Water from the Rock
(Exodus 17:1–7)
In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. Num 13:21Exo 15:20Num 33:36Num 26:59Num 27:14Deu 1:22-23Deu 2:14Deu 32:51
Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. Num 16:19Num 16:42Exo 15:23-241Co 10:10-11Exo 16:12Exo 16:2Exo 16:7Exo 17:1-4 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! Exo 17:2Num 14:1-2Num 16:31-35Exo 16:2-3Num 11:1Num 11:33-34Num 16:49Job 3:10-11 Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Exo 17:3Psa 106:21Act 7:35Act 7:39-40Exo 14:11-12Exo 16:3Exo 5:21Num 11:5 Why 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!” Num 16:14Deu 8:15Ezk 20:36Jer 2:2Jer 2:6Neh 9:21
Then 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. Num 14:5Num 16:19Num 16:22Num 16:4Num 16:451Ch 21:16Exo 16:10Exo 17:4 And the LORD said to Moses, “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.” Exo 4:17Isa 43:20Act 2:1-4Exo 17:5-6Isa 48:21Jhn 16:24Neh 9:15Rev 22:17
So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. Num 17:10 Then 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?” Psa 106:32-33Act 14:9-15Act 23:3-5Act 3:12-16Dan 2:28-30Deu 9:24Eph 4:26Gen 40:8 Then 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. 1Co 10:4Exo 17:6Deu 8:15Num 20:81Ch 15:131Sa 15:24Hos 13:5Jas 1:20
But 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.” Deu 1:37Num 27:14Ezk 36:23Num 20:24Deu 3:23-27Deu 32:49-51Deu 34:4Isa 8:13
These were the waters of Meribah, 1 where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them. Exo 17:7Psa 95:8Deu 33:8Deu 32:51Psa 106:32-48Ezk 20:41Ezk 36:23Ezk 38:16
Edom Refuses Passage
From 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, Jdg 11:16-17Deu 23:7Deu 2:4-25Gen 32:3-4Gen 36:31-39Jos 9:9Mal 1:2Oba 1:10-12 how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, Deu 26:6Exo 12:40Gen 46:6Act 7:15Gen 15:13Act 7:19Exo 1:11-14Exo 1:16 and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Exo 14:19Exo 23:20Exo 33:2Exo 3:2-9Exo 2:23-24Exo 14:10Exo 6:5
Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut 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.” Deu 2:27Deu 2:1-4Deu 2:29Num 21:1Num 21:22-24
But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
“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.” Deu 2:28Deu 2:6Exo 12:38
But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. Amo 1:11Jdg 11:17Ezk 35:5-11Gen 27:41Gen 32:6Jdg 11:20Num 20:18Oba 1:10-15 So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them. Jdg 11:18Deu 2:29Deu 2:27Deu 2:4-8Deu 23:7Jdg 11:24
The Death of Aaron
After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. Num 20:1Num 20:14Num 21:4Ezk 47:19Ezk 48:28Num 13:26Num 20:16Num 33:36-38 And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Num 33:37 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Gen 25:8Deu 32:502Ch 34:28Num 20:10-12Num 27:13Num 31:2Gen 15:15Gen 25:17 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. Num 33:38-39 Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.” Num 20:24Exo 29:29-30Heb 7:11Heb 7:23-24Isa 22:21-22
So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. Deu 10:6Exo 29:29-301Ch 22:11-121Ch 22:171Ch 28:5-92Pe 1:15Act 20:25-29Deu 31:7-8 When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days. Deu 34:82Ch 35:24-25Act 8:2Gen 1:10