# Numbers 20 đ: Water from the Rock at Meribah
[[đ Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-Numbers Overview]] | [[Numbers 19]] | [[Numbers 21]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Israelites Complain Again
[[#Verse 01.]] Then the entire community of Israel entered the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.
[[#Verse 02.]]Â And there was no water for the community, and so they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] The people contended with Moses, saying, âIf only we had died when our brothers died before the Lord!
[[#Verse 03]] The people contended with Moses, saying, âIf only we had died when our brothers died before the Lord!Â
[[#Verse 04.]] Why have you brought up the Lordâs community into this wilderness? So that we and our cattle should die here?Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Why have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!â
### Moses Responds
[[#Verse 06.]] So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting. They then threw themselves down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
[[#Verse 08.]] âTake the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink.â
[[#Verse 09.]] So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as he commanded him.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, âListen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?âÂ
[[#Verse 11.]]Â Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too.
### The Lordâs Judgment
[[#Verse 12.]] Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, âBecause you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.â
[[#Verse 13.]] These are the waters of Meribah, because the Israelites contended with the Lord, and his holiness was maintained among them.
### Rejection by the Edomites
[[#Verse 14.]]  Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: âThus says your brother Israel: âYou know all the hardships we have experienced,Â
[[#Verse 15.]] how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] So when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent a messenger, and has brought us up out of Egypt. Now we are here in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your country.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well. We will go by the Kingâs Highway; we will not turn to the right or the left until we have passed through your region.ââ
[[#Verse 18.]] But Edom said to him, âYou will not pass through me, or I will come out against you with the sword.âÂ
[[#Verse 19.]] Then the Israelites said to him, âWe will go along the highway, and if we or our cattle drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We will only pass through on our feet, without doing anything else.â
[[#Verse 20.]] But he said, âYou may not pass through.â Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful force.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.
[[#Verse 21]] So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.
### Aaronâs Death
[[#Verse 22.]] So the entire company of Israelites traveled from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom. He said:Â
[[#Verse 24.]] âAaron will be gathered to his ancestors, for he will not enter into the land I have given to the Israelites because both of you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.Â
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up on Mount Hor.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] Remove Aaronâs priestly garments and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors and will die there.â
[[#Verse 27.]] So Moses did as the Lord commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.Â
[[#Verse 28.]]Â And Moses removed Aaronâs garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.Â
[[#Verse 29.]]Â When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Miriam died and was buried at Kadesh (20:1).
2. Meribah means "quarreling" (20:13).
3. Moses called the people "rebels" and struck the rock twice (20:10-11).
4. God still gave water even though Moses disobeyed (20:11).
5. God said Moses and Aaron failed to treat Him as holy before Israel (20:12).
6. Psalm 106:32-33 says Moses spoke rashly because the people made him bitter.
7. Edom descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, which is why Moses calls Israel "your brother" (20:14).
8. Moses asked to travel on the King's Highway, a major ancient trade route east of the Jordan (20:17).
9. Aaron's priestly garments were placed on Eleazar before Aaron died (20:28).
10. Numbers 33:38 says Aaron died in the fortieth year after the exodus.
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Rock who gives living water. Water flowed from the rock at Kadesh (20:11), and Paul says the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). Jesus offers living water to all who thirst (John 7:37-38).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Miriam died, the water ran out, and the people quarreled, all in a few verses (20:1-3). How do grief and hardship affect how we treat each other?
2. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but he struck it twice in anger (20:8-11). Why did God take this so seriously (20:12)?
3. Edom refused to let their brother Israel pass (20:14-21). How should we respond when people close to us refuse to help?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 8: Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give water.
- đ verse 12: Moses and Aaron did not trust the Lord or treat Him as holy before the people.
- đ verses 28-29: Aaron dies on Mount Hor, and Israel mourns for thirty days.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Exodus 17#Verse 05.|Exodus 17:5-6]] - Moses strikes the rock at Horeb.
- đ [[Psalm 106#Verse 32.|Psalm 106:32-33]] - Moses spoke rashly at Meribah.
- đ [[Deuteronomy 32#Verse 51.|Deuteronomy 32:51]] - You broke faith with Me at Meribah.
- đ [[1 Corinthians 10#Verse 04.|1 Corinthians 10:4]] - The rock was Christ.
- đ [[John 07#Verse 37.|John 7:37-38]] - Rivers of living water.
## đ Devotional Reflection
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đ Internal Notes