Chapter 20
1
All the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the Wilderness of Zin in the first month. And the people dwelt in Kadesh. And Miriam died there, and she was buried there.
2
And there was no water for the assembly, and they assembled against Moses and against Aaron.
3
The people quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!"
4
And why have you brought the assembly of the LORD to this wilderness to die there, we and our children?
5
And why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place of seed, fig tree, vine, pomegranate, or water; there is none to drink.
6
And Moses and Aaron came from before the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they fell on their faces; the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
7
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
8
Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes; it will give its waters. You will bring out water for them from the rock, and you will give drink to the congregation and their livestock.
9
Moses took the staff from before the LORD, just as he had commanded him.
10
And they assembled the assembly before the Rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, rebels, we will bring water out from the Rock for you."
11
Moses raised his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. Abundant water came out, and the congregation and their livestock drank.
12
And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me to sanctify me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore you will not bring this assembly into the land which I have given to them."
13
They are the waters of Meribah, where the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and he sanctified himself in them.