Numbers 20:24
New International Version
“Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

New Living Translation
“The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah.

English Standard Version
“Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

New King James Version
“Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah.

New American Standard Bible
“Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

NASB 1995
“Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

NASB 1977
“Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Aaron will be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Amplified Bible
“Aaron will be gathered to his people [in death]; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you [both] rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Christian Standard Bible
“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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

Contemporary English Version
"Aaron, this is where you will die. You and Moses disobeyed me at Meribah, and so you will not enter the land I promised the Israelites.

English Revised Version
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Aaron must now join his ancestors [in death], since he cannot enter the land I'm giving the Israelites. This is because you both rebelled against my command at the oasis of Meribah.

Good News Translation
"Aaron is not going to enter the land which I promised to give to Israel; he is going to die, because the two of you rebelled against my command at Meribah.

International Standard Version
"Aaron is to be gathered to his people, since he is not to enter the land that I'm about to give the Israelis. After all, you both rebelled against my command at the Meribah Springs.

Majority Standard Bible
“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.

NET Bible
"Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors, for he will not enter into the land I have given to the Israelites because both of you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

New Heart English Bible
"Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

Webster's Bible Translation
Aaron shall be gathered to his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

World English Bible
“Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Aaron is gathered to his people, for he does not go into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because that you provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah.

Young's Literal Translation
'Aaron is gathered unto his people, for he doth not go in unto the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because that ye provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah.

Smith's Literal Translation
Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not come into the land which I gave to the sons of Israel, because that ye resisted my mouth at the Waters of Strife.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let Aaron, saith he, go to his people: for he shall not go into the land which I have given the children of Israel, because he was incredulous to my words, at the waters of contradiction.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Let Aaron,” he said, “go to his people. For he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because he did not believe my mouth at the Waters of Contradiction.

New American Bible
Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land I have given to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my directions at the waters of Meribah.

New Revised Standard Version
“Let Aaron be gathered to his people. For he shall not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Aaron shall be gathered to his people for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Mesotha, and did not sanctify me at the water in their presence.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Ahron shall be gathered to his people because he shall not enter the land that I have given to the children of Israel, because you provoked the Word of my mouth by the water of contention and you did not sanctify me by the water in their sight.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against My word at the waters of Meribah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let Aaron be added to his people; for ye shall certainly not go into the land which I have given the children of Israel, because ye provoked me at the water of strife.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Aaron
23And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 24“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. 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:50-51
And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. / For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence.

Deuteronomy 34:4-5
And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.” / So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said.

Hebrews 3:17-19
And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? / So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Psalm 106:32-33
At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

Deuteronomy 1:37
The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land.

Deuteronomy 3:26-27
But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter. / Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west and north and south and east. See the land with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan.

1 Corinthians 10:5-6
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.

Deuteronomy 4:21-22
The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. / For I will not be crossing the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you shall cross over and take possession of that good land.

Numbers 27:13-14
After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was; / for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

Hebrews 4:1-2
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

Deuteronomy 31:2
he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’

Joshua 24:5-7
Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and afterward I brought you out. / When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea, the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. / So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

Exodus 17:6-7
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. / He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Deuteronomy 32:48-52
On that same day the LORD said to Moses, / “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession. / And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Aaron shall be gathered to his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

gathered

Numbers 27:13
And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

Numbers 31:2
Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

Genesis 15:15
And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

because ye

Numbers 20:11,12
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also

word.

Numbers 4:27
At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.

Deuteronomy 32:50
And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:

Jump to Previous
Children Command Enter Israel Israelites Meribah Mer'ibah Mouth Peoples Provoked Rebelled Rest Water Waters Word
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Children Command Enter Israel Israelites Meribah Mer'ibah Mouth Peoples Provoked Rebelled Rest Water Waters Word
Numbers 20
1. The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies.
2. They murmur for want of water
7. Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah
14. Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him
22. At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies














Aaron will be gathered to his people
This 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.

(24) Shall be gathered unto his people.--This expression does not refer to the place of sepulture. (See Genesis 25:8. and Note.)

Verse 24. - Aaron shall be gathered unto his people. On this expression see at Genesis 25:8.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Aaron
אַהֲרֹן֙ (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

will be gathered
יֵאָסֵ֤ף (yê·’ā·sêp̄)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his people;
עַמָּ֔יו (‘am·māw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

he will not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

enter
יָבֹא֙ (yā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

I have given
נָתַ֖תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the Israelites,
לִבְנֵ֣י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

because
עַ֛ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

both of you rebelled
מְרִיתֶ֥ם (mə·rî·ṯem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 4784: To be contentious or rebellious

against My command
פִּ֖י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

at the waters
לְמֵ֥י (lə·mê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

of Meribah.
מְרִיבָֽה׃ (mə·rî·ḇāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4809: Meribah -- 'place of strife', two places in the desert


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OT Law: Numbers 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people (Nu Num.)
Numbers 20:23
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