[1] The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the
wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and
Miriam died there, and was buried there. [2] There was no water for the
congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron. [3] The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would
that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh! [4] Why have you
brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die
there, we and our animals? [5] Why have you made us to come up out of
Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of
figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
[6] Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of
the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh
appeared to them. [7] Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, [8] Take the rod, and
assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak you to
the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall
bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the
congregation and their cattle drink. [9] Moses took the rod from before
Yahweh, as he commanded him. [10] Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly
together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall
we bring you forth water out of this rock? [11] Moses lifted up his hand,
and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly,
and the congregation drank, and their cattle. [12] Yahweh said to Moses and
Aaron, Because you didn`t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the
children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the
land which I have given them. [13] These are the waters of Meribah; because
the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.
[14] Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your
brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us: [15] how our
fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the
Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: [16] and when we cried to
Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of
Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your
border. [17] Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through
field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells:
we will go along the king`s highway; we will not turn aside to the right
hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border. [18] Edom said to
him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against
you. [19] The children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway;
and if we drink of your water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price
of it: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my
feet. [20] He said, You shall not pass through. Edom came out against him
with much people, and with a strong hand. [21] Thus Edom refused to give
Israel passage through his border: why Israel turned away from him. [22]
They journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole
congregation, came to Mount Hor. [23] Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in
Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, [24] Aaron shall be
gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have
given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at
the waters of Meribah. [25] Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them
up to Mount Hor; [26] and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on
Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [to his people], and shall die
there. [27] Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor
in the sight of all the congregation. [28] Moses stripped Aaron of his
garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top
of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. [29]
When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron
thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
