Numbers 20

1. Kadesh. In thus bringing the Israelites back to Kadesh, the scene of their fathers’ rebellion and exclusion from Canaan (Numb. xiv.), God was giving the younger generation an impressive warning, lest they too should “fall after the same example of unbelief.”

8 the rod. Called in ver. 11 “his rod,” with which he had wrought former miracles (Exod. xvii. 1-6). It appears from the next verse to have been laid up, like the rod of Aaron (xvii. 10), “before Jehovah” in the sanctuary.

12 believed Me not. In both the actions and the language of Moses and Aaron on this occasion, there are indications of a petulance inconsistent with that calm faith in God which they commonly display. (See Exod. xvii. 1-6; and Psa. cvi. 33.) In detail, too, they departed from the instructions given. Moses smote the rock twice; which, at this time, he does not seem to have been directed to do at all. By seeming, also, to claim for themselves the power of fetching water from the rock, he withheld from Jehovah His due honour.—sanctify Me. That is, “to treat Me as the Holy One of Israel.”

14 unto the king of Edom. A similar request seems to have been sent to the Moabites (Judges xi. 17).—thy brother Israel. Descended from a common ancestor, Isaac.

19. I will pay for it. Water is scarce and valuable in that district, and the permission to use it often has to be purchased.

21. Israel turned away from him. As the Israelites had refused to enter Canaan from the south, and were not now to be allowed to do so, the nearest route from Kadesh to the point at which to invade the land was eastward through Idumea. But the passes through the mountains of Seir were few and difficult, mere ravines, easily defended. Had the Israelites, as they desired, marched through one of these, they would quickly have reached the edge of the Great Desert on the eastern side of Idumea. But the refusal of Edom compelled them to travel along the western border of Idumea to Ezion-geber (see xxi. 4); and then, crossing the mountain-ridge at a depression in the range (probably the pass of Wady el-Ithm), to go along its eastern side to the land of Moab.

22. Hor. On the east of the desert of Zin (el-Arabah), and west of Petra; now called, from the event here related, Djebel Nebi Harun; or, “the mount of the prophet Aaron.”

28. Eleazar his son. The investiture of Eleazar before the death of Aaron seems to indicate the perpetuity of the priestly office; and may remind us of Him who, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood (Heb. vii. 24).