| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. | 1In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. |
| 2Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. | 2Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. |
| 3They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! | 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! |
| 4Why did you bring the LORD's community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? | 4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? |
| 5Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" | 5Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!” |
| 6Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. | 6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. |
| 7The LORD said to Moses, | 7And the LORD said to Moses, |
| 8"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." | 8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.” |
| 9So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. | 9So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. |
| 10He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" | 10Then 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?” |
| 11Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. | 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. |
| 12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." | 12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” |
| 13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he was proved holy among them. | 13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them. |
| 14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us. | 14From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, |
| 15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors, | 15how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, |
| 16but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. | 16and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. |
| 17Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King's Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory." | 17Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” |
| 18But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword." | 18But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.” |
| 19The Israelites replied: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot--nothing else." | 19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.” |
| 20Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. | 20But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. |
| 21Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them. | 21So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them. |
| 22The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. | 22After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. |
| 23At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and 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 I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. | 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. |
| 25Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. | 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. |
| 26Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there." | 26Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.” |
| 27Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. | 27So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. |
| 28Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, | 28After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. |
| 29and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites mourned for him thirty days. | 29When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days. |
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