Numbers 20

The children of Israel come into the Wilderness of Zin; there Miriam dieth, verse 1. And the people murmur for water, 2. The ORD commandeth Moseh to speak to the rock, for to yield water, 7. Moseh striketh on it, 11. The LORD is displeased with Moseh and Aaron, by reason of their unbelief, 12. Moseh desireth passage through Edom, 14. Which is denied him, 18,20. Aaron by Gods command, surrendreth his high-Priestly office unto his son Eleazar, upon mount Hor, 23. And there he dieth, 28. All the Congregation bemoan him.

1. When the children of Israel, the whole Congregation, were come into the wilderness of Zin, in the first month, [viz. of the fourtieth year after their coming forth out of Egypt, below, ch.33.38.] the people abode at Kades: [this Kades lay on the borders of Edom, v.16. and is a distinct place from Kades Barnea, Deut.1.19.] and Miriam [the fester of Moseh and Aaron, a Prophetess; see Exod.15.20.] died there, [and so did, in this same fourtieth year since the Israelites coming out of Egypt, Aaron likewise: below, chapter 33.38. and Moseh himself also, Deuteronomy 34:5.] and she was buried there.

2. And there was no water for the Congregation: then they gathered themselves against Moseh, and against Aaron.

3. and the people contended with Moseh; and they spake, saying; ah, [This particle sets forth the greatness of their hearts-grief, making the same to break out into the ensuing wish, or imprecation] that we had given (up) the ghost when our brethren gave up the ghost, before the face of the LORD! [see above, chapter.16, 32, 49.]

4. Wherefore have ye brought the Congregation of the LORD into this wilderness? That we should die there? we and our cattle?

5. And wherefore have ye made us come up out of Egypt, for to bring us into this evil place? [See Jer.2.6.] it is no place of seed, nor of Figs, nor of Vines, nor of Pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.

6. Then Moseh and Aaron went from the face of the Congregation, [viz.being struck with an apprehension of fear, what violence and trouble they might be put to by the people] unto the door of the Tent of the Congregation, and they fell upon their faces: [they viz. Moseh and Aaron, calling upon the LORD, as Exod.17.14.] and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. [viz. in the pillar of Cloud.]

7. And the LORD spake to Moseh, saying;

8. Take that staff [viz. the staff of Aaron, which was kept before the Ark of the Covenant. See above chap.17.10. Some understand Moseh his staff here, wherewith he had wrought so many wonders formerly] and gather the Congregation, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye to the rock before their eyes; so he shall give them water. Thus shall ye bring them forth water out of the rock.

9. Then Moseh took the staff from before the face of the LORD, [i.e. out of the Tabernacle] according as he had commanded him.

10. And Moseh and Aaron assembled the Congregation before the rock: and he [viz. Moseh] said unto them [he had received no command to address his speech unto the people, but to speak unto the rock, v. 8.] Hear now, ye rebellious, shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock? [of this they needed not to have doubted, God having promised it, v.8.]

11. Then Moseh lifted up his hand, and he smote the rock [of the spiritual signification of this rock, see 1 Cor.10.4.] twice [which likewise sheweth Moseh his hastiness and anger] with his staff: and there came forth much water, so that the Congregation drank and their beasts.

12. Therefore the LORD said to Moseh and to Aaron; because ye have not believed me, [i.e. because ye did not believe my words, to do and perform what I commanded you, as doubting whether I was sufficiently able to accomplish what I had commanded you to doe] to have hallowed me before the eyes of the children of Israel: [Cheerfully at my command, charging the rock to yield forth water; and thus giving the people a good example, of believing and obeying my words] therefore ye shall not introduce this Congregation into the Land which I have given them. [that which God here threatened, came also to pass; for Aaron died on mount Hor, below, verse 28. And Moseh on mount Nebo, Deut.34.]

13. These are the waters of Meriba, [i.e. waters of strife, or contention] for which the children of Israel contended with the LORD, [i.e. with Moseh the servant of the LORD, v.3. See Exod.16.8.] and he was hallowed to them, [to wit, on Moseh and Aaron; for punishing their disobedience, he hallowed himself thereby; see Lev.10.3.and 22.32. Others apply this to the Israelites, to whom God made good his holy Word, when he brought forth water out of the rock.]

14. After that Moseh sent forth Messengers from Kades unto the king of Edom, (saying;) Thus saith thy brother Israel; Edom, or Esau, and Jacob, or Israel were brethren indeed; and those that speak here together, their respective posterities] Thou knowest all the toil that met us: [Heb. that found us.]

15. That our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt many days [i.e. for a long time] in Egypt; and that the Egyptians have done evil to (or, dealt ill with) us and our fathers.

16. Then we cried unto the LORD, and he heard our voice, and he sent an Angell [See Exodus 14:19.] and he led us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are at Kades, a City on the utmost of thy border.

17. Let us we pray, pass through thy Land, [That being then their next and ready way into Canaan] we will not pass through the Corn-field, nor through the Vineyards, nor will we drink the water of the Wells: [viz. without paying for it, as appears, v.19.] we will go the Kings (high-) way, [Hebr. The Kings way. Others the high-way, the common road] we will not turn to the right, nor to the left hand, until we shall have passed through thy borders.

18. But Edom said unto them; [viz. to Moseh, or to Israel] Thou shalt not pass through me, [i.e. through my land, as v.17. See the like expression, Duet.2.30. and Rom.15.28.] lest I go forth to meet thee with the sword, [i.e. with force of arms, in hostiles manner.]

19. Then the children of Israel said to him; we will march the beaten way, and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, I will give its price for it: [This God commands expressly, Deut.2.6,7.] I will onely pass through on foot, without any thing else.

20. But he said, thou shalt not pass through; and Edom went forth to meet him, with a heavy (or numerous) people, and with a strong hand.

21. Thus Edon refused Israel [i.e. the Israelites] to pass through his border: therefore Israel turned away from him. [This the Israelites did by Gods command, Deut.2.4,5. Notwithstanding that the way, which they passed afterwards through the wilderness proved very toilsome and difficult to them, Numb.21.v.4,5.]

22. Then they journeyed from Kades: and the children of Israel, the whole Congregation came to mount Hor. [See Numb.33.37.]

23. Now the LORD spake to Moseh, and to Aaron, by mount Hor, at the border of the Land of Edom, saying;

24. Aaron shall he gathered to his people; [i.e. he shall die, as verse 26.] for he shall not come into the Land, which I have given to the children of Israel: because ye were rebellious to my mouth [i.e. to my command] at the waters of Meriba.

25. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and make them come up to mount Hor: [Numbers, 33.38. Deuteronomy 32:50.]

26. And pull off Aaron his garments, [To wit, his Priestly habit described, Exodus 28:2.] and put them on Eleazar his son: for Aaron shall be gathered, [viz. to his people as above, v.24.] and die there.

27. Moseh now did, according as the LORD had commanded, for they went up on mount Hor, [Moseh, namely, Aaron, and Eleazar] before the eyes of all the Congregation.

28. And Moseh pulled off Aaron his garments, and he put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron died there; [See Deut.10.6. and 32.50.] on the top of that mount: then Moseh and Eleazar came down (from) that mount.

29. When all the Congregation saw, [i.e. perceived by the relation of Moseh and Aaron, and seeing Aaron was not returned, and Eleazar invested in his priestly habit. See the like phrase, Gen.42. 1. Compared with Acts7. 12.] that Aaron was deceased; [Aaron died in the hundred twenty and third year of his age, Numb.33. 38. on the first day of the fifth month, in the fourteth year, since the coming forth out of Egypt. Of his burial. See Deut.10.6.] then all the house of Israel bewailed [i.e. they mourned for] Aaron thirty days. [and so long they mourned likewise afterwards for Moseh, Deut.34.8.]