Numbers Chapter 20 Summary

Chapter 20 of Numbers begins with the sad death of Miriam, Moses sister.

The children of Israel were in the desert of Zin and stayed in Kadesh, where she was buried.

Shortly after, the children of Israel began to chide with Moses and Aaron about having no water to drink. They complained about coming out of Egypt and the “good life” they had there.

Moses and Aaron left the congregation to pray for them, and that is when the Lord appeared to them. God gave them instructions of what to do, specifically God told them to take the rod of Aaron and “speak unto the rock” in the eyes of all the people and the rock will bring forth water.

Moses did what God asked him, but added a little razzle-dazzle in his anger and frustration. He said, “hear now, ye rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?”

Moses hit the rock two times and water came out abundantly and the congregation drank. God wasn’t pleased with Moses and Aaron, because they didn’t believe God could bring water out of the rock by speaking to it.

Also, in their anger they did not sanctify God in the eyes of the people. For this, they lost the privilege to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. This is known as the water of Meribah where the children of Israel strove with God.

The chapter ends with Moses petitioning the king of Edom to allow Israel to cut through their land harmless, Edom declines and threatens war if they do. What a loving brother?

The chapter ends with God preparing Aaron to die and transferring the High priest from Aaron to his son Eleazar. Israel mourned for Aaron for thirty days.