Revised Literal Translation

Numbers 20

1Then cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִ֠שְׂרָאֵלYis.ra.'elH3478, eventhe whole congregationהָ֨עֵדָ֤הha.'e.DahH5712,into the desertמִדְבַּר־mid.bar-H4057of Zinצִן֙tzinH6790in the firstהָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223monthבַּחֹ֣דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320:and the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971abodeוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in Kadeshבְּקָדֵ֑שׁbe.ka.DeshH6946;and Miriamמִרְיָ֔םmir.YamH4813diedוַתָּ֤מָתva.Ta.motH4191there, and was buriedוַתִּקָּבֵ֖רva.ti.ka.VerH6912there.

2And there was no waterמַ֖יִםMa.yimH4325for the congregationלָעֵדָ֑הla.'e.DahH5712:and they gatheredוַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּvai.yi.Ka.ha.LuH6950themselves together against Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872and against Aaronאַהֲרֹֽן׃'a.ha.RonH175.

3And the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971chodeוַיָּ֥רֶבvai.Ya.revH7378with Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872,and spakeוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Would God thatוְל֥וּve.LuH3863we had diedגָוַ֛עְנוּga.Va'.nuH1478when our brethrenאַחֵ֖ינוּ'a.Chei.nuH251diedבִּגְוַ֥עbig.Va'H1478beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068!

4And why have ye brought upהֲבֵאתֶם֙ha.ve.TemH935the congregationקְהַ֣לke.HalH6951of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068into this wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֖רha.mid.BarH4057,that we and our cattleוּבְעִירֵֽנוּ׃u.ve.'i.Re.nuH1165should dieלָמ֣וּתla.MutH4191there?

5And wherefore have ye made us to come upהֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙he.'e.li.Tu.nuH5927out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,to bringלְהָבִ֣יאle.ha.Vi'H935us in unto this evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451placeהַמָּק֥וֹםha.ma.KomH4725? it isno placeמְק֣וֹםme.KomH4725of seedזֶ֗רַעZe.ra'H2233,or of figsוּתְאֵנָ֤הu.te.'e.NahH8384,or of vinesוְגֶ֙פֶן֙ve.Ge.fenH1612,or of pomegranatesוְרִמּ֔וֹןve.ri.MonH7416; neither isthere any waterוּמַ֥יִםu.Ma.yimH4325to drinkלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃lish.TotH8354.

6And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֨הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֜ןve.'a.ha.RonH175wentוַיָּבֹא֩vai.ya.Vo'H935from the presenceמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440of the assemblyהַקָּהָ֗לha.ka.HalH6951unto the doorפֶּ֙תַח֙pe.tachH6607of the tabernacleאֹ֣הֶל'O.helH168of the congregationמוֹעֵ֔דmo.'EdH4150,and they fellוַֽיִּפְּל֖וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307upon their facesפְּנֵיהֶ֑םpe.nei.HemH6440:and the gloryכְבוֹד־khe.Vod-H3519of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֥אvai.ye.Ra'H7200unto them.

7And Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872,sayingלֵּאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

8Takeקַ֣חkachH3947the rodהַמַּטֶּ֗הha.ma.TehH4294,and gatherוְהַקְהֵ֤לve.hak.HelH6950thou the assemblyהָעֵדָה֙ha.'e.DahH5712together, thou, and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֣ןve.'a.ha.RonH175thy brotherאָחִ֔יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251,and speakוְדִבַּרְתֶּ֧םve.di.bar.TemH1696ye unto the rockהַסֶּ֛לַעha.Se.la'H5553before their eyesלְעֵינֵיהֶ֖םle.'ei.nei.HemH5869;and it shall give forthוְנָתַ֣ןve.na.TanH5414his waterמֵימָ֑יוmei.MavH4325,and thou shalt bring forthוְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ve.ho.tze.TaH3318to them waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325out of the rockהַסֶּ֔לַעha.Se.la'H5553:so thou shalt giveוְהִשְׁקִיתָ֥ve.hish.ki.TaH8248the congregationהָעֵדָ֖הha.'e.DahH5712and their beastsבְּעִירָֽם׃be.'i.RamH1165drinkH8248.

9And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872tookוַיִּקַּ֥חvai.yi.KachH3947the rodהַמַּטֶּ֖הha.ma.TehH4294from beforeמִלִּפְנֵ֣יmi.lif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,as he commandedצִוָּֽהוּ׃tzi.Va.huH6680him.

10And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֧הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֛ןve.'a.ha.RonH175gatheredוַיַּקְהִ֜לוּvai.yak.Hi.luH6950the congregationהַקָּהָ֖לha.ka.HalH6951together beforeפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440the rockהַסָּ֑לַעha.Sa.la'H5553,and he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Hearשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085now, ye rebelsהַמֹּרִ֔יםha.mo.RimH4784;must we fetchנוֹצִ֥יאno.Tzi'H3318you waterמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325out of this rockהַסֶּ֣לַעha.Se.la'H5553?

11And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872lifted upוַיָּ֨רֶםvai.Ya.remH7311his handיָד֗וֹya.DoH3027,and with his rodבְּמַטֵּ֖הוּbe.ma.Te.huH4294he smoteוַיַּ֧ךְvai.YakhH5221the rockהַסֶּ֛לַעha.Se.la'H5553twiceפַּעֲמָ֑יִםpa.'a.Ma.yimH6471:and the waterמַ֣יִםMa.yimH4325came outוַיֵּצְאוּ֙vai.ye.tze.'UH3318abundantlyרַבִּ֔יםra.BimH7227,and the congregationהָעֵדָ֖הha.'e.DahH5712drankוַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּva.Te.shetH8354,and their beastsוּבְעִירָֽם׃ סu.ve.'i.RamH1165also.

12And Yhwhיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068spakeוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronאַהֲרֹן֒'a.ha.RonH175,Because ye believedהֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣םhe.'e.man.TemH539me not, to sanctifyלְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִיle.Hak.di.She.niH6942me in the eyesלְעֵינֵ֖יle.'ei.NeiH5869of the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,therefore ye shall not bringתָבִ֙יאוּ֙ta.Vi.'uH935this congregationהַקָּהָ֣לha.ka.HalH6951into the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776which I have givenנָתַ֥תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414them.

13Thisisהֵ֚מָּהHe.mahH1992the waterמֵ֣יmeiH4325of Meribahמְרִיבָ֔הme.ri.VahH4809;because the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478stroveרָב֥וּra.VuH7378with Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,and he was sanctifiedוַיִּקָּדֵ֖שׁvai.yi.ka.DeshH6942in them.

14And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֧הmo.ShehH4872sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֛יםmal.'a.KhimH4397from Kadeshמִקָּדֵ֖שׁmi.ka.DeshH6946unto the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Edomאֱד֑וֹם'e.DomH123,Thus saithאָמַר֙'a.MarH559thy brotherאָחִ֣יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Thou knowestיָדַ֔עְתָּya.Da'.taH3045all the travailהַתְּלָאָ֖הha.te.la.'AhH8513that hath befallenמְצָאָֽתְנוּ׃me.tza.'A.te.nuH4672us:

15How our fathersאֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙'a.vo.Tei.nuH1went downוַיֵּרְד֤וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381into Egyptמִצְרַ֔יְמָהmitz.Ray.mahH4714,and we have dweltוַנֵּ֥שֶׁבva.Ne.shevH3427in Egyptבְּמִצְרַ֖יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yimH4714a longרַבִּ֑יםra.BimH7227timeיָמִ֣יםya.MimH3117;and the EgyptiansH4714vexedוַיָּרֵ֥עוּvai.ya.Re.'uH7489us, and our fathersוְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ve.la.'a.vo.Tei.nuH1:

16And when we criedוַנִּצְעַ֤קva.nitz.'AkH6817unto Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,he heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'H8085our voiceקֹלֵ֔נוּko.Le.nuH6963,and sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971an angelמַלְאָ֔ךְmal.'AkhH4397,and hath brought us forthוַיֹּצִאֵ֖נוּvai.yo.tzi.'E.nuH3318out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714: and, behold, we arein Kadeshבְקָדֵ֔שׁve.ka.DeshH6946,a cityעִ֖יר'irH5892in the uttermostקְצֵ֥הke.TzehH7097of thy borderגְבוּלֶֽךָ׃ge.vu.Le.khaH1366:

17Let us passנַעְבְּרָה־na'.be.rah-H5674,I pray thee, through thy countryבְאַרְצֶ֗ךָve.'ar.Tze.khaH776:we will not passנַעֲבֹר֙na.'a.VorH5674through the fieldsבְּשָׂדֶ֣הbe.sa.DehH7704,or through the vineyardsוּבְכֶ֔רֶםu.ve.Khe.remH3754,neither will we drinkנִשְׁתֶּ֖הnish.TehH8354ofthe waterמֵ֣יmeiH4325of the wellsבְאֵ֑רve.'ErH875:we will goH3212by the king’sהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428highwayדֶּ֧רֶךְDe.rekhH1870,we will not turnנִטֶּה֙ni.TehH5186to the right handיָמִ֣יןya.MinH3225nor to the leftוּשְׂמֹ֔אולu.se.MolH8040,until we have passedנַעֲבֹ֖רna.'a.VorH5674thy bordersגְּבוּלֶֽךָ׃ge.vu.Le.khaH1366.

18And Edomאֱד֔וֹם'e.DomH123saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Thou shalt not passתַעֲבֹ֖רta.'a.VorH5674by me, lest I come outאֵצֵ֥א'e.Tze'H3318againstH7125thee with the swordבַּחֶ֖רֶבba.Che.revH2719.

19And the childrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֘לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto him, We will goנַעֲלֶה֒na.'a.LehH5927by the high wayבַּֽמְסִלָּ֣הbam.si.LahH4546:and if I and my cattleוּמִקְנַ֔יu.mik.NaiH4735drinkנִשְׁתֶּה֙nish.TehH8354of thy waterמֵימֶ֤יךָmei.Mei.khaH4325,then I will payוְנָתַתִּ֖י מִכְרָ֑םve.na.ta.Ti mikh.RamH4377 H5414for it: I will only, without doingany thingדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697else,go throughאֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה׃'E.'e.Vo.rahH5674on my feetבְּרַגְלַ֥יbe.rag.LaiH7272.

20And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Thou shalt not go throughתַעֲבֹ֑רta.'a.VorH5674.And Edomאֱדוֹם֙'e.dOmH123came outוַיֵּצֵ֤אvai.ye.Tze'H3318againstH7125him with muchכָּבֵ֖דka.VedH3515peopleבְּעַ֥םbe.'AmH5971,and with a strongחֲזָקָֽה׃cha.za.KahH2389handוּבְיָ֥דu.ve.YadH3027.

21Thus Edomאֱד֗וֹם'e.DomH123refusedוַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀vay.ma.'EnH3985to giveנְתֹן֙ne.TonH5414Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478passageעֲבֹ֖ר'a.VorH5674through his borderבִּגְבֻל֑וֹbig.vu.LoH1366:wherefore Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478turned awayוַיֵּ֥טvai.YetH5186from him.

22And the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478, eventhe whole congregationהָעֵדָ֖הha.'e.DahH5712,journeyedוַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'UH5265from Kadeshמִקָּדֵ֑שׁmi.ka.DeshH6946,and cameוַיָּבֹ֧אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto mountהָהָֽר׃ha.HarH2022Horהֹ֥רhorH2023.

23And Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068spakeוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֖ן'a.ha.RonH175in mountהָהָ֑רha.HarH2022Horבְּהֹ֣רbe.HorH2023,by the coastגְּב֥וּלge.VulH1366of the landאֶֽרֶץ־'e.retz-H776of Edomאֱד֖וֹם'e.DomH123,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

24Aaronאַהֲרֹן֙'a.ha.RonH175shall be gatheredיֵאָסֵ֤ףye.'a.SefH622unto his peopleעַמָּ֔יו'a.MavH5971:for he shall not enterיָבֹא֙ya.Vo'H935into the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776which I have givenנָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414unto the childrenלִבְנֵ֣יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,because ye rebelled againstמְרִיתֶ֥םme.ri.TemH4784my wordפִּ֖יpiH6310at the waterלְמֵ֥יle.MeiH4325of Meribahמְרִיבָֽה׃me.ri.VahH4809.

25Takeקַ֚חkachH3947Aaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175and Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֖ר'el.'a.ZarH499his sonבְּנ֑וֹbe.NoH1121,and bring them upוְהַ֥עַלve.Ha.'alH5927unto mountהָהָֽר׃ha.HarH2022Horהֹ֥רhorH2023:

26And stripוְהַפְשֵׁ֤טve.haf.ShetH6584Aaronאַהֲרֹן֙'a.ha.RonH175of his garmentsבְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.DavH899,and putוְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֖םve.hil.bash.TamH3847them upon Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֣ר'el.'a.ZarH499his sonבְּנ֑וֹbe.NoH1121:and Aaronוְאַהֲרֹ֥ןve.'a.ha.RonH175shall be gatheredיֵאָסֵ֖ףye.'a.SefH622unto his people,and shall dieוּמֵ֥תu.MetH4191there.

27And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213as Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068commandedצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680:and they went upוַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙vai.ya.'a.LuH5927into mountהָהָ֔רha.HarH2022Horהֹ֣רhorH2023in the sightלְעֵינֵ֖יle.'ei.NeiH5869of all the congregationהָעֵדָֽה׃ha.'e.DahH5712.

28And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֨הmo.ShehH4872strippedוַיַּפְשֵׁט֩vai.yaf.ShetH6584Aaronאַהֲרֹ֜ן'a.ha.RonH175of his garmentsבְּגָדָ֗יוbe.ga.DavH899,and putוַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁvai.yal.BeshH3847them upon Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֣ר'el.'a.ZarH499his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121;and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֛ן'a.ha.RonH175diedוַיָּ֧מָתvai.Ya.motH4191there in the topבְּרֹ֣אשׁbe.RoshH7218of the mountהָהָ֑רha.HarH2022:and Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872and Eleazarוְאֶלְעָזָ֖רve.'el.'a.ZarH499came downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381from the mountהָהָֽר׃ha.HarH2022.

29And when all the congregationהָ֣עֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712sawוַיִּרְאוּ֙vai.yir.'UH7200that Aaronאַהֲרֹ֑ן'a.ha.RonH175was deadגָוַ֖עga.Va'H1478,they mournedוַיִּבְכּ֤וּvai.yiv.KuH1058for Aaronאַהֲרֹן֙'a.ha.RonH175thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970daysי֔וֹםYomH3117, evenall the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

Commentaries on Numbers 20