Numbers / Chapter 20

Numbers 20

29 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex 1 tradition available

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Miriam dies at Kadesh. The people quarrel over water, and God tells Moses to speak to the rock — but Moses strikes it twice instead, and God bars both Moses and Aaron from entering the land. Edom refuses Israel passage. Aaron dies on Mount Hor, and his priestly garments are transferred to his son Eleazar. Israel mourns Aaron for thirty days.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

This chapter records the deaths of two of Israel's three founding leaders — Miriam in verse 1 and Aaron in verse 28 — bookending a chapter of loss. The exact nature of Moses's sin at Meribah has generated centuries of debate: the Hebrew says lo he'emantem bi ('you did not trust me,' v. 12), framing the offense as a failure of faith rather than a mechanical error. The priestly succession is enacted physically: Aaron's garments are stripped from him and placed on Eleazar on the mountaintop (v. 28).

Translation Friction

The verb vayyar ('he raised,' v. 11) describing Moses lifting his hand before striking the rock uses a word whose other meaning is 'he rebelled.' Some interpreters see a deliberate double meaning. We rendered the surface sense ('raised his hand') while noting the ambiguity. The phrase mei merivah ('waters of Meribah/strife,' v. 13) creates a place-name from the quarrel — riv means 'to contend, to dispute' — and we transliterated it to preserve the etymology.

Connections

The water-from-rock crisis parallels Exodus 17:1-7 at Rephidim, but the outcomes diverge sharply. Miriam's death (v. 1) and the immediate water shortage led rabbinic tradition to associate a miraculous water source with her life ('Miriam's well'). Edom's refusal of passage (vv. 14-21) references the Jacob-Esau kinship (v. 14; cf. Genesis 25:21-26). Aaron's death on Mount Hor is referenced in Deuteronomy 10:6 and 32:50.

Numbers 20:1

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל כׇּל־הָ֨עֵדָ֤ה מִדְבַּר־צִן֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב הָעָ֖ם בְּקָדֵ֑שׁ וַתָּ֤מׇת שָׁם֙ מִרְיָ֔ם וַתִּקָּבֵ֖ר שָֽׁם׃

The whole community of Israel arrived at the wilderness of Zin in the first month and camped at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The first month (bachodesh harishon) is Nisan — the same month as the exodus (Ex 12:2). The transition from wilderness wanderings back toward Canaan opens with loss: Miriam (achot, sister; Ex 15:20) dies at Kadesh. Midbar-tsin and Qadesh frame this chapter; Miriam’s death in v 1 parallels Aaron’s in v 28, bookending the generation’s passing.
Numbers 20:2

וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה מַ֖יִם לָעֵדָ֑ה וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹֽן׃

There was no water for the community. They massed together against Moses and Aaron.

KJV And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Lo haya mayim la‘edah — no water for the assembly. The verb va-yiqahalu (from qahal, 'assembly') means they gathered as a hostile crowd. The same crisis as Exodus 17 (Rephidim) recurs here at Kadesh; this time the people’s confrontation leads to Moses’ decisive failure.
Numbers 20:3

וַיָּ֥רֶב הָעָ֖ם עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר וְל֥וּ גָוַ֛עְנוּ בִּגְוַ֥ע אַחֵ֖ינוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

The people contended with Moses and said, "If only we had perished when our kindred died before the LORD!"

KJV And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Va-yarev (from riv, 'strife') — they quarreled. Lu gavanu bigva‘ acheinu — 'if only we had died in the dying of our brothers.' They refer to the rebels who died in Korah’s rebellion (ch 16) or the plague in 17:14. The complaint echoes their earlier wish to have died in Egypt.
Numbers 20:4

וְלָמָ֤ה הֲבֵאתֶם֙ אֶת־קְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה לָמ֣וּת שָׁ֔ם אֲנַ֖חְנוּ וּבְעִירֵֽנוּ׃

Why have you brought the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness — to die here, we and our livestock?

KJV And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Lamah hevetem et-qehal YHWH — why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD. The people charge Moses and Aaron with endangering qehal YHWH; they shift blame for the wilderness from their own disobedience to the leaders. Be‘irenu (our livestock) shows the scope of the perceived threat.
Numbers 20:5

וְלָמָ֤ה הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם לְהָבִ֣יא אֹתָ֔נוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הָרָ֖ע הַזֶּ֑ה לֹ֣א ׀ מְק֣וֹם זֶ֗רַע וּתְאֵנָ֤ה וְגֶ֙פֶן֙ וְרִמּ֔וֹן וּמַ֥יִם אַ֖יִן לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃

Why did you bring us up from Egypt to this wretched place? It has no grain, no figs, no vines, no pomegranates — and no water to drink.

KJV And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ha-maqom hara‘ hazzeh — this evil/wretched place. The list zera‘ (seed/grain), te'enah (fig), gefen (vine), rimon (pomegranate) — standard symbols of abundance in Canaan (Deut 8:8) — stresses what they lack. Mayim ayin lishtot: no water to drink. The complaint dismisses the wilderness as worthless.
Numbers 20:6

וַיָּבֹא֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה וְאַהֲרֹ֜ן מִפְּנֵ֣י הַקָּהָ֗ל אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}

Moses and Aaron left the assembly and went to the entrance of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

KJV And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. El-petach ohel mo‘ed — to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Va-yiplu al-penehem — they fell on their faces (prostration before revelation). Kevod YHWH — the glory of the LORD — appears as at Sinai; divine instruction will follow, but Moses and Aaron will misuse it.
Numbers 20:7

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Standard introduction for divine speech. The instruction that follows is explicit: speak to the rock (v 8). Moses’ violation of this command will cost him the land.
Numbers 20:8

קַ֣ח אֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֗ה וְהַקְהֵ֤ל אֶת־הָעֵדָה֙ אַתָּה֙ וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֧ם אֶל־הַסֶּ֛לַע לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם וְנָתַ֣ן מֵימָ֑יו וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ לָהֶ֥ם מַ֙יִם֙ מִן־הַסֶּ֔לַע וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֥ אֶת־הָעֵדָ֖ה וְאֶת־בְּעִירָֽם׃

Take the staff. You and Aaron your brother are to assemble the community, and in front of them speak to the rock. It will yield its water. You will bring water out of the rock for them and give the community and their livestock to drink.

KJV Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ve-dibbartem el-ha-sela‘ le‘einehem — you shall speak to the rock before their eyes. The key verb is dibber (speak), not strike. Ha-matteh (the staff) is carried but not used to hit. The contrast with Exodus 17:6 (strike the rock) and Moses’ actual act (striking twice, v 11) defines his sin: he did what God did not command.
Numbers 20:9

וַיִּקַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֖ה מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּֽהוּ׃

Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as He had commanded him.

KJV And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Millephne YHWH — from before the LORD (from the sanctuary). Moses obeys the first part of the command (taking the staff) but will transgress the crucial part (speaking, not striking). Ke-asher tsivvahu — as He commanded him — highlights the gap between command and fulfillment.
Numbers 20:10

וַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַקָּהָ֖ל אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ הַמֹּרִ֔ים הֲמִן־הַסֶּ֣לַע הַזֶּ֔ה נוֹצִ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם מָֽיִם׃

Moses and Aaron assembled the community before the rock. Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels. Should we bring water for you out of this rock?"

KJV And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ha-morim — the rebels (from marah, 'rebel'). Moses’ harsh tone shifts focus from God to himself: 'Must we fetch?' (nochsi‘ lakhem) implies he and Aaron provide the water, not the LORD. This failure to sanctify God (lehaqdisheni) before Israel is the heart of his sin (v 12).
Numbers 20:11

וַיָּ֨רֶם מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־יָד֗וֹ וַיַּ֧ךְ אֶת־הַסֶּ֛לַע בְּמַטֵּ֖הוּ פַּעֲמָ֑יִם וַיֵּצְאוּ֙ מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים וַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּ הָעֵדָ֖ה וּבְעִירָֽם׃ {ס}

Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water poured out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Va-yakh et-ha-sela‘ bemattehu pa‘amayim — he struck the rock with his staff twice. God had said 'speak'; Moses strikes. The doubling (twice) may signal excess or frustration. Water flows anyway (mayim rabbim — abundant water); God’s mercy meets the need, but Moses’ act disqualifies him from leading Israel into the land.
Numbers 20:12

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ יַ֚עַן לֹא־הֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣ם בִּ֔י לְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִי לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֵ֗ן לֹ֤א תָבִ֙יאוּ֙ אֶת־הַקָּהָ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לָהֶֽם׃

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust Me — and did not sanctify Me in the sight of the Israelites — you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them."

KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Lo he'emantem bi — you did not trust/believe Me. Lehaqdisheni le‘eine bene Yisra'el — to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel. Moses’ act (striking instead of speaking, taking credit) obscured God’s holiness. The consequence is definitive: neither Moses nor Aaron will enter the land. This verse grounds Moses’ exclusion from Canaan (Deut 34:4).
Numbers 20:13

הֵ֚מָּה מֵ֣י מְרִיבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־רָב֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּקָּדֵ֖שׁ בָּֽם׃ {ס}

These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites contended with the LORD, and He showed Himself holy among them.

KJV This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Me merivah — waters of Meribah (from riv, 'contention'). The place-name commemorates both Israel’s strife and God’s self-revelation: va-yiqaddesh bam — He was sanctified/made holy in/through them. Despite Moses’ failure, God’s holiness was displayed when the rock yielded water. Meribah also appears in Exodus 17:7 (Meribah at Rephidim).

Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)minor

"These are the waters of Meribah"

The Meribah narrative agrees between MT and SP.

Numbers 20:14

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח מֹשֶׁ֤ה מַלְאָכִ֛ים מִקָּדֵ֖שׁ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ אֱד֑וֹם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אָחִ֣יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתָּ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַתְּלָאָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְצָאָֽתְנוּ׃

Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has come upon us."

KJV And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Koh amar achikha Yisra'el — thus says your brother Israel. The appeal to kinship (Jacob/Israel and Esau/Edom) frames the request. Tela'ah (hardship) and metsa'atenu (has found us) describe the afflictions of slavery and wilderness. The diplomatic tone seeks peaceful passage along the king’s highway.
Numbers 20:15

וַיֵּרְד֤וּ אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ לָ֛נוּ מִצְרַ֖יִם וְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃

"Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers."

KJV How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Va-yaredu avotenu — our fathers went down. Va-yare‘u lanu mitzrayim — the Egyptians did evil/harm to us. The speech rehearses Israel’s story to justify the request: we are kin, we suffered, we were delivered. Yamim rabbim (many days) summarizes the sojourn.
Numbers 20:16

וַנִּצְעַ֤ק אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע קֹלֵ֔נוּ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיֹּצִאֵ֖נוּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְהִנֵּה֙ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ בְקָדֵ֔שׁ עִ֖יר קְצֵ֥ה גְבוּלֶֽךָ׃

"We cried out to the LORD; He heard our voice, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are in Kadesh, a town at the edge of your territory."

KJV And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Va-nitsa‘aq el-YHWH — we cried out to the LORD. Mal'akh can mean angel or messenger; the Exodus narrative emphasizes God’s direct action. Qetseh gevulekha — the edge of your border — places Israel at Edom’s frontier, requesting safe passage through rather than conquest.
Numbers 20:17

נַעְבְּרָה־נָּ֣א בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ לֹ֤א נַעֲבֹר֙ בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה וּבְכֶ֔רֶם וְלֹ֥א נִשְׁתֶּ֖ה מֵ֣י בְאֵ֑ר דֶּ֧רֶךְ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ נֵלֵ֗ךְ לֹ֤א נִטֶּה֙ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֔אול עַ֥ד אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲבֹ֖ר גְּבֻלֶֽךָ׃

"Please let us pass through your land. We will not cross through field or vineyard, and we will not drink water from wells. We will keep to the king’s highway and will not turn right or left until we have crossed your border."

KJV Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Derekh ha-melekh — the king’s highway, a main trade route through Edom. The pledges (no fields, no vineyards, no well water) assure Edom that Israel will cause no harm or depletion. Lo nitteh yamin u-smol — we will not turn right or left — promises a straight, minimally intrusive passage.
Numbers 20:18

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֱד֔וֹם לֹ֥א תַעֲבֹ֖ר בִּ֑י פֶּן־בַּחֶ֖רֶב אֵצֵ֥א לִקְרָאתֶֽךָ׃

Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through me, or I will march out against you with the sword."

KJV And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Lo ta‘avor bi — you shall not pass through me (Edom speaks as the land). Pen-bacherev etze' — lest I go out with the sword. The refusal is absolute. The threat of armed resistance forces Israel to detour, adding hardship to the journey.
Numbers 20:19

וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֥יו בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֮ל בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣ה נַעֲלֶה֒ וְאִם־מֵימֶ֤יךָ נִשְׁתֶּה֙ אֲנִ֣י וּמִקְנַ֔י וְנָתַתִּ֖י מִכְרָ֑ם רַ֥ק אֵין־דָּבָ֖ר בְּרַגְלַ֥י אֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה׃

The Israelites said to him, "We will go up by the highway. If I and my livestock drink any of your water, I will pay for it. I ask only to pass through on foot — nothing more."

KJV And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ba-mesillah na‘aleh — we will go up by the highway. Mekhram — their price, i.e., payment for water used. Ein-davar beraglay e‘evorah — there is nothing with my feet, I will pass — a pledge to pass through without additional demands or damage. Israel sweetens the offer; Edom still refuses.
Numbers 20:20

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑ר וַיֵּצֵ֤א אֱדוֹם֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ בְּעַ֥ם כָּבֵ֖ד וּבְיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה׃

He said, "You shall not pass through." Then Edom came out against Israel with a large force and a strong hand.

KJV And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Be‘am kaved uve-yad chazaqah — with a heavy/impressive people and a strong hand. Edom musters for war. The phrase echoes the exodus (Ex 6:1, 13:14) but here describes Edom’s military posture against Israel. Israel must turn away.
Numbers 20:21

וַיְמָאֵ֣ן ׀ אֱד֗וֹם נְתֹן֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל עֲבֹ֖ר בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥ט יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵעָלָֽיו׃ {פ}

Edom refused to grant Israel passage through its territory. So Israel turned away from it.

KJV Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Va-yema'en — he refused (from ma'en). Lo naton et-Yisra'el avor bigvulo — did not give Israel to pass through his border. Va-yet Yisra'el me‘alaw — Israel turned aside from him. The detour around Edom extends the wilderness journey and delays entry into the land.
Numbers 20:22

וַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקָּדֵ֑שׁ וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כׇּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה הֹ֥ר הָהָֽר׃

They set out from Kadesh, and the whole community of Israel came to Mount Hor.

KJV And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Hor ha-har — Mount Hor (har means mountain; Hor may be from a root for height). The journey from Kadesh to Hor sets the stage for Aaron’s death. The same mountain appears in the border descriptions of Canaan (Num 34:7) and in Edom’s vicinity here.
Numbers 20:23

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֑ר עַל־גְּב֥וּל אֶֽרֶץ־אֱד֖וֹם לֵאמֹֽר׃

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom:

KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Al-gevul eretz Edom — on the border of the land of Edom. The divine word comes at the boundary; Aaron will die at the threshold of the land, never crossing. The location echoes Israel’s exclusion from Edom’s territory — barriers on multiple fronts.
Numbers 20:24

יֵאָסֵ֤ף אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־עַמָּ֔יו כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־מְרִיתֶ֥ם אֶת־פִּ֖י לְמֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה׃

"Aaron will be gathered to his people. He shall not enter the land I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah."

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ye'aseph Aharon el-ammav — Aaron will be gathered to his people (euphemism for death). Meritem et-pi — you rebelled against My mouth/word. The charge links Aaron’s death directly to me merivah (the waters of Meribah). Aaron was present and complicit in Moses’ failure; both bear the consequence.
Numbers 20:25

קַ֚ח אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר בְּנ֑וֹ וְהַ֥עַל אֹתָ֖ם הֹ֥ר הָהָֽר׃

Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up to Mount Hor.

KJV Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ha‘al otam Hor ha-har — bring them up Mount Hor. Eleazar will succeed Aaron as high priest (Ex 6:23). The transfer of priesthood is deliberate: Aaron goes up to die; Eleazar goes up to be invested.
Numbers 20:26

וְהַפְשֵׁ֤ט אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֖ם אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בְּנ֑וֹ וְאַהֲרֹ֥ן יֵאָסֵ֖ף וּמֵ֥ת שָֽׁם׃

"Strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron will be gathered to his people and die there."

KJV And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Hafsheit et-Aharon et-begadav — strip Aaron of his garments. The priestly vestments (Ex 28) are transferred to Eleazar, symbolizing the continuity of the priesthood. The same verb (pashat) appears in v 28 for the actual stripping. Ye'aseph umet sham — he will be gathered and die there.
Numbers 20:27

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ אֶל־הֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר לְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־הָעֵדָֽה׃

Moses did as the LORD commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.

KJV And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Le‘eine kol-ha‘edah — before the eyes of the whole assembly. The transition is public. The community witnesses Aaron’s departure and Eleazar’s elevation. Moses’ obedience here contrasts with his failure at Meribah.
Numbers 20:28

וַיַּפְשֵׁט֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בְּנ֔וֹ וַיָּ֧מׇת אַהֲרֹ֛ן שָׁ֖ם בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַיֵּ֧רֶד מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֖ר מִן־הָהָֽר׃

Moses removed Aaron's garments and dressed his son Eleazar in them. Aaron died there on the summit of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came back down.

KJV And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Be-ro'sh ha-har — on the top/summit of the mountain. Aaron dies at the high point, perhaps suggesting he is 'gathered' heavenward. Va-yered Moshe ve-El‘azar min-ha-har — Moses and Eleazar descended alone; the high priest who goes up is not the one who comes down. The priesthood passes; the wilderness generation continues to pass away.
Numbers 20:29

וַיִּרְאוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י גָוַ֖ע אַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיִּבְכּ֤וּ אֶת־אַהֲרֹן֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים י֔וֹם כֹּ֖ל בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}

When the whole community saw that Aaron had died, they wept for Aaron thirty days — all the house of Israel.

KJV And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Ki gava‘ Aharon — that Aaron had died (gava‘ = expire, breathe out). Va-yivku et-Aharon shloshim yom — they wept for Aaron thirty days. The same mourning period as for Moses (Deut 34:8). Kol beit Yisra'el — all the house of Israel — signifies full communal grief. The chapter ends with Israel grieving their first high priest as they continue toward the land he would never enter.
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