Bible Commentaries
Numbers 20

Verse 1

20:1 Then came the children of Israel, [even] the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first {a} month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and {b} Miriam died there, and was buried there.

(a) This was forty years after their departure from Egypt.

(b) Moses and Aaron’s sister.

Verse 2

20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they {c} gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

(c) Another rebellion was in Rephidim Exodus 17:1-16, and this was in Kadesh.

Verse 8

20:8 Take the {d} rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

(d) With which you did miracles in Egypt and divided the sea.

Verse 10

20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; {e} must we fetch you water out of this rock?

(e) The punishment which followed declared that Moses and Aaron did not believe the Lord’s promise as it appeared in Numbers 20:12.

Verse 12

20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to {f} sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

(f) That the children of Israel should believe and acknowledge my power and so honour me.

Verse 13

20:13 This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he {h} was sanctified in them.

(h) By showing himself almighty and maintaining his glory.

Verse 14

20:14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of {i} Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

(i) Because Jacob or Israel was Esau’s brother, who was called Edom.

Verse 21

20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel {k} turned away from him.

(k) To pass by another way.

Verse 24

20:24 Aaron shall be {l} gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

(l) Read Genesis 25:8.