Numbers 20

Numbers 20:1

H. The Sin of Moses (20:1-13)20:1 As this chapter opens, it is forty years since the Israelites left Egypt and thirty-eight years since they sent the spies into the land. The people had wandered for thirty-eight years and had now come back to Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zinthe very place from which they had sent the spies. They were no closer to the Promised Land than they had been thirty-eight years earlier! Here Miriam died . . . and was buried. Over 600,000 people had died during the wasted years between chapters 19 and 20. The bitter fruit of unbelief was harvested in silence for an entire generation. 20:2-9 The people who complained to Moses and Aaron about the lack of water were a new generation, but they acted like their fathers (vv. 2-5). The LORD told Moses to speak to the rock, and it would yield water. He was to take the rod of Aaron which had been deposited in the tabernacle (v. 9; cf. Num_17:10), though it is “his rod” in verse 11. Aaron’s rod was the rod of the priesthood; Moses’ rod was the rod of judgment and power. 20:10-13 Once before, at a place called Massah (and Meribah), the people had murmured for water. At that time, the Lord told Moses to strike the rock (Exo_17:1-7). But now Moses’ patience was exhausted. First, he spoke unadvisedly with his lips, calling the people rebels (v. 10). Secondly, he struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it. The rock smitten in Exodus 17 was a type of Christ, stricken at Calvary.

But Christ was only to be struck once. After His death, the Holy Spirit would be given, of which the water in verse 11 is a type. Because of the sin of Moses and Aaron in this matter, God decreed that they would not enter the Promised Land. He called the place Meribah, but it is not the same Meribah as in Exodus 17. This is sometimes known as Meribah-Kadesh. G.

Campbell Morgan comments: By this manifestation of anger, which as we have said was so very natural, the servant of God misrepresented God to the people. His failure was due to the fact that for the moment his faith failed to reach the highest level of activity. He still believed in God, and in His power: but he did not believe in Him to sanctify Him in the eyes of His people. The lesson is indeed a very searching one. Right things may be done in so wrong a way as to produce evil results. There is a hymn in which we may miss the deep meaning, if we are not thoughtfulLord, speak to me that I may speak In living echoes of Thy tone. That is far more than a prayer that we may be able to deliver the Lord’s message. It is rather that we may do so in His tone, with His temper. That is where Moses failed, and for this failure he was excluded from the Land.

Numbers 20:14

I. The Death of Aaron (20:14-29)20:14-21 The plan for entering the land was not to go directly north from the wilderness but to travel east through the territory of the Edomites, and then north along the east coast of the Dead Sea. The people would then cross the Jordan. But the king of Edom . . . refused safe passage to the people of Israeland this in spite of assurances that the Jews would not eat, drink, or damage any of Edom’s supplies. Later in history, Israel under Saul fought against and defeated the Edomites, descendants of Jacob’s brother, Esau. 20:22-29 When the people had journeyed from Kadesh . . . to Mount Hor, near the border of . . . Edom, . . . Aaron died and was replaced by Eleazar his son (vv. 22-29). Matthew Henry writes: Aaron, though he dies for his transgression, is not put to death as a malefactor, by a plague, or fire from heaven, but dies with ease and in honour. He is not cut off from his people, as the expression usually is concerning those that die by the hand of divine justice, but he is gathered to his people, as one that died in the arms of divine grace. . . . Moses, whose hands had first clothed Aaron with his priestly garments, now strips him of them; for, in reverence to the priesthood, it was not fit that he should die in them.