Moses Strikes the Rock

Numbers 20:1-22

Bible Stories

Numbers 20:1 And the sons of Israel, and the entire multitude, went into the desert of Sin, in the first month. And the people stayed at Kadesh. And Miriam died there, and she was buried in the same place.

Numbers 20:2 And when the people were in need of water, they came together against Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 20:3 And as it turned into sedition, they said: “If only we had perished among our brothers in the sight of the Lord.

Numbers 20:4 Why have you led away the Church of the Lord, into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle would die?

Numbers 20:5 Why did you cause us to ascend from Egypt, and why have you led us into this most wretched place, which is not able to be sown, which does not produce figs, or vines, or pomegranates, and which, moreover, does not even have water to drink?”

Numbers 20:6 And Moses and Aaron, dismissing the multitude, entered the tabernacle of the covenant, and they fell prone on the ground, and they cried out to the Lord, and they said: “O Lord God, listen to the outcry of this people, and open for them, from your storehouse, a fountain of living water, so that, being satisfied, their murmuring may cease.” And the glory of the Lord appeared over them.

Numbers 20:7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Numbers 20:8 “Take the rod, and gather the people, you and your brother Aaron, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall bestow waters. And when you have brought forth water from the rock, the entire multitude and their cattle shall drink.”

Numbers 20:9 Therefore, Moses took the rod, which was in the sight of the Lord, just as he had instructed him.

Numbers 20:10 And having gathered the multitude before the rock, he said to them: “Listen, you who are rebellious and unbelieving. Would we be able to cast out water from this rock?”

Numbers 20:11 And when Moses had lifted up his hand, striking the stone twice with the rod, very great waters went forth, so much so that the people and their cattle were able to drink.

Numbers 20:12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, so as to sanctify me before the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this people into the land, which I will give to them.”

Numbers 20:13 This is the Water of Contradiction, where the sons of Israel were quarreling against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.

Numbers 20:14 Meanwhile, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. They said: “Your brother Israel says this: You know of all the hardships which have overtaken us,

Numbers 20:15 how our fathers descended into Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted both us and our fathers,

Numbers 20:16 and how we cried out to the Lord, and he heeded us and sent an Angel, who led us away from Egypt. Behold, we are situated in the city of Kadesh, which is at the extremity of your borders.

Numbers 20:17 And we beg you to permit us to cross through your land. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards; we will not drink the waters of your wells, but we will travel by the public ways, neither turning aside to the right, nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.”

Numbers 20:18 Edom responded to them: “You shall not cross through me, otherwise, I will meet you armed.”

Numbers 20:19 And the sons of Israel said: “We will travel by the well-trodden path. And if we or our cattle drink from your waters, we will give you what is just. There shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us cross through quickly.”

Numbers 20:20 But he answered, “You shall not cross.” And immediately he went out to meet them with a countless multitude and a strong hand;

Numbers 20:21 neither was he willing to agree to their petition to concede passage through his borders. For this reason, Israel diverted away from him.

Numbers 20:22 And when they had moved the camp from Kadesh, they arrived at mount Hor, which is at the borders of the land of Edom,