Numbers 20:2-23

21There was no water for the congregation, 2and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 33Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “4If only we had perished 5when our brothers perished before the Lord! 46Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die 7here? 5Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? 8It is not a place of 9grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” 6Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and 10fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; 7then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8“Take 11the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.”

9So Moses took the staff 12from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; 10and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “13Listen 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 staff; and 14water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. 12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “15Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13Those were called the waters of 1617Meribah, 18because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them.

14From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to 19the king of Edom to say, “This is what your brother Israel has said: ‘You 20know all the hardship that has 21overtaken us; 15that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly. 16But 22when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent 23an angel, and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. 17Please 24let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s road, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”

1825Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through 26us, or I will come out with the sword against you.” 19Again, the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the road, and if I and 27my livestock do drink any of your water, 28then I will 29pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, 30nothing more.” 20But he said, “31You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against him with a heavy 32force and a strong hand. 2133So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; 34then Israel turned away from him.

22Now when they set out from 35Kadesh, the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at 36Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying,