| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The entire Israelite community entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and they settled in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. | 1In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. |
| 2There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. | 2Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. |
| 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD. | 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! |
| 4Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? | 4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? |
| 5Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It's not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!" | 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!” |
| 6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. | 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. |
| 7The LORD spoke to Moses, " | 7And the LORD said to Moses, |
| 8Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock." | 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.” |
| 9So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence just as He had commanded him. | 9So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. |
| 10Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?" | 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?” |
| 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. | 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. |
| 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 I have given them." | 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.” |
| 13These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness to them. | 13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them. |
| 14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, "This is what your brother Israel says, 'You know all the hardships that have overtaken us. | 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, |
| 15Our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, but the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly. | 15how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, |
| 16When 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 border of your territory. | 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. |
| 17Please let us travel through your land. We won't travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water. We will travel the King's Highway; we won't turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.'" | 17Please 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.” |
| 18But Edom answered him, "You must not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword."" | 18But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.” |
| 19We will go on the main road," the Israelites replied to them, "and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price. There will be no problem; only let us travel through on foot." | 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.” |
| 20Yet Edom insisted, "You must not travel through." And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people. | 20But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. |
| 21Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them. | 21So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them. |
| 22After they set out from Kadesh, the entire Israelite community came to Mount Hor. | 22After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. |
| 23The LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor on the border of the land of Edom, " | 23And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, |
| 24Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land I have given the Israelites, because you both rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. | 24“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. |
| 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. | 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. |
| 26Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and die there." | 26Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.” |
| 27So Moses did as the LORD commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. | 27So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. |
| 28After Moses 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. | 28After 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. |
| 29When the whole community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel mourned for him 30 days. | 29When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days. |
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