International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1The entire community of the Israelis entered the Zin wilderness during the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

1And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.

2But there was no water for the community, so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.

2Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3As the people argued with Moses, they told him, "We wish that we had died when our relatives died in the LORD's presence!

3And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!

4Why did you bring the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness? So we and our cattle could die here?

4Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?

5Why did you take us out of Egypt and bring us to this terrible place? There's no place to plant seeds, fig trees, vines, or pomegranates! And there's no water to drink!"

5And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”

6Then Moses and Aaron went into the presence of the community at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,

7The LORD told Moses,

7and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

8"Take the rod, gather the community together, and then you and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock right before their eyes. It will release water. As you bring water to them from the rock, the community and the cattle will be able to drink."

8“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”

9So Moses took the rod in the LORD's presence, just as he had commanded.

9And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock. "Pay attention, you rebels!" Moses told them. "Are we to bring you water from this rock?"

10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”

11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Lots of water gushed out, and both the community and their cattle were able to drink.

11And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

12But the LORD rebuked Moses and Aaron, telling Moses: "Because you both didn't believe me, because you didn't consecrate me as holy in the presence of the Israelis, you won't be the ones to bring this congregation into the land that I'm about to give them."

12And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

13Because the Israelis argued with the LORD and he was set apart among them, this place was called the Meribah Springs.

13These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.

14Later, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom with this message: "This is what your relative Israel says: 'You know all the hardships we've encountered.

14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:

15Our ancestors went down to Egypt, where we lived for many years. But the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors viciously.

15how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers.

16Then we cried to the LORD and he heard our voice, sending us a messenger who brought us out of Egypt. Now look! We've arrived in Kadesh, a city at the extreme end of your territory.

16And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.

17Permit us now to pass through your land. We won't pass through your fields or vineyards, and we won't drink water from your wells. We'll keep to the King's Highway without turning either right or left until we have passed through your territory.'"

17Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

18But Edom replied, "You are not to pass through my land. If you do, I'll come out and start a war with you."

18But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”

19Then the Israelis replied, "Permit us to travel on the highway. If we and our cattle drink your water, we'll pay the price you ask. Only please let us walk through, and nothing more."

19And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”

20But still he replied, "No. You're not to pass through." Then Edom went out to meet Moses with a vast army and a lot of military might.

20But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.

21That's how Edom refused Israel passage through their territory. So Israel turned away from there.

21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

22They traveled from Kadesh, and then the entire community of the Israelis arrived at Mount Hor.

22And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

23Then the LORD told Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, near the territory of Edom,

23And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom,

24"Aaron is to be gathered to his people, since he is not to enter the land that I'm about to give the Israelis. After all, you both rebelled against my command at the Meribah Springs.

24“Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

25So take Aaron and his son Eleazar and ascend Mount Hor.

25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor.

26Remove Aaron's vestments and place them on his son Eleazar, because Aaron is to be gathered to his people and die there."

26And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.”

27So Moses did just what the LORD had commanded. They ascended Mount Hor right in front of the entire community.

27Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28As Moses was stripping Aaron's garments from him and clothing Aaron's son Eleazar with them, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Afterwards, Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

28And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29When the entire community saw that Aaron had died, they mourned in memory of Aaron for 30 days.

29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.