Chapter 20

1 The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dieth. 2 They murmur for want of water. 7 Moses smiting the rock bringeth forth water at Meribah. 14 Moses at Kadesh desireth passage through Edom, which is denied him. 22 At mount Hor Aaron resigneth his place to Eleazar, and dieth.

1. Into the desert of Zin. That is, the desert territory lying on the borders of Edom (see vs. 14, 15).

In the first month. This would be in Abib, later called Nisan, when the grass was still green (see John 6:10). It would be dry by May or June. This was probably the 40th year of the wilderness wanderings (see Num. 27:14; 33:36–38; PP 410), here passed over with no comment.

In Kadesh. The people apparently remained in Kadesh several months upon this occasion, partly because of good pasture and partly because of the death of Miriam.

Miriam died there. No details regarding her death are given, either as to cause or date. She was probably 132 years of age (Ex. 2:4, 7). Aaron, who died a few months later, was 123 (Num. 33:38, 39), and Moses, 120 (Deut. 34:7).

And was buried there. There is no record of an appointed period of mourning, as later for Aaron (v. 29). This was about 4 months before Aaron’s death (ch. 33:38), and 11 months before Moses’ death. She was the eldest of the three.

2. No water. Thus begins the account of events that led to the exclusion of Moses and Aaron from the Promised Land. Evidently the water provided for them since the miracle at Horeb (Ex. 17:1–7) some 40 years ago had now been cut off. This was brought about by God in order to test the faith of the new generation that had grown up in the wilderness (see PP 411).

Against Moses. Compare Ex. 17:2, 3, where their fathers had manifested the same spirit.

3. The people chode. The word “chode” often means “to oppose noisily,” sometimes even with bodily violence.

Our brethren died. The allusion is to the various retributive acts of God as in chs. 11:1, 33; 14:37, particularly to the rebellion of Korah (ch. 16:32, 35, 46). They were apparently thinking of sudden death as preferable to the slow and intensifying torture of thirst.

4. Why have ye brought. Words that reflect the spirit of their fathers (Ex. 17:3).

5. Out of Egypt. They forgot their fathers’ sufferings and lamentations in Egypt (Ex. 2:23, 24; 3:17).

6. From the presence. The attitude of the people seems to have become threatening. Moses and Aaron repaired to the sanctuary for counsel and protection.

Fell upon their faces. To ask that their sin of rebellious complaint be forgiven, and that their physical wants be supplied.

The glory of the Lord appeared. This was no doubt visible to the entire congregation, and should have been both a warning to them and a rebuke to their lack of trust in God (see chs. 14:10; 16:19, 42).

7. The Lord spake. That is, from within the glory that appeared as an indication of God’s presence.

8. Speak ye unto the rock. Nothing is said in the Scripture as to what was to be done with the rod. Perhaps God intended Moses to raise it in the direction of the rock as he spoke.

9. Took the rod from before the Lord. These words seem to imply that it was Aaron’s rod that Moses took. But v. 11 speaks of the rod as belonging to Moses, and Moses’ rod was “the rod of God” (Ex. 4:20; 17:9). Although we have no record of a command to the effect that Moses should place his own rod in the sanctuary, it may have been kept there.

10. Gathered the congregation. In harmony with God’s instruction (v. 8).

Ye rebels. The very language God had used concerning their fathers (ch. 17:10). But with Moses it reflected personal anger rather than zeal for God, and herein lay his sin.

Must we fetch. The use of the personal pronoun applied by Moses to himself and Aaron indicated a disregard of God, as though these two men would have the people think they could perform a miracle by their own power.

11. Smote the rock twice. Part of the sin of Moses lay in the double striking of the rock, for God had not told him to strike it. In addition, Moses forgot the patience of God in His dealings with the people, which should have been reflected in his own attitude and demeanor. He spoke and acted as if the murmurings were against himself.

Water came out abundantly. God met the situation with an abundant supply of water, in spite of the attitude of Moses and Aaron.

12. Ye believed me not. Here is where Moses failed.

To sanctify me. Lack of faith prevented the exhibition of God’s holiness through Moses and Aaron.

Ye shall not bring. The implication is that Moses and Aaron would be removed from their high position by death ere the people entered the Holy land.

13. Meribah. A similar use of the word is found in Ex. 17:7 and Deut. 32:51. The Hebrew root from which the word is formed means “to strive,” “to contend,” “to agitate,” “to quarrel noisily,” often with bodily violence.

He was sanctified in them. That is to say, God demonstrated His holiness and power in the merciful act of causing the waters to gush forth in the presence of the people. Further, He meted out judgment even to His favored leaders when they departed from His command.

14. Unto the king of Edom. Moses did not deem it wise to seek entrance into Canaan from the south, owing no doubt to the attitude of the Hebrew host he was leading. The Edomites, whom he approached, were in occupation of the territory that lay to the south of the Dead Sea, westward as far as Kadesh, and southward to the eastern arm of the Red Sea.

Thy brother Israel. As is the custom in the East today, those of blood relation may be addressed as “brothers.” The Edomites were the descendants of Esau (Gen. 25:30).

All the travail. Moses thus suggests to the Edomites that, as kinsfolk, they would take a sympathetic attitude toward the descendants of Jacob. The word translated “travail” is from the Hebrew root “to be weary,” “to be exhausted.” Here it has reference to the difficulties of their long journey, perilous and wearisome, with no settled home of their own.

15. Egypt. The experiences of the children of Israel were well known among the surrounding nations.

We cried. See Ex. 2:23–25; 3:7, 8.

Sent an angel. See Gen. 24:7; Ex. 3:2; 23:20; 33:2. The Angel in this case was Christ Himself, the eternal Prince of God’s people (PP 366).

Brought us forth. See Ex. 13:21; 14:19.

17. Through thy country. In order to enter the land of Canaan from the east the Israelites must either pass through Edom or make a long detour to the south, and then turn northward.

By the king’s high way. This was the main artery of travel east of the Jordan, from Damascus in the north to Ezion-geber on the Gulf of ФAqaba. Up-to-date maps of early Bible times indicate this trade route. It was along this road that the four kings who attacked Sodom in Abraham’s day came from Syria. “The king’s high way” was repaired centuries later by the Romans, and its route is still in use. An aerial photograph of part of this roadway appears on page 40 of The Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible.

18. With the sword. See Gen. 27:40. No doubt the people of Edom were afraid their country would be occupied, or at least despoiled.

19. Without doing any thing else. Moses reiterates the peaceable mind of the Israelites toward Edom and says they would go through “without doing any thing else,” literally, “it is not a thing,” that is, they would not do a single thing other than pass through as quickly as possible.

20. Thou shalt not. Edom feared to allow Israel passage through his territory. He did, however, sell them necessary provisions (see Deut. 2:28, 29).

With a strong hand. The king mustered his troops and made a show of force, manifesting every intention of resisting by force of arms any attempt at passage through his country.

21. Israel turned away. God Himself commanded Israel to turn aside, but to buy needed provisions from the Edomites (Deut. 2:5, 6).

22. Mount Hor. This site has not been definitely located to date. Four different mountains are claimed by different scholars as the Mt. Hor where Aaron died. Jebel Nebi Harun, that is, the mount of the prophet Aaron, has a mosque on the supposed site of the prophet’s tomb, and is visited by devout pilgrims. This location contradicts the Bible account, which demands a mountain outside the borders of Edom (v. 23; ch. 33:37), whereas Jebel Nebi Harun is well within the borders of the country, not far from the ruined city of Petra.

23. In mount Hor. Probably Israel lay encamped at the foot of the mountain.

24. Gathered unto his people. The same expression of death is used of Abraham (see on Gen. 25:8), of Ishmael (Gen. 25:17), of Isaac (Gen. 35:29), of Jacob (Gen. 49:33), and of Moses (Num. 27:13; 31:2).

25. Unto mount Hor. According to Deut. 10:6 Mt. Hor was also known as Mt. Mosera; or it may be that the camp at the base of the mount was known as Mosera.

26. Strip Aaron. A description of the high priest’s garments is given in Lev. 8:7–9.

Die there. With the transfer of the garments and the death of Aaron, priestly succession was emphasized.

27. In the sight of all. There could then arise no question as to the legality of the succession of Eleazar to the sacred office after his father’s death.

28. Moses stripped Aaron. This Moses did, acting for God according to His command, and as a sign of the transference of the priestly office, which continued despite the death of the holder.

Aaron died there. The date of Aaron’s death, and his age, 123 years, are given in ch. 33:38, 39. The death of Aaron emphasized the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood in respect to its changeableness. Paul speaks of the contrast between it and Christ’s priesthood in this respect (Heb. 7:24). According to Deut. 10:6, Aaron was buried at Mosera (see on v. 25).

29. Thirty days. This is the same number of days of mourning observed for Moses some months later (Deut. 34:8).

Ellen G. White comments

1-29PP 414-427; SR 164-169

1     PP 410

2     FE 509

2-5SR 164

3-5PP 414

4, 5 FE 509

6-8PP 417; SR 165

10   PK 174; PP 417, 418, 426, 472; 3T 302; 4T 369

10, 12  FE 509

10-12Te 14

11   PP 417, 426, 472

12   PP 419, 426, 469; SR 166

14-20PP 422

22-24PP 424

25-27PP 425

28   PP 426; 3T 293

29        PP 427