Chapter Twenty
The Death of Miriam
20:1 And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.
The text refers to the people of Israel arriving back at the wilderness of Zin in the first month (see Numbers 13:21), however, this “time stamp” is lacking any reference to a year. There is some debate as to which year this chapter actually records. Those that challenge the chronology of the book of Numbers believe that the events of this chapter occurred near the end of their wilderness trek, some forty years later. This conclusion is based on the Aaron’s death being reported in verses 22-29 and then seeing in Numbers 33:38, “And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the LORD and died there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.”
The city or region of Kadesh (also known as Kadesh-barnea, see Numbers 32:8) in the southern part of the wilderness of Zin (approximately 50 miles southwest of Beersheba)[1] was regularly visited by the Israelites before entering the Promised Land (see Numbers 33:36-37). After Miriam and Aaron questioned Moses’ leadership and God intervened with Miriam being inflicted with leprosy (see Numbers chapter 12), very little is reported about her until her death in Kadesh.
No Water to be Found
20:2 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4 Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them, 7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
No longer in Kadesh they once again travel into an area that has no water. And, once again, the people assemble against Moses and Aaron saying, “If only we had died in the LORD’s presence with our brothers! Why have you brought the congregation of the LORD’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!” (Numbers 20:3-5, NLT) They begin their rant wishing they had died in one of God’s judgments and then complain that they were nowhere near any place to grow grain, figs, grapes, or pomegranates. They desire someplace to settle down, perhaps they did not fully understand the gravity of the judgment against them when God told them that only the next generation would be allowed into the Promised Land (meaning they were not going to settle anywhere that they might not want to leave).
Moses and Aaron immediately went and fell prostrate before God. The glory of God appeared to them, and God told Moses what to do. Like the last time they were there in this region, Moses was to take his staff and bring the people to the rock and then speak to the rock asking it to bring forth water and it will bring enough water out to give everyone and their livestock water to drink, thus demonstrating the provision and grace of God.
The location is given in verse 13 as Meribah (Hebrew ‘merî·ḇā(h)’[2] means to quarrel), this is the same name given to the area around the rock at Horeb, the location where Moses struck the rock and water came gushing out, named there for the same reason; the people quarreled there too (see Exodus 17:1-7). Since it is not likely to be the same location, the name is often referred to as Meribah-kadesh, to differentiate.
Moses Disobeys and Strikes the Rock
20:10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.
Moses did as God instructed and gathered the people together around the rock. He called them ‘rebels’ (Hebrew word ‘mō·rîm’,[3] meaning to be rebellious, seen here for the first time in Scripture) and asks them, “shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” In this and most translations the response sounds like a sarcastic question implying God was angry with them. Instead of asking for water to come from the rock as God instructed, Moses struck the rock with his staff twice. Water did come out in great abundance, and everyone was able to drink, but he had disobeyed God. As a result of him striking the rock, God told Moses and Aaron that they will not be able to bring the people of Israel into the Promised Land. It is important to note that Godly people and leaders are not exempt from punishment, God’s grace and provision should never be taken for granted nor become an excuse for complacency.
The location was to be referred to as the “Waters of Meribah,”[4] the place where the people of Israel quarreled with YHWH and where He demonstrated to them His holiness.
Considerations
When most people read this story, they either respond with shock or anger, wondering how could God be so cruel to Moses? First, we need to realize that Moses did indeed disobey God. What may sound to us as a minor infraction, was a serious misrepresentation. Moses was called to be the leader and God’s liaison; He was never to in any way incorrectly represent God to the people, just as Christians are not to overstep their boundaries and give the wrong impression about God and teach something other than the truth. Plus, we know that leaders, like teachers, will be held to a higher standard, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1)
Moses made the people think that God was angry with them, and because he did not believe what God said, and did not represent Him as being, “holy in the eyes of the people of Israel” (verse 12b), he struck the rock. We may need to be reminded that God knows the hearts and minds of all people, if God states that Moses did not believe Him, it would be the truth, we cannot fool God!
There are some that point out that the two stories involving the need for water and the quarreling people (the first story from Exodus 17:1-7 and this story here in Numbers 20:2-13) have similarities that could have provided a wonderful lesson that had the potential of modeling the first and second coming of Jesus. We see that water first arrived after the Rock was struck, a representation of salvation made possible through Jesus dying on the cross (the Rock[5] that was struck). Then based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:37-39, it is believed that the second coming of Jesus will be in response to being asked to return when His people, after recognizing that He is indeed the Messiah many years later, call for Him to return (see also Hosea 5:15). A scenario that could have been modeled here in Numbers if Moses obeyed.
Edom Refuses Israel to Pass
20:14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. 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 But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.” 19 And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” 20 But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
Moses sends a message to the king of Edom (the nation formed from the line of Esau, Jacob’s brother) asking for passage through their land. In the message Moses informs the king about their time in Egypt and how they were delivered and now were in Kadesh. He then asks the king for permission to pass through, promising that they will stay on the highway and not eat or drink anything that belongs to the Edomites. The king refuses Moses’ request and threatens to fight if they try. Israel countered with the offer, that if they consume anything along the way they will pay for it. Not only did Edom refuse again, but they also came out with a large army, so Israel stayed out and turned away.
The term “King’s Highway” (or road) can be found in several nation’s histories (Akkadian, Assyrian, etc.), some believe the history of the road predates 2000 BC. It was considered a major trade route and may have been the same route the kings used during King Chedorlaomer’s raid (see Genesis 14:1-16).
The Death of Aaron
20:22 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, 24 “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 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. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.
Moving from Kadesh, the people of Israel come to Mount Hor. This name is referenced twelve times in the Old Testament and, except for only one reference found in Deuteronomy, all are found in the book of Numbers. However, since the name will later be associated with a mountain near the northern border of Israel (see Numbers 34:7-8), this mountain could not be the same location as they are still near the border of Edom further south.
Since Aaron shared in Moses’ guilt regarding the striking of the rock at Meribah, he was also not going to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Aaron was to die there on Mount Hor (see commentary under Genesis 25:7-11 regarding the phrase “gathered to his people”). Moses, Aaron, and his son Eleazar went to the top of Mount Hor in the sight of all the people. When there Moses removed the high priest garments off Aaron and put them on Eleazar and then Aaron died. The date is recorded in Numbers 33:38 as being the first day of the fifth month, forty years after leaving Egypt. Not much is recorded here, just the basic facts. When they returned off the mountain, the people could see that Aaron was not with them, they mourned Aaron’s death for thirty days.
Considerations
Some believe that this may have been an exceptionally emotional experience for the people as they may have felt guilt regarding their quarreling. Their thinking might have been, if they had not rebelled, Moses and Aaron would have not needed to intercede for them, and Moses would not have been angry with them and then probably would not have struct the rock and Aaron would still be alive. But that would only be speculation.
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[1] See commentary under Genesis 21:13-14; 21:22-34; Numbers 13:21-24.
[2] Strong’s Hebrew 4809.
[3] Strong’s Hebrew 4784.
[4] Strong’s Hebrew 4809.
[5] See Considerations under Exodus 17:7 regarding “Jesus is the Rock.”