Chapter 20

20:1 Then came the children of Israel, [even] the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first ^a month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and ^b Miriam died there, and was buried there.

(a) This was forty years after their departure from Egypt.
(b) Moses and Aarons sister.

20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they ^c gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

(c) Another rebellion was in Rephidim ( Exodus 17:1-16 ), and this was in Kadesh.

20:8 Take the ^d 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.

(d) With which you did miracles in Egypt and divided the sea.

20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; ^e must we fetch you water out of this rock?

(e) The punishment which followed declared that Moses and Aaron did not believe the Lords promise as it appeared in ( Numbers 20:12 ).

20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to ^f 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.

(f) That the children of Israel should believe and acknowledge my power and so honour me.

20:13 This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he ^h was sanctified in them.

(h) By showing himself almighty and maintaining his glory.

20:14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of ⁱ Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

(i) Because Jacob or Israel was Esaus brother, who was called Edom.

20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel ^k turned away from him.

(k) To pass by another way.

20:24 Aaron shall be ^l 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.

(l) Read ( Genesis 25:8 ).