"Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Aaron will be gathered to his peopleThis phrase signifies the impending death of Aaron, the brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. The expression "gathered to his people" is a Hebrew idiom that reflects the belief in an afterlife where the deceased are reunited with their ancestors. This phrase is rich in cultural and theological significance, indicating a continuity of existence beyond physical death. It underscores the hope of eternal fellowship with the faithful who have gone before, a concept that resonates with the Christian understanding of eternal life and communion with the saints. for he will not enter the land
This part of the verse highlights the consequence of Aaron's actions at Meribah, where he, along with Moses, failed to uphold God's holiness before the Israelites. The phrase "for he will not enter the land" serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of disobedience to God. Despite Aaron's significant role and service, his failure to fully trust and honor God resulted in his exclusion from entering the Promised Land. This teaches us about the importance of faithfulness and obedience in our walk with God, as well as the reality of divine justice. I have given to the Israelites
Here, the focus shifts to God's promise and provision. The land is described as something God has "given" to the Israelites, emphasizing that it is a gift from God, not something earned by human effort. This reflects the grace of God in His dealings with His people, a theme that runs throughout Scripture. It reminds us that all blessings and promises from God are acts of His grace and mercy, and it calls us to respond with gratitude and faithfulness. because both of you rebelled against My command
This phrase directly addresses the reason for Aaron's exclusion from the Promised Land. The word "rebelled" is strong, indicating a willful disobedience and defiance against God's explicit instructions. In the Hebrew context, rebellion against God is seen as a grave sin, as it challenges His authority and holiness. This serves as a warning to believers about the dangers of pride and self-reliance, urging us to remain humble and obedient to God's will. at the waters of Meribah
The "waters of Meribah" refer to the incident recorded earlier in Numbers 20, where Moses and Aaron, in frustration, struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. The name "Meribah" itself means "quarreling" or "contention," reflecting the strife and lack of faith exhibited by the Israelites and their leaders. This location becomes a symbol of testing and failure, reminding us of the importance of trusting in God's provision and instructions, even in challenging circumstances. It calls us to learn from past mistakes and to seek God's guidance in all things. Persons / Places / Events 1. AaronThe brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He played a significant role in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 2. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage and guide them to the Promised Land. 3. MeribahA location where the Israelites quarreled with Moses and Aaron due to a lack of water. It is here that Moses and Aaron disobeyed God's command, leading to their punishment. 4. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and were on their journey to the Promised Land. 5. The Promised LandThe land of Canaan, promised by God to Abraham and his descendants as an inheritance. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceDisobedience to God's commands, even by leaders, carries significant consequences. Aaron's inability to enter the Promised Land serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience. Leadership and AccountabilityLeaders are held to a high standard of accountability. Aaron and Moses' actions at Meribah demonstrate that even leaders must adhere strictly to God's instructions. God's Faithfulness Despite Human FailureDespite the failures of Moses and Aaron, God remained faithful to His promise to the Israelites. This underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant. The Importance of Faith and TrustThe incident at Meribah highlights the need for faith and trust in God's provision, even in challenging circumstances. Bible Study Questions 1. What does Aaron's punishment teach us about the seriousness of disobedience to God's commands? 2. How can we apply the lessons of leadership and accountability from Aaron's life to our own roles and responsibilities? 3. In what ways does the account of Meribah challenge us to trust in God's provision during difficult times? 4. How does the faithfulness of God, despite human failure, encourage us in our spiritual journey? 5. What parallels can we draw between the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and our own spiritual journey towards God's promises? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 17:1-7This passage describes an earlier incident at Rephidim, where Moses struck the rock to bring forth water, highlighting a pattern of testing and God's provision. Deuteronomy 32:50-52These verses recount the consequences of Moses and Aaron's actions at Meribah, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands. Hebrews 3:16-19This New Testament passage reflects on the Israelites' rebellion and unbelief, drawing a parallel to the events at Meribah and the consequences of disobedience. People Aaron, Egyptians, Eleazar, Israelites, Miriam, MosesPlaces Edom, Egypt, Kadesh-barnea, King's Highway, Meribah, Mount Hor, ZinTopics Aaron, Command, Commandment, Enter, Gathered, Israelites, Meribah, Mer'ibah, Mouth, Peoples, Provoked, Rebelled, Rest, Sons, WatersDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 20:24 6222 rebellion, against God Numbers 20:22-29 4254 mountains Numbers 20:23-24 9021 death, natural Numbers 20:23-29 7258 promised land, early history 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 20:24 NIVNumbers 20:24 NLTNumbers 20:24 ESVNumbers 20:24 NASBNumbers 20:24 KJV
Numbers 20:24 Commentaries
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