Numbers 20 - NIV Translation

(Num 20:1 NIV) In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

(Num 20:2 NIV) Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.

(Num 20:3 NIV) They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!

(Num 20:4 NIV) Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?

(Num 20:5 NIV) Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"

(Num 20:6 NIV) Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

(Num 20:7 NIV) The LORD said to Moses,

(Num 20:8 NIV) "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."

(Num 20:9 NIV) So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him.

(Num 20:10 NIV) He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"

(Num 20:11 NIV) Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

(Num 20:12 NIV) But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

(Num 20:13 NIV) These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.

(Num 20:14 NIV) Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us.

(Num 20:15 NIV) Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,

(Num 20:16 NIV) but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.

(Num 20:17 NIV) Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory."

(Num 20:18 NIV) But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword."

(Num 20:19 NIV) The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot--nothing else."

(Num 20:20 NIV) Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.

(Num 20:21 NIV) Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

(Num 20:22 NIV) The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.

(Num 20:23 NIV) At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

(Num 20:24 NIV) "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

(Num 20:25 NIV) Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.

(Num 20:26 NIV) Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."

(Num 20:27 NIV) Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.

(Num 20:28 NIV) Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,

(Num 20:29 NIV) and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.