Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. New Living Translation “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 concerning the water at Meribah. English Standard Version “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Berean Standard Bible “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. King James Bible Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. New King James Version “Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah. New American Standard Bible “Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. NASB 1995 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. NASB 1977 “Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Legacy Standard Bible “Aaron will be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Amplified Bible “Aaron will be gathered to his people [in death]; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you [both] rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Christian Standard Bible “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land I have given the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my command at the Waters of Meribah. Holman Christian Standard Bible Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land I have given the Israelites, because you both rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. American Standard Version Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. Contemporary English Version "Aaron, this is where you will die. You and Moses disobeyed me at Meribah, and so you will not enter the land I promised the Israelites. English Revised Version Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Aaron must now join his ancestors [in death], since he cannot enter the land I'm giving the Israelites. This is because you both rebelled against my command at the oasis of Meribah. Good News Translation "Aaron is not going to enter the land which I promised to give to Israel; he is going to die, because the two of you rebelled against my command at Meribah. International Standard Version "Aaron is to be gathered to his people, since he is not to enter the land that I'm about to give the Israelis. After all, you both rebelled against my command at the Meribah Springs. NET Bible "Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors, for he will not enter into the land I have given to the Israelites because both of you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. New Heart English Bible "Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. Webster's Bible Translation Aaron shall be gathered to his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“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. World English Bible “Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“Aaron is gathered to his people, for he does not go into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because that you provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah. Young's Literal Translation 'Aaron is gathered unto his people, for he doth not go in unto the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because that ye provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah. Smith's Literal Translation Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not come into the land which I gave to the sons of Israel, because that ye resisted my mouth at the Waters of Strife. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLet Aaron, saith he, go to his people: for he shall not go into the land which I have given the children of Israel, because he was incredulous to my words, at the waters of contradiction. Catholic Public Domain Version “Let Aaron,” he said, “go to his people. For he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because he did not believe my mouth at the Waters of Contradiction. New American Bible Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land I have given to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my directions at the waters of Meribah. New Revised Standard Version “Let Aaron be gathered to his people. For he shall not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAaron shall be gathered to his people for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Mesotha, and did not sanctify me at the water in their presence. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “Ahron shall be gathered to his people because he shall not enter the land that I have given to the children of Israel, because you provoked the Word of my mouth by the water of contention and you did not sanctify me by the water in their sight. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against My word at the waters of Meribah. Brenton Septuagint Translation Let Aaron be added to his people; for ye shall certainly not go into the land which I have given the children of Israel, because ye provoked me at the water of strife. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Death of Aaron…23And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 24“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. 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.… Cross References Deuteronomy 32:50-51 And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. / For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. Deuteronomy 34:4-5 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.” / So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said. Hebrews 3:17-19 And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? / So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter. Psalm 106:32-33 At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips. Deuteronomy 1:37 The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land. Deuteronomy 3:26-27 But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter. / Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west and north and south and east. See the land with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan. 1 Corinthians 10:5-6 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. Deuteronomy 4:21-22 The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. / For I will not be crossing the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you shall cross over and take possession of that good land. Numbers 27:13-14 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was; / for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin. Hebrews 4:1-2 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. Deuteronomy 31:2 he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ Joshua 24:5-7 Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and afterward I brought you out. / When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea, the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. / So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time. Exodus 17:6-7 Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. / He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. Deuteronomy 32:48-52 On that same day the LORD said to Moses, / “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession. / And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. ... Treasury of Scripture Aaron shall be gathered to his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. gathered Numbers 27:13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. Numbers 31:2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. Genesis 15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. because ye Numbers 20:11,12 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also… word. Numbers 4:27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. Deuteronomy 32:50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: Jump to Previous Children Command Enter Israel Israelites Meribah Mer'ibah Mouth Peoples Provoked Rebelled Rest Water Waters WordJump to Next Children Command Enter Israel Israelites Meribah Mer'ibah Mouth Peoples Provoked Rebelled Rest Water Waters WordNumbers 20 1. The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies.2. They murmur for want of water 7. Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah 14. Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him 22. At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies Aaron will be gathered to his people; This phrase indicates Aaron's impending death, using a common biblical euphemism for dying. "Gathered to his people" suggests a reunion with ancestors, reflecting the belief in an afterlife or continued existence beyond death. This phrase is used for other patriarchs like Abraham and Isaac, emphasizing a continuity of faith and heritage. It underscores the communal aspect of Israelite identity, where individuals are part of a larger narrative and lineage. 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. Persons / Places / Events 1. AaronThe brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He played a significant role in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 2. Moses The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage and guide them to the Promised Land. 3. Meribah A location where the Israelites quarreled with Moses and Aaron due to a lack of water. It is here that Moses and Aaron disobeyed God's command, leading to their punishment. 4. The Israelites The chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and were on their journey to the Promised Land. 5. The Promised Land The land of Canaan, promised by God to Abraham and his descendants as an inheritance. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceDisobedience to God's commands, even by leaders, carries significant consequences. Aaron's inability to enter the Promised Land serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience. Leadership and Accountability Leaders are held to a high standard of accountability. Aaron and Moses' actions at Meribah demonstrate that even leaders must adhere strictly to God's instructions. God's Faithfulness Despite Human Failure Despite the failures of Moses and Aaron, God remained faithful to His promise to the Israelites. This underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant. The Importance of Faith and Trust The incident at Meribah highlights the need for faith and trust in God's provision, even in challenging circumstances. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 20:24?2. Why was Aaron not allowed to enter the Promised Land according to Numbers 20:24? 3. How does Numbers 20:24 illustrate the consequences of disobedience to God's commands? 4. What can we learn about leadership accountability from Aaron's example in Numbers 20:24? 5. How does Aaron's story connect with Hebrews 3:12-19 about faith and obedience? 6. How can we apply the lesson of obedience from Numbers 20:24 in our lives? 7. Why was Aaron not allowed to enter the Promised Land according to Numbers 20:24? 8. How does Numbers 20:24 reflect on the consequences of disobedience to God? 9. What does Aaron's death in Numbers 20:24 signify about leadership and accountability? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 20? 11. What does "gathered to his people" mean? 12. Numbers 20:12 - Why would a single act of disobedience prevent Moses and Aaron from entering the Promised Land, despite their lifelong dedication? 13. Numbers 27:12-14: Why is Moses barred from entering the Promised Land for striking the rock, which seems like a minor offense? 14. Where is the archaeological or historical evidence supporting the events referenced in Psalm 95:8-9 regarding Israel's wilderness testing? What Does Numbers 20:24 Mean Aaron will be gathered to his people• “Gathered to his people” is a tender way Scripture speaks of death, emphasizing reunion with the covenant family rather than annihilation. Genesis 25:8 says of Abraham, “he breathed his last and died at a good old age…and was gathered to his people”. Similar wording appears for Isaac (Genesis 35:29) and Jacob (Genesis 49:33). • For Aaron, this phrase affirms that even in judgment God honors His servant with the same covenant hope enjoyed by the patriarchs (Deuteronomy 32:50). Physical life ends, yet covenant relationship continues. he will not enter the land • The same land Aaron anticipated for forty years would now be reached without him. Numbers 20:12 records God’s earlier verdict: “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness before the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them”. • Moses faced the identical sentence (Deuteronomy 32:52), underscoring that spiritual leaders are not exempt from accountability (1 Corinthians 10:5). that I have given the Israelites • The land is God’s gracious gift, first promised in Genesis 12:7 and reiterated in Exodus 6:8. • By naming Himself as the Giver here, the Lord reminds Israel that their inheritance rests on His covenant faithfulness, not on the merits of any individual—even revered priests. Joshua 21:43 later celebrates, “So the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers”. because both of you rebelled • God links Aaron with Moses: “both of you.” Psalm 106:32-33 reviews the moment: “They angered Him at the waters of Meribah, and trouble came to Moses because of them; for they rebelled against the Spirit of God”. • Numbers 27:14 clarifies the charge: they failed to uphold God’s holiness before the people. Leadership carries multiplied responsibility; shared rebellion brings shared consequence. against My command • The offense was not a mere slip but a direct breach of divine instruction. Leviticus 10:1-2 shows a sobering parallel when Nadab and Abihu offered “unauthorized fire…contrary to His command,” and judgment fell. • Throughout Scripture obedience matters more than impressive results: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Jesus echoes the principle, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). at the waters of Meribah • The place name “Meribah” means strife; Numbers 20:1-13 recounts Israel’s complaints, Moses’ angry words, and his striking the rock instead of speaking to it. • Exodus 17:7 recalls an earlier Meribah episode at Rephidim, making this later failure even weightier—God had already shown that He can bring water from a rock. • The Levites’ later blessing refers to “Massah and Meribah” as proving grounds for faithfulness (Deuteronomy 33:8). summary Numbers 20:24 teaches that God’s servants are held to His standard. Aaron’s death (“gathered to his people”) affirms covenant hope, yet his exclusion from the land shows that rebellion—even by honored leaders—carries real consequences. The verse highlights God’s unwavering faithfulness to give Israel the promised land, the seriousness of obeying His exact commands, and the shared accountability of those who lead His people. (24) Shall be gathered unto his people.--This expression does not refer to the place of sepulture. (See Genesis 25:8. and Note.)Verse 24. - Aaron shall be gathered unto his people. On this expression see at Genesis 25:8.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Aaronאַהֲרֹן֙ (’a·hă·rōn) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses will be gathered יֵאָסֵ֤ף (yê·’ā·sêp̄) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to his people; עַמָּ֔יו (‘am·māw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock he will not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no enter יָבֹא֙ (yā·ḇō) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go the land הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land I have given נָתַ֖תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the Israelites, לִבְנֵ֣י (liḇ·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son because עַ֛ל (‘al) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against both of you rebelled מְרִיתֶ֥ם (mə·rî·ṯem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 4784: To be contentious or rebellious against My command פִּ֖י (pî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to at the waters לְמֵ֥י (lə·mê) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen of Meribah. מְרִיבָֽה׃ (mə·rî·ḇāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4809: Meribah -- 'place of strife', two places in the desert Links Numbers 20:24 NIVNumbers 20:24 NLT Numbers 20:24 ESV Numbers 20:24 NASB Numbers 20:24 KJV Numbers 20:24 BibleApps.com Numbers 20:24 Biblia Paralela Numbers 20:24 Chinese Bible Numbers 20:24 French Bible Numbers 20:24 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people (Nu Num.) |
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