Numbers 20
All 29 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.
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- 1The entire Israelite community arrived in the wilderness of Zin during the first month. The people settled in Kadesh, and it was there that Miriam died and was buried.
- 2There was no water for the community, so the people banded together against Moses and Aaron.
- 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, "We wish we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!
- 4Why did you bring the LORD's people into this wilderness to die — us and our animals?
- 5Why did you drag us out of Egypt just to bring us to this terrible place? Nothing grows here — no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates — and there isn't even water to drink!"
- 6Moses and Aaron walked away from the crowd to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown on the ground. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
- 7The LORD said to Moses,
- 8"Take the staff, and gather the whole community together — you and your brother Aaron. Then speak to the rock right in front of them, and it will pour out water. You will bring water from the rock for the people, so that the community and their livestock can drink."
- 9Moses took the staff from its place before the LORD, just as he had been commanded.
- 10Moses and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses shouted at them, "Listen up, you rebels! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?"
- 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out in abundance, and the entire community and their livestock drank.
- 12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy before the Israelites, you will not be the ones to lead this community into the land I have given them."
- 13This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and he was sanctified among them.
- 14From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom with this message: "Your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships we've been through.
- 15Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there for a long time. The Egyptians treated us and our ancestors cruelly.
- 16When we cried out to the LORD, he heard us. He sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now here we are in Kadesh, a town right on the edge of your territory.
- 17Please let us pass through your land. We won't cut through any fields or vineyards, and we won't drink water from your wells. We'll stay on the king's highway and won't turn right or left until we've crossed your border."
- 18But Edom replied, "You may not pass through here. If you try, I'll come out and meet you with an army."
- 19The Israelites responded, "We'll stick to the main road. If we or our livestock drink any of your water, we'll pay for it. All we're asking is to walk through on foot — nothing more."
- 20But Edom answered, "You will not pass through." Then Edom marched out against them with a large and powerful force.
- 21Since Edom refused to let Israel pass through their territory, Israel turned and went another way.
- 22The entire Israelite community left Kadesh and traveled to Mount Hor.
- 23At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
- 24Aaron will be gathered to his people, for he will not enter the land I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
- 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.
- 26Remove Aaron's priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will die there on the mountain."
- 27Moses did exactly what the LORD commanded. The three of them climbed Mount Hor while the entire community watched.
- 28Moses removed Aaron's priestly garments and placed them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came back down.
- 29When the whole community realized that Aaron was dead, the entire house of Israel mourned for him for 30 days.