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.
Ang Tubig na Lumabas sa Bato
(Exo. 17:1-7)
1Noong unang buwan, dumating ang buong mamamayan ng Israel sa ilang ng Zin, at nagkampo sila sa Kadesh. Doon namatay si Miriam at inilibing.
2Walang tubig doon, kaya nagtipon na naman ang mga tao laban kina Moises at Aaron. 3Nakipagtalo sila kay Moises at sinabi, “Mabuti pang namatay na lang kami kasama ng mga kababayan naming namatay noon sa presensya ng Panginoon. 4Bakit dinala mo kaming mga mamamayan ng Panginoon dito sa disyerto? Para ba mamatay kasama ng aming mga alagang hayop? 5Bakit ba pinalabas mo pa kami sa Egipto at dinala kami rito sa walang kwentang lugar na kahit trigo, igos, ubas o pomegranata ay wala? At walang tubig na mainom!”
6Kaya iniwan nina Moises at Aaron ang mga mamamayan, at nagpunta sila sa Toldang Tipanan at nagpatirapa sila para manalangin. Pagkatapos, nagpakita sa kanila ang makapangyarihang presensya ng Panginoon. 7Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Moises, 8“Kunin mo ang iyong baston at tipunin ninyo ni Aaron ang buong mamamayan. At habang nakatingin sila, utusan mo ang bato na maglabas ng tubig, at mula dito aagos ang tubig. Sa pamamagitan nito, mabibigyan ninyo ng tubig ang mamamayan para makainom sila at ang kanilang mga hayop.”
9Kaya kinuha ni Moises ang baston sa presensya ng Panginoon, doon sa may Toldang Tipanan, ayon sa iniutos ng Panginoon sa kanya. 10Pagkatapos, tinipon nina Aaron ang buong mamamayan sa harapan ng bato, at sinabi ni Moises sa kanila, “Makinig kayong mga suwail, dapat ba namin kayong bigyan ng tubig mula sa batong ito?” 11Pagkatapos, itinaas ni Moises ang kanyang baston, pinalo ng dalawang beses ang bato, at bumulwak ang tubig mula rito, at uminom ang mamamayan at ang kanilang mga hayop.
12Pero sinabi ng Panginoon kina Moises at Aaron, “Dahil sa hindi kayo naniwala sa akin na ipapakita ko sa inyo ang aking kabanalan sa harap ng mga Israelita, hindi kayo ang mamumuno sa pagdadala ng mga mamamayang ito sa lupaing ibibigay ko sa kanila.”
13Ang lugar na ito ay tinatawag na Meriba20:13 Meriba: Ang ibig sabihin sa, pagtatalo. dahil nakipagtalo ang mga Israelita sa Panginoon sa lugar na ito, at dito rin ipinakita ng Panginoon ang kanyang kabanalan.
Hindi Pinayagan ng mga taga-Edom na Dumaan ang mga Israelita
14Habang naroon pa ang mga Israelita sa Kadesh, nagsugo si Moises ng mga mensahero sa hari ng Edom na nagsasabi, “Ito ang mensahe mula sa iyong kamag-anak, ang mamamayan ng Israel: Nalalaman mo ang lahat ng kahirapan na aming napagdaanan. 15Pumunta ang aming mga ninuno sa Egipto, at matagal silang nanirahan doon. Inapi kami at ang aming mga ninuno ng mga Egipcio, 16pero humingi kami ng tulong sa Panginoon at pinakinggan niya kami at pinadalhan ng anghel na naglabas sa amin sa Egipto.
“Ngayon, naririto kami sa Kadesh, ang bayan sa tabi ng iyong teritoryo. 17Kung maaari, payagan mo kaming dumaan sa inyong lupain. Hindi kami dadaan sa inyong mga bukid o ubasan o iinom sa inyong mga balon. Dadaan lang kami sa inyong pangunahing daan20:17 pangunahing daan: sa literal, daanan ng hari. at hindi kami dadaan sa ibang mga daan hanggang sa makalabas kami sa inyong teritoryo.”
18Pero ito ang sagot ng hari ng Edom, “Huwag kayong dadaan dito sa amin. Kung dadaan kayo, sasalakayin namin kayo at papatayin.” 19Sumagot ang mga Israelita, “Dadaan lang kami sa pangunahing daan; at kung makakainom kami at ang aming mga hayop ng inyong tubig, babayaran namin ito. Dadaan lang kami sa inyo.”
20Sumagot muli ang hari ng Edom:
“Hindi kayo maaaring dumaan dito!” Pagkatapos, tinipon ng hari ng Edom ang kanyang malalakas na sundalo para makipaglaban sa mga Israelita. 21Dahil ayaw magpadaan ng mga taga-Edom sa kanilang teritoryo, humanap na lang ang mga Israelita ng ibang madaraanan.
Namatay si Aaron
22Umalis ang buong mamamayan ng Israel sa Kadesh, at pumunta sa Bundok ng Hor. 23Doon sa Bundok ng Hor, malapit sa hangganan ng Edom, sinabi ng Panginoon kina Moises at Aaron, 24“Dumating na ang panahon Aaron na isasama ka na sa piling ng mga yumao mong ninuno. Hindi ka makakapasok sa lupaing ibibigay ko sa mga Israelita dahil sumuway kayong dalawa ni Moises sa aking utos doon sa bukal ng Meriba. 25Ngayon, Moises, dalhin mo si Aaron at ang anak niyang si Eleazar sa Bundok ng Hor. 26Pagkatapos, hubaran mo si Aaron ng kanyang damit pampari at ipasuot ito sa anak niyang si Eleazar, dahil mamamatay si Aaron doon sa bundok at isasama na sa piling ng mga yumao niyang ninuno.”
27Sinunod ni Moises ang iniutos sa kanya ng Panginoon. Umakyat sila sa Bundok ng Hor, habang nakatingin ang buong mamamayan. 28Pagkatapos, hinubad ni Moises ang damit pampari ni Aaron, at ipinasuot niya ito kay Eleazar. At namatay si Aaron doon sa itaas ng bundok. Pagkatapos, bumaba sila Moises at Eleazar mula sa bundok. 29Nang malaman ng buong mamamayan na patay na si Aaron, nagluksa sila para sa kanya sa loob ng 30 araw.
