Then 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?" And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rockThis phrase sets the scene for a significant moment in Israel's journey. The Hebrew word for "gathered" (קהל, qahal) implies a formal assembly, often used for religious or communal purposes. Moses and Aaron, as leaders, are bringing the people together for a divine encounter. Historically, this reflects the structured leadership and communal identity of Israel during their wilderness journey. and he said to them
The phrase "he said" (ויאמר, vayomer) is a common introduction to prophetic speech in the Hebrew Bible. It indicates that what follows is of great importance, often conveying God's direct message or command. Moses, as God's chosen leader, speaks with authority, reflecting the theocratic leadership structure where God communicates through appointed leaders. Listen now, you rebels
The term "rebels" (מרים, morim) is a strong rebuke. It highlights the Israelites' repeated disobedience and lack of faith. This word choice underscores the tension between Moses and the people, who have frequently challenged his leadership. Historically, this reflects the ongoing struggle of maintaining faith and obedience in the face of hardship. must we bring you water out of this rock?
The phrase "must we bring you water" suggests a moment of frustration and perhaps a lapse in Moses' usual humility. The Hebrew word for "rock" (סלע, sela) is significant, as rocks in the wilderness were often seen as symbols of God's provision. This question implies a challenge to the people's faith and a reminder of God's past miracles. Theologically, it raises questions about human agency versus divine power, as Moses seems to momentarily place himself in the role of provider, rather than God. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is addressing the Israelites in a moment of frustration. 2. AaronMoses' brother and the high priest of Israel. He stands with Moses as they confront the people. 3. The AssemblyThe congregation of Israelites who are gathered before Moses and Aaron, expressing their need for water. 4. The RockA physical location in the wilderness where God instructs Moses to speak to bring forth water for the people. 5. The EventThis is a critical moment of disobedience where Moses, instead of speaking to the rock as God commanded, strikes it in anger, leading to significant consequences. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsMoses' failure to follow God's specific instructions serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience. Even leaders are not exempt from the consequences of disobedience. The Danger of AngerMoses' anger led him to act rashly, which serves as a warning about the destructive potential of unchecked emotions. God's Provision Despite Human FailureDespite Moses' disobedience, God still provided water for the people, demonstrating His faithfulness and mercy. Leadership AccountabilityLeaders are held to a high standard and must be careful to represent God accurately to those they lead. The Consequences of Misrepresenting GodMoses' actions misrepresented God's holiness, leading to his exclusion from entering the Promised Land, showing the seriousness of misrepresenting God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Moses' reaction in Numbers 20:10 reflect the challenges of leadership, and what can we learn from his example about handling frustration? 2. In what ways does the incident at the rock in Numbers 20 differ from the earlier event in Exodus 17, and what does this teach us about following God's instructions? 3. How can we apply the lesson of God's provision despite human failure to our own lives, especially when we fall short? 4. What does this passage teach us about the importance of representing God accurately in our words and actions? 5. How can we guard against allowing anger to lead us into disobedience, and what other scriptures can help us in managing our emotions? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 17:6This earlier event where God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb to bring forth water provides a contrast to the command in Numbers 20, highlighting Moses' disobedience in the latter event. Psalm 106:32-33This passage reflects on the incident at Meribah, emphasizing how Moses' spirit was provoked, leading him to speak rashly. 1 Corinthians 10:4Paul refers to the spiritual rock that followed the Israelites, identifying it with Christ, which adds a deeper theological layer to the event. People Aaron, Egyptians, Eleazar, Israelites, Miriam, MosesPlaces Edom, Egypt, Kadesh-barnea, King's Highway, Meribah, Mount Hor, ZinTopics Aaron, Assemble, Assembled, Assembly, Bring, Congregation, Ear, Fetch, Forth, Front, Gathered, Hearts, Listen, O, Rebels, RockDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 20:1-11 4278 spring of water Numbers 20:1-13 5924 quarrelsomeness Numbers 20:2-11 5580 thirst Numbers 20:2-12 5714 men Numbers 20:7-12 5072 Aaron, spokesman Numbers 20:7-13 4512 staff Numbers 20:8-12 5925 rashness Numbers 20:9-11 5883 impatience Numbers 20:10-11 1416 miracles, nature of Numbers 20:10-12 8718 disobedience Numbers 20:10-13 4354 rock Library August 17. "Speak Ye unto the Rock" (Num. xx. 8).
"Speak ye unto the Rock" (Num. xx. 8). The Holy Ghost is very sensitive, as love always is. You can conquer a wild beast by blows and chains, but you cannot conquer a woman's heart that way, or win the love of a sensitive nature; that must be wooed by the delicate touches of trust and affection. So the Holy Ghost has to be taken by a faith as delicate and sensitive as the gentle heart with whom it is coming in touch. One thought of unbelief, one expression of impatient distrust or fear, will instantly …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Baptist's Inquiry and Jesus' Discourse Suggested Thereby.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XI. 2-30; ^C Luke VII. 18-35. ^c 18 And the disciples of John told him of all these things. ^a 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent by his disciples ^c 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them unto the Lord [John had been cast into prison about December, a.d. 27, and it was now after the Passover, possibly in May or June, a.d. 28. Herod Antipas had cast John into prison because John had reproved him for taking his brother's wife. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [136] . Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it might not reign in heaven alone; even He by whose death we live, by whose weakness we are made strong, by whose suffering we are rescued from suffering, through whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we knew not, by whose gift we find those whom without knowing them we sought. …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House Officers, Taxation, Publicans
It was the very busiest road in Palestine, on which the publican Levi Matthew sat at the receipt of "custom," when our Lord called him to the fellowship of the Gospel, and he then made that great feast to which he invited his fellow-publicans, that they also might see and hear Him in Whom he had found life and peace (Luke 5:29). For, it was the only truly international road of all those which passed through Palestine; indeed, it formed one of the great highways of the world's commerce. At the time …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Peræa to Bethany. Raising of Lazarus.
^D John XI. 1-46. ^d 1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [For Bethany and the sisters, see p. 478.] 2 And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair [John xii. 3 ], whose brother Lazarus was sick. [The anointing had not yet taken place, as John himself shows. For a similar anticipation see Matt. x. 4. There are five prominent Marys in the New Testament: those of Nazareth, Magdala and Bethany; the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 20:10 NIVNumbers 20:10 NLTNumbers 20:10 ESVNumbers 20:10 NASBNumbers 20:10 KJV
Numbers 20:10 Commentaries
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