Water from the Rock
(Exodus 17:1–7)

1Then the children of Israel came with ye whole Congregation to the desert of Zin in the first moneth, and the people abode at Cadesh: where Miriam died, and was buried there.

2But there was no water for the Congregation, and they assembled them selues against Moses and against Aaron. 3And the people chode with Moses, & spake, saying, Would God we had perished, when our brethren died before the Lord. 4Why haue ye thus brought the Congregation of the Lorde vnto his wildernesse, that both we, and our cattell should die there? 5Wherefore nowe haue yee made vs to come vp from Egypt, to bring vs into this miserable place, which is no place of seede, nor figges, nor vines, nor pomegranates? Neither is there any water to drinke. 6Then Moses and Aaron went from the assemblie vnto the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and fell vpon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared vnto them. 7And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

8Take the rod, and gather thou & thy brother Aaron the Congregation together, & speake yee vnto the rocke before their eyes, and it shall giue foorth his water, and thou shalt bring them water out of the rocke: so thou shalt giue the Congregation, and their beastes drinke.

9Then Moses tooke the rod from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. 10And Moses and Aaron gathered the Congregation together before the rocke, and Moses sayd vnto them, Heare nowe, ye rebels: shall we bring you water out of this rocke? 11Then Moses lift vp his hande, and with his rod he smote the rocke twise, and the water came out aboundantly: so the Congregation, and their beastes dranke. 12Againe the Lorde spake vnto Moses, and to Aaron, Because ye beleeued me not, to sanctifie mee in the presence of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the land which I haue giuen them. 13This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel stroue with the Lorde, and hee was sanctified in them.

Edom Refuses Passage

14Then Moses sent messengers from Kadesh vnto the king of Edom, saying, Thus sayth thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the trauaile that we haue had, 15How our fathers went downe into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, where the Egyptians handled vs euill and our fathers. 16But when we cried vnto the Lord, he heard our voyce, and sent an Angel, and hath brought vs out of Egypt, and beholde, wee are in the citie Kadesh, in thine vtmost border. 17I pray thee that we may passe through thy countrey: we will not goe through the fieldes nor the vineyardes, neither will we drinke of the water of the welles: we will goe by the kings way, and neither turne vnto the right hand nor to the left, vntill we be past thy borders.

18And Edom answered him, Thou shalt not passe by mee, least I come out against thee with the sword. 19Then the children of Israel said vnto him, We will goe vp by the hie way: and if I and my cattell drinke of thy water, I will then pay for it: I will onely (without any harme) goe through on my feete. 20Hee answered againe, Thou shalt not goe through. The Edom came out against him with much people, and with a mightie power. 21Thus Edom denyed to giue Israel passage through his countrey: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

The Death of Aaron

22And when the children of Israel with al the Congregation departed from Kadesh, they came vnto the mount Hor.

23And the Lorde spake vnto Moses and to Aaron in the mount Hor neere the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24Aaron shall be gathered vnto his people: for hee shall not enter into the lande, which I haue giuen vnto the children of Israel, because ye disobeyed my commaundement at the water of Meribah. 25Take Aaron and Eleazar his sonne, and bring them vp into the mount Hor, 26And cause Aaron to put off his garmentes and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne: for Aaron shall be gathered to his fathers, and shall die there. 27And Moses did as the Lord had commanded: and they went vp into the mount Hor, in the sight of all the Congregation. 28And Moses put off Aarons clothes, & put them vpon Eleazar his sonne: so Aaron dyed there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came downe from off the mount. 29When al the Congregation sawe that Aaron was dead, al the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirtie dayes.