Numbers 20
CSB
Commentaries

Show in the text

Up to 5 commentaries at a time. Each excerpt opens in full.

Christian Standard Bible

Numbers 20:12-24

12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.”

13These are the Waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and he demonstrated his holiness to 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.

15Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, but the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.

16When we cried out to the Lord, he heard our plea, and sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border 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.’”

18But Edom answered him, “You will not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

19“We 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.”

20Yet Edom insisted, “You may not travel through.” And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people.

21Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

22After they set out from Kadesh, the entire Israelite community came to Mount Hor.

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

24“Aaron 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.

Read all of Numbers 20

Commentaries on Numbers 20

Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers