IAnd the children of Israel, all the congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there. 2And there was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and against Aaron.155 3And the people quarreled with Moses, and they said, saying, “If only we had expired when our brothers expired in front of YHWH! 4And why have you brought YHWH’s community to this wilderness to die there, we and our cattle? 5And why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this bad place? It’s not a place of seed and fig and vine and pomegranate, and there’s no water to drink!”
6And Moses and Aaron came from in front of the community to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and they fell on their faces. And YHWH’s glory appeared to them. 7And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron, your brother. And you shall speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give a drink to the congregation and their cattle.”
9And Moses took the staff from in front of YHWH as He commanded him.156 10And Moses and Aaron assembled the community opposite the rock. And he said to them, “Listen, rebels, shall we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11And Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. And much water came out! And the congregation and their cattle drank.
12And YHWH said to Moses and to Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me, to make me holy before the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this community to the land that I have given them!”
13They are the waters of Meribah, over which the children of Israel quarreled with YHWH, and He was made holy among them.
14And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom.157 “Your brother, Israel, says this: You know all the hardship that has found us: 15And our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many days. And Egypt was bad to us and to our fathers, l6and we cried to YHWH, and He heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us from Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city at the edge of your border. 17Let us pass through your land. We won’t pass through a field or through a vineyard, and we won’t drink the water of a well. We’ll go by the king’s road, we won’t turn right or left, until we pass your border.”
l8And Edom said to him, “You won’t pass through me, or else I’ll go out to you with the sword.”
19And the children of Israel said to him, “We’ll go up by the highway, and if we drink your water, I and my cattle, then I’ll pay its price. Only, it’s nothing: let me pass through by foot.”
20And he said, “You won’t pass.” And Edom went out to him with a heavy mass of people and a strong hand, 2Iand Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his border. And Israel turned away from him.
22And they traveled from Kadesh, and the children of Israel, all the congregation, came to Mount Hor.
23And YHWH said to Moses and to Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24“Let Aaron be gathered to his people, because he shall not come to the land that I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. 25Take Aaron and Eleazar, his son, and take them up Mount Hor, 26and take off Aaron’s clothes, and you shall put them on Eleazar, his son. And Aaron will be gathered and die there.”
27And Moses did as YHWH commanded him. And they went up to Mount Hor before the eyes of all the congregation. 28And Moses took off Aaron’s clothes and put them on Eleazar, his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29And all the congregation saw that Aaron had expired, and all the house of Israel mourned Aaron thirty days.