1The people of Israel, the entire community, arrived in the Zin wilderness in the first month. They stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.
2There was no water for the community, so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.
3The people argued with Moses and said, “We wish we had died when our relatives died before Yahweh!
4Why have you brought Yahweh’s community into this wilderness for us and our animals to die here?
5Why did you make us leave Egypt, only to bring us to this terrible place? It’s a place with no grain, no figs, no grapevines, no pomegranates, and no water to drink.”
6Moses and Aaron left the assembly and went to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, where they bowed down with their faces to the ground. Then Yahweh’s glory appeared to them.
7Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
8“Take your staff, gather the community, you and your brother Aaron, and speak to the rock in front of their eyes, and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for them, so you can give the community and their livestock something to drink.”
9Moses took the staff from the presence of Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded him.
10Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels! Should we bring water out of this rock for you?”
11Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff. Plenty of water flowed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to show my holiness in the sight of the people of Israel, you will not lead this community into the land I have given them.”
13These are the waters of Meribah, because the people of Israel argued with Yahweh, and he showed his holiness among them.
14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. The message was: “Your relatives, the people of Israel, say: You know all the hardships that have come upon us.
15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt for a long time. The Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.
16When we cried out to Yahweh, he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Look, we are now in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
17Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from any wells. We will stay on the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or left until we have passed through your territory.”
18Edom replied, “You may not pass through my land. If you try, I will come out against you with swords.”
19The people of Israel said to him, “We will stay on the main road. If I or my livestock drink any of your water, I will pay you for it. I just want to pass through on foot, without causing any trouble.”
20But Edom said, “You will not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and great strength.
21So Edom refused to let Israel pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.
22They set out from Kadesh, and the entire community of Israel arrived at Mount Hor.
23At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
24“Aaron will soon join his ancestors. He will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel, because you both disobeyed my command at the waters of Meribah.
25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and lead them up Mount Hor.
26Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be taken away and die there.”
27Moses did as Yahweh commanded. They went up Mount Hor as the whole community watched.
28Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
29When the whole community saw that Aaron was dead, all the people of Israel mourned for him for thirty days.