Water from the Rock (Exodus 17:1–7)
1 UDB In the first month of the next year, the Israelite people traveled to the wilderness of Zin and camped near Kadesh. While they were there, Moses's sister Miriam died and was buried there. BSB BSB: In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 UDB There was no water for the people to drink there, so they came to Aaron and Moses. BSB BSB: Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.
3 UDB They complained and said, "We wish that we had died in front of Yahweh's sacred tent when our fellow Israelites died! BSB BSB: The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!
4 UDB Did you bring us, who are Yahweh's people, into this desert to die along with our livestock? BSB BSB: Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?
5 UDB Why did you bring us from Egypt to this miserable place? There is no grain, there are no figs, no grapes, and no pomegranates here. And there is no water for us to drink!" BSB BSB: Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”
6 UDB Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the sacred tent and prostrated themselves on the ground. Just then Yahweh appeared to them with his bright glory. BSB BSB: Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
7 UDB When Yahweh appeared in glory, he said, BSB BSB: And the LORD said to Moses,
8 UDB "You and Aaron must take Aaron's walking stick with you and gather all the people together. While the people are watching, command that large rock over there to pour out water. Water for the people will flow from it. All they and all their livestock will have enough water to drink." BSB BSB: “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
9 UDB So Moses did what Yahweh told him to do. He took Aaron's walking stick from the place in the sacred tent where it was kept. BSB BSB: So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded.
10 UDB Then Moses and Aaron summoned all the people to gather at the rock. Then Moses shouted to them, "All you rebellious people, listen! Is it necessary for us to bring to you water from this rock?" BSB BSB: Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
11 UDB Then Moses raised his hand and instead of speaking to the rock, he struck the rock two times with the walking stick. And water gushed out. So all the people and their livestock drank all the water that they wanted. BSB BSB: Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.
12 UDB But Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses, "You did not trust me or honor me before the people of Israel, and so you will not lead them into the land I have given to them!" BSB BSB: But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
13 UDB Later this place was called Meribah, which means 'arguing,' because there the Israelite people argued against Yahweh, and there he showed his honor and holiness to them by giving them water. BSB BSB: These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.
Edom Refuses Passage 14 UDB While the people were at Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom to tell him this, "Your relatives, the Israelite people, are sending you this message. You know the many troubles that have happened to us. BSB BSB: From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,
15 UDB You know that our ancestors went down to Egypt. You know that they stayed there for many years. They suffered because the rulers of Egypt caused them to become their slaves and to work very hard. BSB BSB: how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,
16 UDB But when they called out to Yahweh, he heard them and sent an angel who brought them out of Egypt. Now we have set up our tents here at Kadesh, a town on the border of your land. BSB BSB: and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.
17 UDB Please allow us to travel through your country. We will be careful to not walk through your fields and your vineyards. We will not even drink water from your wells. As we travel, we will stay on the king's highway, the main road that goes from the south to the north, and we will not leave that road until we have crossed the border of your country in the north." BSB BSB: Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
18 UDB But the king of Edom refused. He replied, "Stay out of my country! If you try to enter it, I will send my army to attack you!" BSB BSB: But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
19 UDB The Israelite messengers replied, "If we travel through your country, we will stay on the main road. If we and any of our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We want only to travel through your country. We do not want anything else." BSB BSB: “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”
20 UDB But the king replied, "No! Stay out of our country! We will not allow you to travel through our land!" Then he sent the strongest soldiers in his army to prevent the Israelites from entering his country. BSB BSB: But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand.
21 UDB So, because the king of Edom refused to allow the Israelites to travel through his country, the Israelites turned and traveled a different way. BSB BSB: So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.
The Death of Aaron 22 UDB The Israelite people left Kadesh. They went to Mount Hor, BSB BSB: After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor.
23 UDB which is at the border of Edom. While they were there, Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses, BSB BSB: And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
24 UDB "It is time for Aaron to die. He will not enter the land that I am giving to you Israelites, because the two of you disobeyed me when I told you to speak to the rock to cause the water to flow at Meribah. BSB BSB: “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.
25 UDB Now you, Moses, take Aaron and his son Eleazar up on Mount Hor. BSB BSB: Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.
26 UDB There you must remove Aaron's clothes that he wears when he does the work of a priest, and put them on his son, Eleazar. Aaron will die up there." BSB BSB: Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
27 UDB So Moses did what Yahweh commanded. The three of them climbed up Mount Hor, while all the Israelite people watched. BSB BSB: So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation.
28 UDB At the top of the mountain, Moses took off the clothes that Aaron wore while he did the work of a priest and put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Eleazar and Moses went back down. BSB BSB: After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
29 UDB When the Israelite people realized that Aaron had died, they all mourned for him for thirty days. BSB BSB: When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
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