHWH. Maybe he did more than he was supposed to. For his lack of trust, he, like the others, will not enter the land of Canaan

Numbers 20:14-20, Ediom

 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. 

"Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory."

But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword."

The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot--nothing else."
          20   Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.

Moses asks to travel through Edom, east of the Jordan River. (As a descendant of Jacob, he calls the Edomites, that is, the descendants of Esau, "brothers".) In his request, Moses makes it clear that they will march through without damaging anything or causing any problems. But his request is refused. Indeed the Edomites put together a large army to block them. (This refusal will be mentioned later by various prophets in their accusations against this kingdom.

Numbers 20:21-22, To Mount Hor

Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them. The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.

The Israelites avoid conflict with Edom and travel a different route.

Numbers 20:23-29, Death of Aaron

At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."

Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.
          28   

Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Aaron dies on Mount Hor. His mantel is (literally) passed on to his son Eleazar.

Moses has now, around the waters of Meribah, lost both sister and brother.

First published September 23, 2025; updated September 23, 2025