1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring 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.
6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet.
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Chapter 20 of the book of Numbers in the KJV Holy Bible is a significant chapter that highlights several important events in the journey of the Israelites towards the Promised Land. This chapter is a continuation of the story of the Israelites' journey in the wilderness, which began in the book of Exodus. It primarily focuses on the actions of Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the Israelites, and their interactions with God and the people. Through this chapter, we see the constant testing of the faith and obedience of the Israelites, as well as the consequences of disobedience and lack of trust in God. The main themes of this chapter include faith, obedience, consequences of sin, and God's sovereignty.
The chapter begins by stating that the Israelites had arrived at the wilderness of Zin, where they settled in the city of Kadesh. It was during this time that Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, passed away. This event marks the end of an era, as Miriam had been a vital figure in the journey of the Israelites. She had played a significant role in saving Moses' life as a baby and had been a prophetess who led the Israelites in praise and worship of God. Her death was a significant loss to the Israelites and a reminder of the transient nature of life.
After Miriam's death, the Israelites faced yet another challenge. They had run out of water, and the people began to complain to Moses and Aaron, blaming them for bringing them into the wilderness to die. This was not the first time the Israelites had complained about a lack of water. However, instead of turning to God, they once again turned against their leaders, questioning their abilities and God's faithfulness. The people even longed to go back to Egypt, where they had an abundance of food and water, forgetting the harsh conditions and slavery they had endured. This was a clear indication of their lack of faith and trust in God's provision and their disobedience towards Him.
In response to the Israelites' complaints, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the Lord, demonstrating their humility and dependence on God. They sought God's guidance and direction, knowing that it was He who had brought them out of Egypt and had the power to provide for them. God then commanded them to take their rod and speak to the rock, and water would come out for the people to drink. However, in a moment of anger and frustration, Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it as God had instructed. This action may seem insignificant, but it had severe consequences for both Moses and Aaron.
God was displeased with Moses and Aaron's actions. He told them that because they did not believe in Him and did not sanctify Him in the eyes of the Israelites, they would not enter the Promised Land. This was a great blow to Moses, who had been faithfully leading the people towards the Promised Land. However, his disobedience and lack of trust in God had consequences.
The consequences were not only for Moses and Aaron, but also for the Israelites. The Lord said that because of their lack of faith and constant complaining, they would not enter the Promised Land either. Instead, the Lord promised that their children would enter the land, but they would wander in the wilderness for forty years until their entire generation had died. This was a severe punishment for their disobedience and lack of trust in God's provision and guidance.
After receiving the news of their punishment, Moses and Aaron continued to lead the Israelites through the wilderness. However, as they were approaching Mount Hor, God commanded Moses to take Aaron and his son Eleazar to the top of the mountain. There, Aaron was to remove his priestly garments and give them to his son, as he would not enter the Promised Land. Moses did as he was commanded, and Aaron died on top of the mountain at the age of 123. The whole congregation mourned for thirty days for the death of Aaron, who had served as the high priest for the Israelites.
The events in this chapter hold several important lessons and meanings for believers today. Firstly, we see the consequences of sin and disobedience towards God. Despite all the miracles and provisions that God had shown the Israelites, they continued to doubt and disobey Him. This resulted in severe consequences for both the leaders and the people. It serves as a reminder that God is a holy and just God who will not tolerate sin and disobedience from His people.
Secondly, we see the importance of faith and trust in God. The Israelites' lack of faith and constant complaining showed their lack of trust in God's provision and guidance. This led to their punishment and delayed entry into the Promised Land. As believers, we must have faith and trust in God, knowing that He will always provide for us and guide us through our journey.
Thirdly, we see the importance of obedience to God's commands. Moses and Aaron's disobedience towards God's instructions resulted in severe consequences for both of them. It serves as a reminder that God's commands are not to be taken lightly, and we must obey them with humility and faith.
Lastly, we see the sovereignty of God. Despite the Israelites' disobedience and lack of faith, God remained faithful to His promise to bring them to the Promised Land. He also remained faithful to His promise to bless and protect them, even in the midst of their punishment. It serves as a reminder that God is in control of all things and His plans will ultimately prevail.
In conclusion, Chapter 20 of the book of Numbers in the KJV Holy Bible is a crucial chapter that highlights the consequences of sin and disobedience towards God. It also emphasizes the importance of faith, trust, and obedience in our relationship with God. The events in this chapter serve as a reminder for believers to remain faithful and obedient to God, knowing that He is sovereign and in control of all things. May we learn from the mistakes of the Israelites and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Share this page