Numbers
Chapter 20
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Leningrad Codex, through the Open Scriptures Westminster Leningrad Codex. The written consonants are printed. A Masoretic reading is footnoted when it differs. No Dead Sea reading was substituted unless it was read from a fragment. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Greek, Syriac, and Latin versions are witnesses, not the default.
A dotted word is a harder one. Point at it, or tap it, for a short definition.
1The sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there, and she was buried there.
2There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and against Aaron.
3The people contended with Moses and said, If only we had expired when our brothers expired before God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary..
4Why have you brought God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary.’s assembly into this wilderness, for us to die there, we and our livestock?
5Why did you bring us up from Egypt, to bring us to this bad place? It is not a place of seed, or fig, or vine, or pomegranate, and there is no water to drink.
6Moses and Aaron went from the face of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces, and the glory of God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. appeared to them.
7God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. spoke to Moses, saying,
8Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give its water. You shall bring water out of the rock for them, and you shall give the congregation and their livestock a drink.
9Moses took the staff from before God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary., as he had commanded him.
10Moses and Aaron assembled the assembly in front of the rock, and he said to them, Hear, please, you rebels. Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?
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- Translation
Hammorim is “you rebels,” from the verb “to rebel.” The question is Moses’ own: “Shall we bring water out.” Yahweh had said to speak to the rock.
11Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and much water came out, and the congregation and their livestock drank.
12God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. said to Moses and to Aaron, Because you did not trust me, to set me apart before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.
13These are the waters of Meribah, where the sons of Israel contended with God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary., and he was set apart among them.
Notes (1)Hide notes
- Translation
Meribah is built from riv, “they contended.” Vayyiqqadesh bam is “he was set apart among them,” treated as holy.
14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: This is what your brother Israel says. You know all the hardship that found us.
15Our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many days, and the Egyptians did evil to us and to our fathers.
16We cried out to God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary., and he heard our voice, and he sent a messenger and brought us out of Egypt. Look, we are at Kadesh, a city at the edge of your border.
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- Translation
Mal’akh here is a messenger. The verse does not name which messenger. Hinneh is “look.”
17Let us pass, please, through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, and we will not drink water from a well. We will go by the king’s road. We will not turn to the right or the left until we have passed your border.
18Edom said to him, You shall not pass through me, or I will come out against you with the sword.
19The sons of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway. If I drink your water, I and my livestock, I will give its price. Only let there be no dispute. On foot I will pass through.
20He said, You shall not pass. And Edom came out against him with a heavy people and with a strong hand.
21Edom refused to let Israel pass through his border, and Israel turned away from him.
22They set out from Kadesh, and the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
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- Translation
Hor hahar is Hor, the mountain. “Mount Hor” is the English for that pair.
23God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. said to Moses and to Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying,
24Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not come into the land that I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against my mouth at the waters of Meribah.
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up Mount Hor.
26Strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron shall be gathered and shall die there.
27Moses did as God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. commanded. They went up Mount Hor before the eyes of the whole congregation.
28Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
29The whole congregation saw that Aaron had expired, and they wept for Aaron thirty days, all the house of Israel.