Numbers 20 — BSB
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Water from the Rock
20Verse 1In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.Verse 2Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.Verse 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!Verse 4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?Verse 5Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”Verse 6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.Verse 7And the LORD said to Moses,Verse 8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”Verse 9So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded.Verse 10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”Verse 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.Verse 12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”Verse 13These were the waters of Meribah,+where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.Edom Refuses Passage
Verse 14From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,Verse 15how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,Verse 16and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt.Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.Verse 17Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”Verse 18But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”Verse 19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”Verse 20But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand.Verse 21So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.