HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 511
page 141
touches a human bone or a grave, that person
will be defiled for seven days.
17 “To remove the defilement, put some of
the ashes from the burnt purification offering in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.
18 Then someone who is ceremonially clean
must take a hyssop branch and dip it into the
water. That person must sprinkle the water
on the tent, on all the furnishings in the tent,
and on the people who were in the tent; also
on the person who touched a human bone, or
touched someone who was killed or who died
naturally, or touched a grave. 19 On the third
and seventh days the person who is ceremonially clean must sprinkle the water on those who
are defiled. Then on the seventh day the people
being cleansed must wash their clothes and
bathe themselves, and that evening they will
be cleansed of their defilement.
20 “But those who become defiled and do not
purify themselves will be cut off from the community, for they have defiled the sanctuary of
the Lord. Since the water of purification has not
been sprinkled on them, they remain defiled.
21 This is a permanent law for the people. Those
who sprinkle the water of purification must
afterward wash their clothes, and anyone who
then touches the water used for purification
will remain defiled until evening. 22 Anything
and anyone that a defiled person touches will
be ceremonially unclean until evening.”
Moses Strikes the Rock
In the first month of the year,* the
whole community of Israel arrived in
the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh.
While they were there, Miriam died and was
buried.
2 There was no water for the people to drink at
that place, so they rebelled against Moses and
Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If
only we had died in the Lord’s presence with
our brothers! 4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? 5 Why
did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here
to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no
figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water
to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the
people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle,* where they fell face down on the
ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord
appeared to them, 7 and the Lord said to Moses,
8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people
watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will
pour out its water. You will provide enough
20
20:1 The first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar
usually occurs within the months of March and April.
The number of years since leaving Egypt is not specified.
20:6 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting.
NUM B ER S 20
water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”
9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the
staff from the place where it was kept before
the Lord. 10 Then he and Aaron summoned the
people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen,
you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you
water from this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his
hand and struck the rock twice with the staff,
and water gushed out. So the entire community
and their livestock drank their fill.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will
not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
13 This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the
people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there
he demonstrated his holiness among them.
Edom Refuses Israel Passage
14 While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent ambassadors to the king of Edom with this message:
“This is what your relatives, the people
of Israel, say: You know all the hardships
we have been through. 15 Our ancestors
went down to Egypt, and we lived there a
long time, and we and our ancestors were
brutally mistreated by the Egyptians. 16 But
when we cried out to the Lord, he heard
us and sent an angel who brought us out
of Egypt. Now we are camped at Kadesh,
a town on the border of your land. 17 Please
let us travel through your land. We will be
careful not to go through your fields and
vineyards. We won’t even drink water from
your wells. We will stay on the king’s road
and never leave it until we have passed
through your territory.”
18 But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my
land, or I will meet you with an army!”
19 The Israelites answered, “We will stay on
the main road. If our livestock drink your water,
we will pay for it. Just let us pass through your
country. That’s all we ask.”
20 But the king of Edom replied, “Stay out!
You may not pass through our land.” With that
he mobilized his army and marched out against
them with an imposing force. 21 Because Edom
refused to allow Israel to pass through their
country, Israel was forced to turn around.
The Death of Aaron
22 The whole community of Israel left Kadesh
and arrived at Mount Hor. 23 There, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses
and Aaron, 24 “The time has come for Aaron to
join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the
land I am giving the people of Israel, because
the two of you rebelled against my instructions