Numbers:20

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* In the first month the whole congregation of Israel came into the Desert of Zin , and they stayed at Kadesh . Miriam died and was buried there . * The congregation was without water . So they gathered to confront Moses and Aaron . * The people complained to Moses . They said : »If only we had died when the other Israelites died in Jehovah ’s presence ! * »Did you bring Jehovah ’s assembly into this desert just to have us all die and our animals ? * »Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place ? This is no place to plant crops . Even figs , grapes , and pomegranates will not grow here . And there is no water to drink !« * Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting . They bowed with their faces touching the ground . The glory of Jehovah appeared to them . * Jehovah said to Moses : * »Take your staff and you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation . Right before their eyes , tell the rock to give up its water . In this way you will give the congregation water from the rock for them and their animals to drink .« * Moses took his staff out of the tent in Jehovah ’s presence as he had been commanded . * Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock and said to them : »Listen , you rebels , must we bring water out of this rock for you ?« * Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff . Water came pouring out ! All the people and their animals drank . * Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron : »You did not trust me ! You did not show the Israelites how holy I am ! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I am giving them .« * This was the oasis of Meribah , where the Israelites complained about Jehovah and where he showed them he was holy . * Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom . He said : »This is what your brother Israel says : ‘You know all the hardships we have had . * »‘Our ancestors went to Egypt . We lived there for many years . The Egyptians mistreated our ancestors and us . * »‘We cried to Jehovah for help . He heard our cry and sent an angel , who led us out of Egypt . Now we are at Kadesh , a town at the border of your territory . * »‘Please permit us to pass through your land . We , including our cattle , will not leave the road or go into your fields or vineyards . We will not drink from your wells . We will stay on the main road until we are out of your territory .’« * But the Edomites answered : »We refuse to let you pass through our country ! If you try , we will march out and attack you .« * The people of Israel said : »We will stay on the main road . If we , or our animals , drink any of your water we will pay for it . All we want is to pass through .« * The Edomites repeated : »We refuse !« Then they marched out with a powerful army to attack the people of Israel . * The Edomites would not let the Israelites pass through their territory . So the Israelites turned and went another way . * The whole congregation of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor , * on the border of Edom . There Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron : * »Aaron is not going to enter the land I promised to give to Israel . He is going to die , because the two of you rebelled against my command at Meribah . * »Take Aaron and his son Eleazar to Mount Hor . * »Remove Aaron ’s priestly robes and put them on Eleazar . Aaron is going to die there .« * Moses did what Jehovah commanded . They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the entire congregation . * Moses removed Aaron ’s priestly robes and put them on Eleazar . There on the top of the mountain Aaron died , and Moses and Eleazar came back down . * The entire congregation learned that Aaron had died . They all mourned for him for thirty days .

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