The Lord Gives Israel Water Out of the Rock
1In the first month the whole community of Israel arrived at the Desert of Zin. They stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.
2The people didn’t have any water. So they gathered together to oppose Moses and Aaron. 3They argued with Moses. They said, “We wish we had died when our people fell dead in front of the Lord. 4Why did you bring the Lord’s people into this desert? We and our livestock will die here. 5Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? Why did you bring us to this terrible place? It doesn’t have any grain or figs. It doesn’t have any grapes or pomegranates. There isn’t even any water for us to drink!”
6Moses and Aaron left the people. They went to the entrance to the tent of meeting. There they fell with their faces to the ground. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7The Lord said to Moses, 8“Get your walking stick. You and your brother Aaron gather the people together. Then speak to that rock while everyone is watching. It will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community. Then they and their livestock can drink it.”
9So Moses took the walking stick from the tent. He did just as the Lord had commanded him. 10He and Aaron gathered the people together in front of the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen, you who refuse to obey! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?” 11Then Moses raised his arm. He hit the rock twice with his walking stick. Water poured out. And the people and their livestock drank it.
12But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, “You did not trust in me enough to honor me. You did not honor me as the holy God in front of the Israelites. So you will not bring this community into the land I am giving them.”
13Those were the waters of Meribah. That’s where the Israelites argued with the Lord. And that’s where he was proven to be holy among them.
Edom Doesn’t Let Israel Pass Through Its Territory
14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. The messengers said,
“The nation of Israel is your brother. They say, ‘You know about all the hard times we’ve had. 15Long ago our people went down into Egypt. We lived there for many years. The Egyptians treated us and our people badly. 16But we cried out to the Lord. He heard our cry. He sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.
“ ‘Now here we are at the town of Kadesh. It’s on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your country. We won’t go through any field or vineyard. We won’t drink water from any well. We’ll travel along the King’s Highway. We won’t turn to the right or the left. We’ll just go straight through your territory.’ ”
18But the people of Edom answered,
“We won’t let you pass through here. If you try to, we’ll march out against you. We’ll attack you with our swords.”
19The Israelites replied,
“We’ll go along the main road. We and our livestock won’t drink any of your water. If we do, we’ll pay for it. We only want to walk through your country. That’s all we ask.”
20Again the people of Edom answered,
“We won’t let you pass through here.”
Then the people of Edom marched out against them. They came with a large and powerful army. 21Edom refused to let Israel go through their territory. So Israel turned away from them.
Aaron Dies
22The whole community of Israel started out from Kadesh. They arrived at Mount Hor. 23It was near the border of Edom. There the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, 24“Aaron will join the members of his family who have already died. He will not enter the land I am giving to the Israelites. Both of you refused to obey my command. You did it at the waters of Meribah. 25So get Aaron and his son Eleazar. Take them up Mount Hor. 26Take Aaron’s official robes off of him. Put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will die on Mount Hor. He will join the members of his family who have already died.”
27Moses did just as the Lord had commanded. The three men went up Mount Hor while the whole community was watching. 28Moses took Aaron’s official robes off of him. He put them on Aaron’s son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29The whole community found out that Aaron had died. So all the Israelites mourned for him for 30 days.
磐石出水
1一月，以色列全體會眾抵達荀曠野，在加低斯安營。米利暗離世，葬在那裡。 2會眾沒有水喝，就聚集起來反對摩西和亞倫， 3他們埋怨說：「還不如當初跟我們的弟兄一起死在耶和華面前！ 4你們為什麼領耶和華的會眾到這曠野來，要叫我們和牲畜都死在這裡嗎？ 5你們為什麼把我們領出埃及，帶到這不毛之地？這裡沒有五穀、無花果樹、葡萄樹和石榴樹，甚至沒有水喝。」 6摩西和亞倫離開會眾到會幕門口，俯伏在地。耶和華的榮光向他們顯現。 7耶和華對摩西說： 8「你拿著杖和你哥哥亞倫招聚會眾，當著他們的面吩咐磐石流出水來，水就會從磐石流出，供會眾和牲畜喝。」 9摩西遵命而行，從耶和華面前取了杖， 10然後和亞倫把會眾招聚到磐石前，說：「你們這些叛逆之徒聽著，非要我們叫磐石給你們流出水來嗎？」 11接著，摩西舉起手中的杖擊打磐石兩下，水便噴湧而出，會眾和牲畜都喝了。
12耶和華對摩西和亞倫說：「你們對我沒有足夠的信心，沒有當著以色列人的面尊我為聖，所以你們不得帶領會眾進入我將要賜給他們的土地。」 13這地方叫米利巴泉，因為以色列人在那裡埋怨耶和華，耶和華就向他們彰顯了祂的聖潔。
以東王不借路
14摩西從加低斯派使者去見以東王，說：「你的弟兄以色列人說，你知道我們遭遇的種種困難。 15我們祖先到埃及寄居多年，我們世代受埃及人虐待。 16但我們呼求耶和華，祂就垂聽了我們的聲音，差遣天使把我們領出埃及。現在我們來到你邊境的加低斯城， 17求你容我們借道貴國。我們不會踏入田地和葡萄園，也不會喝井裡的水，只走大路，不會偏離，直到走出貴國。」 18以東王卻說：「你們不可從我這裡經過，否則我必兵戎相見。」 19以色列人說：「我們只走大路，倘若我們和牲畜喝了你的水，我們會付錢。我們別無他求，只求步行穿過貴國。」 20但以東王仍然不准，還率領大軍嚴陣以待。 21由於無法從以東穿過，以色列人只好繞道。
亞倫離世
22以色列全體會眾從加低斯出發，來到何珥山。 23耶和華在位於以東邊界的何珥山對摩西和亞倫說： 24「亞倫要去他祖先那裡了，他不能進入我賜給以色列人的土地，因為你們在米利巴泉違背了我的命令。 25摩西啊，你要帶亞倫和他兒子以利亞撒上何珥山， 26把亞倫的聖衣脫下來給他兒子以利亞撒穿上，因為亞倫將死在那裡。」 27摩西遵命而行。他們三人就當著全體會眾的面上了何珥山。 28摩西把亞倫的聖衣脫下，給以利亞撒穿上。隨後亞倫在山頂離世。摩西和以利亞撒便下了山。 29以色列全體會眾得知亞倫離世，就為他哀悼了三十天。
