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Numbers Chapter
Twenty
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 20
In
this chapter is an account of the children of Israel coming to the wilderness
of Zin
where Miriam died
and where wanting water they murmured
Numbers 20:1
upon
which Moses and Aaron applied to the Lord
who ordered Moses to speak to a
rock
which should give forth water
and which being smitten by him
accordingly did
Numbers 20:6
but
Moses and Aaron
in their conduct of this affair
displeased the Lord
Numbers 20:12
after
this
Moses sent to the king of Edom to desire a passage through his country
which request was refused
Numbers 20:14
upon
Israel's coming to Mount Hor
Aaron
by order
went up to the mount
and
when
stripped of his clothes
which were put on his son Eleazar
he died
lamented
by all the people
Numbers 20:22.
Numbers 20:1 Then the children of Israel
the whole congregation
came into the
Wilderness of Zin in the first month
and the people stayed in Kadesh; and
Miriam died there and was buried there.
YLT
1And the sons of Israel come
in
-- all the company -- to the wilderness of Zin
in the first month
and the
people abide in Kadesh
and Miriam dieth there
and is buried there.
Then came the children of Israel
even the whole congregation
.... Not
immediately after the transaction of the above things
recorded in the
preceding chapters; as the sending of the spies into the land of Canaan
and
their report of it; the business of Korah
and the giving of several laws
respecting the priesthood
and the purification of the people; but thirty eight
years after: nor was this the congregation that came out of Egypt; their
carcasses
by this time
had fallen in the wilderness
as had been threatened
excepting some few
so that this was a new generation: what passed during this
time we have very little account of
excepting their journeyings from place to
place
in Numbers 33:1
by
which it appears
there were eighteen stations between the place they encamped
at when the spies were sent
and this they now came to; and that the place from
whence they came hither was Ezion Geber; from hence they journeyed:
and came unto the desert of Zin; which is different from
the wilderness of Sin
Exodus 16:1 as
appears by their names
which are different
and by the stations of the
Israelites
Numbers 33:11
hither they came
in the first month; the month of Nisan
on the tenth day of it
according to the Targum of Jonathan
which was the first month of the fortieth
year of their coming out of Egypt
so Aben Ezra; with which agrees the Jewish
chronologerF21Seder Olam Rabba
c. 9. p. 25.
which says
this was
the fortieth year
and the beginning of the month Nisan:
and the people abode in Kadesh: which is by some thought
to be different from Kadeshbarnea
from whence the spies were sent
and lay to
the south of the land of Canaan
whereas this was upon the borders of Edom; but
Doctor LightfootF23Chorograph. Cent. in Matt. c. 7. p. 8
9. shows
them to be the same: it is supposed to be eight hours north or northnorth-west
of Mount Sinai
which may be computed to be about twenty milesF24Pococke's
Travels
p. 157. ; here the Israelites abode about four months
see Numbers 33:38 the
above Jewish chronologer says three months
wrongly:
and Miriam died there
and was buried there; the Jews sayF25Shalshalet
Hakabala
fol. 7. 2. Schulchan Aruch
par. 1. c. 580. sect. 2. she died there
the tenth day of the month Nisan
which was ten days after the Israelites came
to this place; though
according to the Targum of Jonathan
it was the same day
they came thither: Patricides
an Arabian writer
saysF26Apud
Hottinger. Smegma Oriental. l. 1. c. 8. p. 457. she died on the seventh day of
Nisan
aged one hundred and twenty seven; no mention is made of the people
mourning for her as for Aaron
Numbers 20:29 and
for Moses
Deuteronomy 34:8
perhaps because of their distress for want of water
as follows.
Numbers 20:2 2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they
gathered together against Moses and Aaron.
YLT
2And there hath been no
water for the company
and they are assembled against Moses
and against Aaron
And there was no water for the congregation
.... Which was
so ordered
for the trial of this new generation
to see whether they would
behave any better than their fathers had done in a like circumstance
the first
year they came out of Egypt
Exodus 17:1.
and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against
Aaron; just as their fathers had done before them
being of the like
temper and disposition.
Numbers 20:3 3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke
saying:
“If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
YLT
3and the people strive with
Moses
and speak
saying
`And oh that we had expired when our brethren expired
before Jehovah!
And the people chode with Moses
.... Contended with him
in a wrangling and litigious manner
showing no reverence nor respect unto his
person on account of the dignity of his office
and the many favours they had
received from him; and this at a time
when
instead of quarrelling with him
they should have condoled him on the loss of his sister
and bewailed their own
loss also of one who had been a prophetess to them
and a leader of them
Micah 6:4.
and spake
saying
would God that we had died when our brethren
died before the Lord; either at Taberah by fire
or as Korah and his company in like
manner
or as the fourteen thousand and seven hundred by a pestilence
Numbers 11:1 which
they thought a much easier death
either of them
than to die of thirst: they
might well call them brethren
not only because of the same nation
and nearly
related to them
but because they were of the same temper and disposition
and
indeed brethren in iniquity; and they seem to use this appellation
as being of
the same sentiments with them
and in vindication of them
and adopt almost
their very language; see Numbers 14:2.
Numbers 20:4 4 Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness
that we and our animals should die here?
YLT
4and why have ye brought in
the assembly of Jehovah unto this wilderness to die there
we and our beasts?
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this
wilderness
.... The wilderness of Zin
whither by various marches and
journeys
and through different stations
they were at length come:
that we and our cattle should die there? with thirst;
they seem to represent it
as if this was the end
design
and intention of
Moses and Aaron in bringing them thither; their language is much the same with
their fathers on a like occasion; which shows the bad influence of example
and
how careful parents should be of their words and actions
that their posterity
be not harmed by them; see Exodus 17:3.
Numbers 20:5 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt
to bring
us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or
pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.”
YLT
5and why hast thou brought
us up out of Egypt to bring us in unto this evil place? no place of seed
and
fig
and vine
and pomegranate; and water there is none to drink.
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt
.... They
represent that affair in such a light
as if they were forced out of Egypt by
Moses and Aaron against their wills; or at least were overpersuaded by them to
do what they had no inclination to
namely
to come out of Egypt; though they
were in the utmost bondage and slavery
and their lives were made bitter by it
and they cried by reason of their oppression
and the hardships they endured;
but this was all forgot. Aben Ezra says
it is a strange word which is here
used
which shows the confusion they were in:
to bring us unto this evil place; dry and barren
where
there were neither food nor drink
as follows:
it is no place of seed; or fit for sowing
as
the Targum of Jonathan
any sort of seed
as wheat
barley
rye
rice
&c.
or of figs
or vines
or pomegranates; it is not a
soil fit to plant such trees in
nor would they grow were they planted:
neither is there any water to drink; for them and their
cattle
and therefore must be a miserable place for so large a body of people
to subsist in.
Numbers 20:6 6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the
assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting
and they fell on their
faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared
to them.
YLT
6And Moses and Aaron go in
from the presence of the assembly unto the opening of the tent of meeting
and
fall on their faces
and the honour of Jehovah is seen by them.
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
.... Like
fugitives
as Aben Ezra; they fled from them through fear
lest they should
rise and fall upon them
and stone them
as their fathers were ready to do in a
like case
Exodus 17:4. It is
very likely this assembly gathered about the tents of Moses and Aaron
who went
from thence unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; where the Lord
had promised to meet Moses
and speak unto him
Exodus 29:42.
and they fell upon their faces; to pray
as Aben Ezra
that God would forgive the sin
of the people
and not break forth in his wrath
against them
as he sometimes had done
and as their sin deserved
and that he
would grant them what was needful for them. In the Vulgate Latin version the
following words are added as their prayer
"and they cried unto the Lord
and said
Lord God
hear the cry of this people
and open to them thy treasure
the fountain of living water
that they being satiated
their murmuring may
cease.'But they are not neither in the Hebrew text
nor in the Greek version
nor the Chaldee paraphrases:
and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them; either to
Moses and Aaron
to encourage them to expect their prayers would be answered;
or to the people
to terrify them
and silence their murmurings; see Numbers 16:19.
Numbers 20:7 7 Then the Lord spoke to
Moses
saying
YLT
7And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses
saying
And the Lord spake unto Moses
.... Out of what was the
token of his glory
which perhaps was the cloud
with an uncommon lustre and
brightness in it: saying; as follows.
Numbers 20:8 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the
congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes
and it will yield
its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock
and give drink
to the congregation and their animals.”
YLT
8`Take the rod
and assemble
the company
thou and Aaron thy brother; and ye have spoken unto the rock
before their eyes
and it hath given its water
and thou hast brought out to
them water from the rock
and hast watered the company
and their beasts.'
Take thy rod
.... The rod of miracles
as the Targum of
Jonathan; not the rod of Aaron
miraculous for its blossom and fruit
as some
Jewish writers think; but the rod of Moses
with which he had done many wonders
in Egypt
and at the Red sea
and in the wilderness
and particularly by
smiting the rock at Horeb
when the Israelites wanted water
as they did now:
and gather thou the assembly together
thou
and Aaron thy brother; not only the
heads of the people
but the body of them
as many as could be got together to
see the miracle
and to receive the benefit of it:
and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; which was
near
but a little way off
within sight
and might be pointed to: it was not
the same rock that was smote before; that was in Horeb
this in the extremity
of the land of Edom
as Aben Ezra observes; this was to be spoken to
and by a
word speaking it would give out water; which was a trial of the faith of Moses
and Aaron
as well as of the people
before whom
in a public manner
the rock
was to be addressed
as if it was intelligent and all-sufficient:
and it shall give forth his water; not as though there was
a fountain of water in it
but that water should flow from it
or God by it
give water:
and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; by speaking
to it: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink; sufficient
for them both.
Numbers 20:9 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.
YLT
9And Moses taketh the rod
from before Jehovah
as He hath commanded him
And Moses took the rod from before the Lord..... Which was
laid up somewhere in the sanctuary
as well as the rod of Aaron
Numbers 17:7
as he commanded him; being always faithful
and obedient to him that appointed him.
Numbers 20:10 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together
before the rock; and he said to them
“Hear now
you rebels! Must we bring
water for you out of this rock?”
YLT
10and Moses and Aaron
assemble the assembly unto the front of the rock
and he saith to them
`Hear
I pray you
O rebels
from this rock do we bring out to you water?'
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the
rock
.... To which they were directed
and were to speak unto; before
this they gathered not only the elders of the people
but as many of the
congregation as could be well assembled together:
and he said unto them; Moses
who was bid to
take the rod
and was the principal person concerned in this affair:
hear now
ye rebels; such their fathers had
been
and such they now were
a rebellious generation ever since they were
known by him; not only rebellious against him their chief magistrate
but
against the Lord himself
murmuring against him
being discontented and
disobedient
see Deuteronomy 9:23
must we fetch you water out of this rock? not only
signifying their unworthiness of having such a miracle wrought for them
and as
showing some degree of reluctance to attempt it
but as expressing diffidence
about it; not of the power of God to bring water out of the rock
but of his
will to do it for such a rebellious people; or else their unreasonableness to
expect any such thing should be done for them: when they were so wicked
how
could they think that such a miracle should be wrought for them? so the Targum
of Jonathan
"out of this rock is it possible for us to fetch out water for
you?'so Aben Ezra
have we power to bring out water to you from it? This was
said in a passion
as the manner of speaking shows; see Psalm 106:32 many
of the congregation as could be well assembled together:
Numbers 20:11 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice
with his rod; and water came out abundantly
and the congregation and their animals
drank.
YLT
11and Moses lifteth up his
hand
and smiteth the rock with his rod twice; and much water cometh out
and
the company drink
also their beasts.
And Moses lifted up his hand
and with his rod he smote the rock
twice
.... At first it only brought out some drops
as Jarchi
conjectures
and therefore Moses smote again
when it brought forth water
plentifully: the Targum of Jonathan says
"at the first time it dropped
blood
at the second time came out much water.'Could this be credited
it would
make the agreement between this rock and Christ appear very manifest
from
whom
when his side was pierced with a spear
there came out blood and water
John 19:34 for
justification and sanctification. In what respect this rock was a type of
Christ
as the other at Horeb
and the smiting of it an emblem of Christ being
smitten with the rod of justice
according to the law of God
and of the
abundance of water flowing from it
as typical of the abundance of grace
and
the blessings of it
as coming through a smitten wounded Saviour; see Gill on Exodus 17:6
where
the same things are said of another rock as of this
and both types of Christ:
and the water came out abundantly
and the congregation drank
and
their beasts also; there was enough for them and their cattle; for it came out in
great quantities
in large streams
so that it ran down like a river
and which
gave them drink as out of the great depths
Psalm 78:15
where
the Psalmist makes mention of rocks in the plural number
for there were two
that were smitten in two different places
and at two different times; the one
was at Rephidim
the other
as here
in Kadesh; the one was in the first year
of Israel's coming out of Egypt
this in the fortieth year of it; that was struck
but once
this twice; of this second stone no mention is made by any traveller
but oneF1See a Journal from Cairo to Mount Sinai
1722. p. 42
43.
Ed. 2.
who coming from Mount Sinai
says
"we passed by a large rock on
our left hand
in which
as in the other rock which Moses struck with his rod
appear
from the bottom to the top
openings where water hath gushed out.'
Numbers 20:12 12 Then the Lord spoke to
Moses and Aaron
“Because you did not believe Me
to hallow Me in the eyes of
the children of Israel
therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the
land which I have given them.”
YLT
12And Jehovah saith unto
Moses
and unto Aaron
`Because ye have not believed in Me to sanctify Me
before the eyes of the sons of Israel
therefore ye do not bring in this
assembly unto the land which I have given to them.'
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron
.... Out of
the cloud
where his glory appeared
and still continued:
because ye believed me not
to sanctify me in the eyes of the
children of Israel; that Moses and Aaron committed an evil which was displeasing to
the Lord is certain
but what that was is variously represented. Some say their
sin was
that the order was to speak to the rock
whereas it was smitten
and
not spoken to; but why then was Moses bid to take the rod with him
if it was
not to smite with it
as he had done before at Horeb? and besides
this would
only have been the sin of Moses
and not of Aaron; others think
that what
provoked the Lord was
that the Israelites were called "rebels"; but
this is a name the Lord himself gave them
Numbers 17:10
and
was what they justly deserved; and what after this Moses says of them
which
had this been the case
he would have been careful to have abstained from
Deuteronomy 9:24.
Others are of opinion
that what was displeasing to the Lord was
that the
bringing the water out of the rock was ascribed to themselves
and not to him;
"must we fetch you water"
&c. Others suppose the sin was in
smiting the rock twice
and in anger; but this could only be the fault of Moses
at most. Dr. LightfootF2See his Works
vol. 1. p. 36. thinks the
particular fault was this
that Moses expressed his displeasure and resentment
to the Israelites
that on their murmuring a new rock was opening
which
portended a new and long stay in the wilderness
as the opening of the first
rock at Horeb did when he and Aaron were in expectation of being soon out of
the wilderness
and now they feared they were beginning anew their abode in it;
but it is certain from the text that unbelief was their sin; they were
diffident about the will of God to bring water out of the rock for such a
rebellious people
and they did not put them in mind of the miracles God had
wrought in former time
to encourage their faith; and so the Lord was not
sanctified by them before the people
as he ought to have been:
therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which
I have given them; the land of Canaan
a grant of which was made to their fathers
and particularly to this generation
and into which they would certainly be
brought; but not by Moses and Aaron
who were excluded because of their
unbelief
and accordingly both died before the entrance of the people into the
land. This
according to the Targum of Jonathan
and Jarchi
was said with an
oath; see Hebrews 3:18.
Numbers 20:13 13 This was the water of Meribah
[a] because
the children of Israel contended with the Lord
and He
was hallowed among them.
YLT
13These [are] waters of
Meribah
because the sons of Israel have `striven' with Jehovah
and He is
sanctified upon them.
This is the water of Meribah
.... Or "strife":
this is the name by which the water had in this place
and from this rock
was
called; and which is the same name given to the place at Horeb
where a rock
had been smitten
and water had flowed
as now
the first year they came out of
Egypt; and to distinguish this from that
this is sometimes called
Meribah-Kadesh
Deuteronomy 32:51
this being at Kadesh
as that was at Rephidim:
because the children of Israel strove with the Lord: for their
chiding and striving with Moses was interpretatively striving with the Lord
himself
whose ministers and servants they were:
and he was sanctified in them; that is
the glory of
his divine perfections was displayed in them; either in the waters fetched out
of the rock
which was a proof of the almighty power of God
and of his truth
and faithfulness to his promises; or in the children of Israel
in whose sight
and for whose sake this miracle was wrought: the Targum of Jonathan expressly
says
in Moses and Aaron
in not sparing these his saints
but expressing
severity towards them for their sin; so Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret it.
Numbers 20:14 14 Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of
Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has
befallen us
YLT
14And Moses sendeth
messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom
`Thus said thy brother Israel
Thou -- thou hast known all the travail which hath found us;
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom
.... This
country was sometimes governed by kings
and sometimes by "dukes"
see Genesis 36:14. At
the time of the passage of the Israelites through the Red sea
we read of the
dukes of Edom
Exodus 15:15
and
here
thirty nine years after
of a king of Edom
but who he was is not
certain. Bishop Usher takes him to be the same with Hadar
the last of the race
of kings mentioned in Genesis 36:39
to
him Moses sent messengers with a request
which follows after a preamble to it;
who were the messengers is not said; the place from whence they were sent is
Kadesh
a city on the borders of the land of Edom; but not Kadeshbarnea
Aben
Ezra says
though some are of opinion it is the same
see Numbers 20:1
thus saith thy brother Israel; the Israelites and
Edomites springing from two men
Jacob and Esau
who were twin brothers
and is
observed to ingratiate themselves to the Edomites
and gain their request
pleading relation to them:
thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us; what an
uncomfortable condition they had been in for many years
which was well known
to Edom
a neighbouring country
as is reasonable to suppose; since the fame of
the children of Israel coming out of Egypt
passing through the Red sea
and
being so long in the wilderness
was spread everywhere; this was said to move
their pity.
Numbers 20:15 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt
and we dwelt in
Egypt a long time
and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.
YLT
15that our fathers go down to
Egypt
and we dwell in Egypt many days
and the Egyptians do evil to us and to
our fathers;
How our fathers went down into Egypt
.... Jacob and
his twelve sons
with their children:
and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; even the
space of four hundred and thirty years
Exodus 12:40.
and the Egyptians vexed us and our fathers; used them
ill
brought them into bondage
and made their lives bitter
laid heavy tasks
and burdens upon them
as well as slew their male children
see Exodus 1:7.
Numbers 20:16 16 When we cried out to the Lord
He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of
Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh
a city on the edge of your border.
YLT
16and we cry unto Jehovah
and He heareth our voice
and sendeth a messenger
and is bringing us out of
Egypt; and lo
we [are] in Kadesh
a city [in] the extremity of thy border.
And when we cried unto the Lord
.... By reason of their
bondage
and to be delivered from it
Exodus 2:24
he heard our voice; their prayer to him
as the Targum of
Jonathan
for help and deliverance
Exodus 2:24
and sent an angel
and hath brought us forth out of Egypt; one of the
ministering angels
as the same Targum
and so Aben Ezra; though he observes
that some interpret it of Moses
as do Jarchi
Ben Gersom
and Ben Melech
which is not likely; since Moses is the person that sent this message to the
king of Edom
who would not easily understand it of him
if so he meant; nor
would the mention of it be of any consequence and avail with him; whereas to
understand it of some divine and heavenly agent
sent by the Lord on so
important an affair
might make it the more remarkable
and to be regarded by
him: and indeed no other is meant than the Angel of God's presence
who
appeared to Moses in the bush
and sent him to Pharaoh to demand the dismission
of the children of Israel; and who
by him
wrought the wonders in Egypt
and
brought Israel from thence
and went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire:
and
behold
we are in Kadesh
a city in the uttermost of thy
border; not that they were properly in the city
but near it
for they
dwelt in tents in the wilderness; nor would that
or anyone city
hold so large
a number as they consisted of.
Numbers 20:17 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not
pass through fields or vineyards
nor will we drink water from wells; we will
go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the
left until we have passed through your territory.’”
YLT
17Let us pass over
we pray
thee
through thy land; we pass not over through a field
or through a
vineyard
nor do we drink waters of a well; the way of the king we go
we turn
not aside -- right or left -- till that we pass over thy border.'
Let us pass
I pray thee
through thy country
.... That
being the nearest and shortest way to the land of Canaan
from the place where
they now were:
we will not pass through the fields
or through the vineyards; to harm them
and injure any man in his private property
by gathering the fruit of them
if
the season of the year for it
or by trampling them down:
neither will we drink of the water of the wells; which private
persons had dug
for the watering of their fields and vineyards
and for other
uses
at least without paying for it; or only of the waters of the rivers
common to all passengers; from hence it appears
that the country of Edom was
not then such a barren country as in later times
and as travellersF3See
Shaw's Travels
4. 438. Ed. 2. now report it is; See Gill on Malachi 1:3.
we will go by the king's highway; not the way in which the
king used to walk
or which he should order them to walk in
as Aben Ezra; but
the public roads
common to all his subjects
and travellers to walk in by his
allowance; and such roads are now called by us the king's highway:
we will not turn to the right hand
or to the left; to do any
injury to any person's property
but go straight forward:
until we have passed thy borders; from one to another
and
got quite through the country.
Numbers 20:18 18 Then Edom said to him
“You shall not pass through my land
lest I come out against you with the sword.”
YLT
18And Edom saith unto him
`Thou dost not pass over through me
lest with sword I come out to meet thee.'
And Edom said unto him
.... The king of Edom
replied to Israel
represented by the messengers sent in their name:
thou shall not pass by me; through my country:
lest I come out against thee with the sword; or with those
that use the sword
as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; that is
with an
army of soldiers with their drawn swords in their hands
to slay them as
enemies.
Numbers 20:19 19 So the children of Israel said to him
“We will go by
the Highway
and if I or my livestock drink any of your water
then I will pay
for it; let me only pass through on foot
nothing more.”
YLT
19And the sons of Israel say
unto him
`In the highway we go
and if of thy waters we drink -- I and my
cattle -- then I have given their price; only (it is nothing) on my feet I pass
over.'
And the children of Israel said unto him
.... The
messengers sent by the children of Israel made answer to the king of Edom:
we will go by the highway; we desire no other
favour but that of the public road; we propose not to go through any part of
the country that is enclosed and cultivated
to do any damage to it:
if I and my cattle drink of thy water
then I will pay for it; as it was
usual
and still is
to buy water in those countries near the Red sea
where it
is scarce. We are toldF4See a Journal from Cairo to Mount Sinai
p.
10
11. Ed. 2.
that at Suess
a city on the extremity of the Red sea
there is
no water nearer than six or seven hours journey towards the north east
which
is brought from thence on camels; and a small vessel of it is sold for three or
four medinas
and a larger vessel for eight or ten
according to the demand for
it; a medina is an Egyptian piece of money
worth about three halfpence of our
English money:
I will only (without doing anything else) go through on my feet; as fast as I
can
without saying anything to the inhabitants to terrify and distress them
and without doing them any injury. Some render it
I will only go "with my
footmen"F5ברגלי "cum meo
exercitu pedestri"; so some in Fagius & Vatablus. ; foot soldiers
an
army on foot
as Israel were.
Numbers 20:20 20 Then he said
“You shall not pass through.” So Edom
came out against them with many men and with a strong hand.
YLT 20And he saith
`Thou dost
not pass over;' and Edom cometh out to meet him with much people
and with a
strong hand;
And he said
thou shall not go through
.... Which is
an absolute and peremptory denial:
and Edom came out against him with much people
and with a strong
hand; the king raised the militia of his country
and came at the head
of a powerful army to hinder their passing into it; being fearful and jealous
lest such a large body as they were should seize on his country
or spoil it
not relying on their promises; and this might arise also from the old grudge of
Esau against Jacob
and which continued in his posterity
and might now be
revived upon their going to Canaan to possess the earthly blessing conferred on
Jacob and his seed: however
it seems
though the Edomites would not let Israel
pass through their country
yet they furnished them with food and drink for
their money
Deuteronomy 2:28.
Numbers 20:21 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his
territory; so Israel turned away from him.
YLT
21and Edom refuseth to suffer
Israel to pass over through his border
and Israel turneth aside from off him.
Notwithstanding
their near relation to each other
and the fair promises Israel made:
wherefore Israel turned away from him: patiently
bearing the refusal
and not resenting it; being ordered
as the Targum of
Jonathan expresses it
by the Word of heaven
not to make war with them
because the time was not yet come to take vengeance on Edom by their hands; and
to the same purpose the Targum of Jerusalem.
Numbers 20:22 22 Now the children of Israel
the whole congregation
journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.
YLT
22And the sons of Israel
the
whole company
journey from Kadesh
and come in unto mount Hor
And the children of Israel
even the whole congregation
journeyed from Kadesh
.... Not directly
but after they had continued there some time
and had furnished themselves with provisions for their journey
which they
bought of the Edomites
see Judges 11:17
"the whole congregation" is observed to Journey from hence
not one
of them being lost by the king of Edom's coming out against them; these went
out complete and perfect
safe and sound:
and came unto Mount Hor; which
according to
BuntingF6Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 83.
was forty eight
miles from Kadesh; this had not its name from the Horim or Horites
nor they
from that
their name being written with a different letter
but from Harar
a
mountain
for the word itself signifies a mountain; wherefore it may be
rendered
"a mountain of the mountain"
which Jarchi interprets a
mountain on the top of a mountain. JosephusF7Antiqu. l. 4. c. 4.
sect. 7. says
that here stood a city
formerly called Arce
since Petra
surrounded with an high mountain
where Aaron went and died; and Pliny saysF8Nat.
Hist. l. 6. c. 28. of Petra
that it is encompassed with inaccessible
mountains.
Numbers 20:23 23 And the Lord spoke to
Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom
saying:
YLT
23and Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses and unto Aaron in mount Hor
on the border of the land of Edom
saying
And the Lord spake unto
Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor
.... When they were at the foot of that
mountain
in the valley adjoining to it:
by the coast of the land of Edom; which they were still
upon the borders of
and were going round it
not being permitted to go through
it:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 20:24 24 “Aaron shall be gathered to his people
for he shall
not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel
because you
rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah.
YLT
24`Aaron is gathered unto his
people
for he doth not go in unto the land which I have given to the sons of
Israel
because that ye provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah.
Aaron shall be gathered
unto his people
.... That is
shall die
for this phrase is a periphrasis of
death
and is used in common both of good and bad men
and designs death in
general
without regard to persons and places men go to at death:
for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the
children of Israel; the land of Canaan; and Aaron the priest
and so Moses the
lawgiver
not being suffered to enter into that land
show the weakness and
imperfection of the law
and of the Levitical priesthood
and the insufficiency
of them
and of obedience to them to bring men to
and give them an entrance
into the heavenly glory; that is done by another person
the antitype of
Joshua
even Jesus:
because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah; that is
you
Moses and Aaron; their unbelief is called a rebelling against the word of the
Lord
for which it was threatened them
that they should not bring the people
of Israel into the land of Canaan
and now the threatening begins to take
place
see Numbers 20:12.
Numbers 20:25 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son
and bring them up to
Mount Hor;
YLT
25`Take Aaron and Eleazar his
son
and cause them to go up mount Hor
Take Aaron and Eleazar his
son
.... His eldest son
who was to succeed him in the priesthood
and did:
and bring them up unto Mount Hor; to the top of it
they
being now at the foot of it
where the people of Israel lay encamped.
Numbers 20:26 26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on
Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die
there.”
YLT
26and strip Aaron of his
garments
and thou hast clothed [with] them Eleazar his son
and Aaron is
gathered
and doth die there.'
And strip Aaron of his
garments
.... His priestly garments
as the Targum of Jonathan
and so
Jarchi:
and put them upon Eleazar his son; thereby declaring him to
be high priest in his father's stead:
and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people
and shall die there; the phrase of
gathering to his people is here explained of his dying.
Numbers 20:27 27 So Moses did just as the Lord commanded
and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the
congregation.
YLT
27And Moses doth as Jehovah
hath commanded
and they go up unto mount Hor before the eyes of all the
company
And Moses did as the Lord
commanded
.... Though it must be very cutting
distressing
and afflicting
to him
to part with a brother so dear to him
and who had been so many years a
companion of him
and a partner with him in the care and government of the
people of Israel; but it being the Lord's will
he submits unto it
and
faithfully and readily obeyed his orders
as he always did:
and they went up into Mount Hor
in the sight of all the
congregation; that is
Moses
Aaron
and Eleazar
and perhaps there might be
some others that went with them as servants
to attend them and assist them in
some things to be done
particularly in the burial of Aaron; they all saw Aaron
go up
but he came down no more
and so it was ordered in this public manner
that they might be witnesses of the translation of the priesthood from Aaron to
Eleazar
who
after this affair was over
came down with Moses.
Numbers 20:28 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on
Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses
and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
YLT
28and Moses strippeth Aaron
of his garments
and clotheth with them Eleazar his son
and Aaron dieth there
on the top of the mount; and Moses cometh down -- Eleazar also -- from the
mount
And Moses stripped Aaron
of his garments
.... His priestly garments
which
very probably
were put on at
the foot of the mountain
on purpose for the transaction of this affair
since
they were not in common worn
but only when in service; the same hands that
clothed Aaron with them at first
stripped him of them
and both were done at
the command of God; as the stripping of those garments was a divesting Aaron of
his office
so it was a figure of the disannulling of his priesthood
when the
Messiah should come
a priest after another order:
and put them upon Eleazar his son; which was an investing
him with the office of high priest in his father's room; and which
as it must
give Aaron pleasure and satisfaction to see his son put into his office before
he died
so it signified the continuance of it in succession in his posterity
and was a confirmation of it; and it must be pleasing to Moses and the people
of Israel to observe the care and faithfulness of God in providing for the
succession of the priesthood:
and Aaron died there in the top of the mount; quietly
comfortably
and contentedly
without the least murmuring or repining: this was
on the first day of the fifth month
as appears from Numbers 33:38
that
is
of the month Ab
as the Targum of Jonathan here says; and in this the
Jewish writersF11Seder Olam Rabba
c. 10. p. 29. Shalshalet
Hakabala
fol. 7. 2. Schulchan Aruch
par. 1. c. 580. sect. 2. agree in
general
which month answers to part of July and part of August; and in this
same place where he died he was buried
as is evident from Deuteronomy 10:6
wherefore no credit is to be given to the Arabs
who show a stone not far from
Mount Sinai
about two feet high from the ground
on which are seen some
unknown characters
which
they say
were engraven by Jeremiah the prophet
in
honour of Moses and Aaron
who were buried thereF12Journal from
Cairo to Mount Sinai
p. 40. Ed. 2. :
and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount; after Aaron
was dead and buried.
Numbers 20:29 29 Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead
all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
YLT
29and all the company see
that Aaron hath expired
and they bewail Aaron thirty days -- all the house of
Israel.
And when all the
congregation saw that Aaron was dead
.... Not that they saw
his dead body
but they perceived by the relation of Moses
and by various
circumstances
as not seeing Aaron come down
whom they saw go up
and seeing
Eleazar with Aaron's garments on him
and perhaps by tokens of mourning in Moses
and Eleazar; so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem say
they saw them come
down from the top of the mountain
with their garments rent
and ashes on their
heads
weeping and lamenting:
they mourned for Aaron thirty days; the whole month out; so
long public mourning with the Jews lasted
as JosephusF13De Bello
Jud. l. 3. c. 8. sect. 5. relates:
even all the house
of Israel; men and women
as the Targum of Jonathan
and so Jarchi: no
doubt it was for the amiable virtues and abundant grace that were in him
and
the many services he had done for them
both before and since he was invested
with the priestly office; and oftentimes the memory of such things is revived
after the death of a good man
which are not so much taken notice of in his
life
nor he be thanked for them
or have honour and respect shown him on
account of them; but when dead
he
and what he has done
are spoken well of
and his loss lamented.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)