Números 20
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Números 20
NJB (MT versing) Death of Miriam Moses' Error at Kadesh Departure from Kadesh Events at Kadesh The Waters of Meribah 20:1-7 20:1-11 20:1 20:1 20:1 20:2-8 20:2-6 20:2-5 20:6-8 The Water of Meribah 20:7-9 20:8 20:9-13 20:9-13 20:9-11 20:10-11 The Punishment of Moses and Aaron 20:12-13 20:12 20:12 20:13 20:13 Passage Through Edom Refused The King of Edom Refuses to Let Israel Pass Edom Refuses Right of Way 20:14-17 20:14-21 20:14-17 20:14-17 20:14-21 20:18-21 20:18-21 20:18 20:19 20:20-21 Death of Aaron Death of Aaron The Death of Aaron 20:22 20:22-29 20:22-29 20:22-29 20:22-26 Death of Aaron 20:23-29 20:27-29 Etc.
Números 20:1-7
20:1 "the wilderness of Zin" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WILDERNESSES OF THE EXODUS. ▣ "the first month" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS. From Num. 33:38 we learn that this was in the fourth year (i.e., at the end of YHWH's judgment on the unbelieving generation, i.e., the spies' negative report, Numbers 13). ▣ "Now Miriam died there and was buried there" It is hard to interpret something based on silence, but this is such a long account. There is no mention of her being mourned, as there is Aaron in Num. 20:29. This is a sad chapter. Miriam dies (no explanation or grief mentioned), Num. 20:1 Moses is condemned to death before the conquest, Num. 20:12 Aaron dies on Mt. Hor, Num. 20:22-29 20:2 YHWH tested His people's trust in Him by no natural water sources here and in Exod. 17:1-7 (notice Num. 20:13). 20:3-5 Notice the complaints of the people against Moses, and by implication, YHWH. Num. 20:3b ‒ claiming they wish they had died in YHWH's earlier judgment Num. 20:4 ‒ claiming the lack of water would cause their death as well as all their animals Num. 20:5a ‒ questioning the exodus from Egypt Num. 20:5b ‒ YHWH's promise of a future filled with abundance was not true 20:6 "the tent of meeting" This is one of several terms for the Tabernacle possibly a separate tent outside of the camp where Moses met YHWH ▣ "the glory of the Lord appeared" This glory was the physical manifestation of the shekinah cloud of glory, which denoted YHWH's presence. It first appears in Exod. 16:7,10. It could denote YHWH's provision ‒ here judgment ‒ Num. 16:19
Números 20:8
20:8 "Take the rod" This shepherd's rod or walking staff was a symbol of the power of YHWH in the hand of Moses (cf. Exod. 4:2, 17, 20; 17:5, 6). YHWH will choose to act through Moses (i.e., human instrumentality, cf. Exod. 3:8-10). This may have been Aaron's rod. See full note at Num. 20:9. ▣ "speak to the rock" There are two IMPERATIVES in this verse and this may be a third. take ‒ BDB 542, KB 534, Qal assemble ‒ BDB 874, KB 1078, Hiphil speak ‒ BDB 180, KB 210, Piel PERFECT Notice the supernatural element of "speaking" to a rock. Also note it is YHWH's power through His chosen leader in full public view of all!
Números 20:9-13
20:9 The phrase "from before the Lord" may imply that the rod used was Aaron's rod which had earlier budded and fruited (cf. Numbers 17). This rod was placed back in the tent of meeting (Num. 17:10). This rod of Aaron is also mentioned as being related "to the rebels" in Num. 17:10 (BDB 598). For a good brief discussion of the Hebrew term (BDB 641), which can mean "staff," "rod," "scepter," "stick," or "tribe" see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 924-925. 20:10-11 Moses is so angry at these grumbling, unfaithful Israelites that he disobeys YHWH's order in public view claims that he and Aaron produced the water listen now ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE you rebels ‒ BDB 598, KB 632, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE; the basic root means "to be stubborn" or "to be rebellious" (1) of a son ‒ Deut. 28:18,20 (2) of Moses ‒ here; Num. 27:14 (3) of Israel ‒ 1 Sam. 12:15; Ps. 78:8; 105:28 (4) of Jerusalem ‒ Jer. 4:17; 5:23; Lam. 1:18, 20; Zeph. 3:1 Moses struck the rock in anger, Num. 20:11; YHWH reacts to this public disobedience in 20:12 20:11" YHWH demonstrates His power often in connection to water. See SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS. 20:12 This is such a sad verse. But it does powerfully show that YHWH is not a respecter of persons. As Aaron's and Moses' sins (and also Miriam, v. 1) had acted against YHWH's will, not one of them was allowed to enter the Promised Land (i.e., Canaan, cf. Deut. 1:37; 3:26-27). 20:13 "the waters of Meribah" A place name and similar water crisis is mentioned early in the wilderness wandering period (cf. Exodus 17). But, the context implies this account refers to Moses striking the rock here in chapter 20. So does it refer to the Exodus 17 account (cf. Ps. 95:8) this account Possibly the symbolic name Meribah (i.e., contention) is not a place name, as in Exodus 17, but a reference to the conflict between YHWH and Moses here.
Números 20:14-17
20:14 "From Kadesh" This forms the geographical section of the book of Numbers where the people of God move from Kadesh-Barnea, the southern oasis in the wilderness of Zin, to the borders of the Promised Land in the plains of Moab. The movement of Israel during the wilderness wandering period is uncertain. They were at Kadesh in Num. 13:26 (cf. Num. 32:8) when they sent out the spies. But here in Num. 20:14, arriving at Kadesh (cf. Num. 33:36-37) marks the last geographical section of the book. It appears Israel moved in a circle and came to several locations (i.e., oases) a number of times during this 38 year judgment period. This seeming meandering is the source of Korah's rebellion and the rebellion in Num. 20:3-5. It is also possible that there was more than one "Kadesh" (i.e., Gordon Wenham, Tyndale OT Commentaries, vol. 4, p. 152). ▣ "to the king of Edom" Edom was one of Israel's relatives through Esau (cf. Gen. 27:30 and Genesis 36). Israel was commanded to be kind to them in Deut. 23:7. It is interesting to see the tension between these two groups of relatives as documented throughout the OT (cf. Jdgs. 11:16ff; 1 Sam. 14:42-48; 2 Sam. 8:14; 1 Kgs. 11:14, 25; 2 Chr. 20:10-30; Isa. 34:5ff; 63:1ff; Jer. 49:7ff; Lam. 4:21-22; Ezek. 26:12ff; 35:13ff; Amos 1:6-9, 11-12). See SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL. 20:16 "He heard our voice and sent an angel" This angel is usually referred to as "the angel of the Lord" (cf. Exod. 13:21-22; 14:19; 23:20; 32:34; 33:2). He represents YHWH. I believe it may be the pre-Incarnate Messiah. The word "angel" in both Hebrew (BDB 521) and Greek can also mean "messenger" and, if that is true, this could refer to God's human instrumentality, Moses (cf. Exodus 3-6). See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. ▣ "we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory" By looking at a map of the Sinai peninsula, it is obvious that Kadesh-Barnea is not on the border of Edom unless we have inaccurately drawn the borders of Edom. Some have assumed that Edom covered much more territory to the west or that this is not Kadesh-Barnea, but another Kadesh located closer to the traditional boundaries of Edom. 20:17, 19 This is apparently a letter written in the form of its day, giving four reasons to allow the Israelites to pass through the land of the Edomites. we will not pass through your fields we will not pass through your vineyards we will not even drink water from a well we will stay on the king's highway However, Edom was fearful of this large group of people and would not let them pass. The king's highway refers to a large, developed road on this east side of the Jordan from Damascus, Syria, down to the Gulf of Aqaba on the Arabian peninsula (cf. Num. 20:19, 21, 22). It is not certain why this major highway of the trans-Joradn area is called "the king's highway. an anachronism related to David or Solomon to the Assyrian King, Tiglath-pileser III's military campaign in this area (AB, p. 492) possibly as ancient as Genesis 14, named after the four kings who Abraham defeated (Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 22); the road was well known very early (i.e., 3000-2000 B.C.) an idiom for the royal protection of a major north-south caravan route, by being under all the kings along the route; they would want the taxation the caravan's merchandise
Números 20:18-21
20:21 "Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him" Although it would have been easy to overwhelm them militarily, especially with the power of God on their side, because God had commanded them not to do that, they simply turned away from a confrontation with their relatives (cf. Deut. 2:1-8 for a parallel of this account).
Números 20:22
20:22 "Mount Hor" This will be the site of Aaron's death. Its exact location is uncertain. When one compares Num. 33:31 with Deut. 10:6, it seems that the death of Aaron is placed in two different geographical locations. Because of our uncertainty as to the location of many of these geographical sites, it is best to withhold judgment until more information from archeology is known (i.e., Num. 20:16,23). They may be the same site (Jewish Study Bible, p. 324). Hard Sayings of the Bible, p. 166, says that "Moseroth" may be the name for the larger area which included Mt. Hor.
Números 20:23-29
20:24 "Aaron will be gathered to his people" This implies that after death there is some kind of family fellowship even in the grave (cf. Gen. 25:8,17; 35:29; 49:33; Num. 31:22). The ancient view of Sheol was a conscious existence but with less enthusiasm and energy than an earthly existence. The afterlife is one of several theological issues that developed over the time of the OT to NT. We call this "progressive revelation." See SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?. 20:25-26 YHWH gives three commands to Moses. take Aaron and Eleazar ‒ BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE bring them up to Mt. Hor ‒ BDB 748, KB 828, Hiphil IMPERATIVE strip Aaron of his garments ‒ BDB 832, KB 980, Hiphil IMPERATIVE put them on his son ‒ BDB 527, KB 519, Hiphil PERFECT with waw, which is used as another IMPERATIVE in a JUSSIVE sense 20:26 "his garments" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST. 20:27 "So Moses did just as the Lord commanded" This is opposite of Num. 20:10. Obedience is crucial. It applies to all, in all things. This is not a democracy but a theocracy! 20:29 "thirty days" The normal time of mourning was seven days. But because of Moses' and Aaron's crucial, initial leadership, both were mourned thirty days.