1 Then the sons of Israel, the whole assembly {edah: community gathering}, entered the wilderness {midbar: arid expanse} of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 Now there was no water for the community {edah: gathered assembly}, so they assembled {vayikkahalu: protest gathering} and confronted Moses and Aaron.
3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died in the dying {bigva: Mortal Passing} of our brothers before the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}."
4 And why have you brought the assembly of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Leader} into this wilderness {midbar: desolate expanse}, that we and our cattle should die there?
5 And why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil {hara: unpleasant region} place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates {rimon: seed-filled fruit}, nor is there water to drink.
6 And Moses and Aaron came out from the presence of the assembly {hakkahal: communal gathering} to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they fell upon their faces, and the glory of the LORD {YHWH, Majestic Manifestation} appeared to them.
7 And the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Speaker} spoke to Moses, saying {lemor: speech introduction},
8 Take the staff and assemble the congregation—you and Aaron your brother—and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will release its water. You shall bring water out for them from the rock and provide the congregation {edah: assembled witnesses} and their livestock {beir: domesticated animals} water to drink.
9 And Moses took the staff from before the LORD {YHWH, Divine Commander}, just as He had commanded {tsivvahu: authoritative instruction} him.
10 Moses and Aaron assembled{vayyak'hilu: brought together} the congregation before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels{ha-morim: insubordinate ones}, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?”
11 And Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff {mateh: staff of authority}, and abundant waters {mayim rabbim: overflowing supply} gushed forth, and the congregation drank along with their livestock.
12 Then the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge} said to Moses and Aaron, "Since you did not trust {he’emantem: acted in reliance} Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."
13 These are the waters of Meribah {merivah: bitter contention}, where the sons of Israel quarreled with the LORD {YHWH, Revealer of Holiness}, and He was sanctified among them.
14 From Kadesh {miKadesh: southern frontier oasis} Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “This is what your brother Israel says: you know about all the hardship {tela’ah: severe adversity} that has come upon us.”
15 Our fathers descended into Egypt, and we dwelt there for many days {yamim: extended periods}; and Egypt {mitsrayim: land of bondage} oppressed us and our fathers.
16 When we cried out to the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}, He heard our voice {qolenu: plea for help} and sent a messenger to bring us out of Egypt. Now we stand in Kadesh, a city at the edge of Your border.
17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not travel through a field or vineyard, nor will we drink water from a well. We will remain on the king’s road {derek hammelekh: principal trade route} and will not turn aside to the right {yamin: right-hand direction} or to the left until we have gone beyond your border.
18 But Edom {edom: Descendant of Esau} said to him, “You shall not pass through me, lest I go out to meet you with the sword {bacherav: weapon of war}.”
19 And the sons of Israel {bene-Yisrael: covenant descendants} said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we and our livestock drink your water {meimekha: wellspring resource}, we will pay its price. Only, there is no other matter—let us pass through on foot.”
20 But he said, “You shall not pass.” Then Edom went out to meet him with a large force {am: armed force} and with a strong hand {yad: military strength}.
21 So Edom {edom: brother nation} refused to allow Israel to pass through his border {gebul: boundary}, and Israel turned away from him.
22 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the sons of Israel {bnei-yisrael: Jacob’s descendants}—all the congregation {ha’edah: assembled community}—came to Mount Hor.
23 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Speaker} said to Moses and to Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom {edom: ancestral neighbor}, saying,
24 Aaron will be gathered to his people, because he will not enter the land which I {YHWH, Promise Giver} have given to the sons of Israel, on account of your rebellion against my mouth {pi: direct command} at the waters of Meribah.
25 Take Aharon {aharon: high priest} and his son Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor {hor: mountain peak}.
26 And you shall strip Aaron of his garments and clothe them upon Eleazar his son. Then Aaron will be gathered {ye'asef: joined with his fathers} and will die there {sham: at that designated place}.
27 And Moses did as the LORD {YHWH, Command Giver} commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor before the eyes {einei: sight, witness} of all the congregation.
28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments {begadim: priestly vestments}, and clothed them upon Eleazar his son. Aaron died there at the summit {berosh: high point} of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar descended from the mountain.
29 And all the congregation {ha’edah: assembly body} saw that Aaron had died, and all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days {yom: mourning period}.