| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The entire community of the Israelis entered the Zin wilderness during the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. | 1The entire Israelite community entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and they settled in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. |
| 2But there was no water for the community, so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. | 2There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. |
| 3As the people argued with Moses, they told him, "We wish that we had died when our relatives died in the LORD's presence! | 3The people quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD. |
| 4Why did you bring the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness? So we and our cattle could die here? | 4Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? |
| 5Why did you take us out of Egypt and bring us to this terrible place? There's no place to plant seeds, fig trees, vines, or pomegranates! And there's no water to drink!" | 5Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It's not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!" |
| 6Then Moses and Aaron went into the presence of the community at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them. | 6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. |
| 7The LORD told Moses, | 7The LORD spoke to Moses, " |
| 8"Take the rod, gather the community together, and then you and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock right before their eyes. It will release water. As you bring water to them from the rock, the community and the cattle will be able to drink." | 8Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock." |
| 9So Moses took the rod in the LORD's presence, just as he had commanded. | 9So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence just as He had commanded him. |
| 10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock. "Pay attention, you rebels!" Moses told them. "Are we to bring you water from this rock?" | 10Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?" |
| 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Lots of water gushed out, and both the community and their cattle were able to drink. | 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. |
| 12But the LORD rebuked Moses and Aaron, telling Moses: "Because you both didn't believe me, because you didn't consecrate me as holy in the presence of the Israelis, you won't be the ones to bring this congregation into the land that I'm about to give them." | 12But 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 I have given them." |
| 13Because the Israelis argued with the LORD and he was set apart among them, this place was called the Meribah Springs. | 13These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness to them. |
| 14Later, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom with this message: "This is what your relative Israel says: 'You know all the hardships we've encountered. | 14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, "This is what your brother Israel says, 'You know all the hardships that have overtaken us. |
| 15Our ancestors went down to Egypt, where we lived for many years. But the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors viciously. | 15Our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, but the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly. |
| 16Then we cried to the LORD and he heard our voice, sending us a messenger who brought us out of Egypt. Now look! We've arrived in Kadesh, a city at the extreme end of your territory. | 16When 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 border of your territory. |
| 17Permit us now to pass through your land. We won't pass through your fields or vineyards, and we won't drink water from your wells. We'll keep to the King's Highway without turning either right or left until we have passed through your territory.'" | 17Please let us travel through your land. We won't travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water. We will travel the King's Highway; we won't turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.'" |
| 18But Edom replied, "You are not to pass through my land. If you do, I'll come out and start a war with you." | 18But Edom answered him, "You must not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword."" |
| 19Then the Israelis replied, "Permit us to travel on the highway. If we and our cattle drink your water, we'll pay the price you ask. Only please let us walk through, and nothing more." | 19We will go on the main road," the Israelites replied to them, "and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price. There will be no problem; only let us travel through on foot." |
| 20But still he replied, "No. You're not to pass through." Then Edom went out to meet Moses with a vast army and a lot of military might. | 20Yet Edom insisted, "You must not travel through." And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people. |
| 21That's how Edom refused Israel passage through their territory. So Israel turned away from there. | 21Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them. |
| 22They traveled from Kadesh, and then the entire community of the Israelis arrived at Mount Hor. | 22After they set out from Kadesh, the entire Israelite community came to Mount Hor. |
| 23Then the LORD told Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, near the territory of Edom, | 23The LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor on the border of the land of Edom, " |
| 24"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. | 24Aaron 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. |
| 25So take Aaron and his son Eleazar and ascend Mount Hor. | 25Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. |
| 26Remove Aaron's vestments and place them on his son Eleazar, because Aaron is to be gathered to his people and die there." | 26Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and die there." |
| 27So Moses did just what the LORD had commanded. They ascended Mount Hor right in front of the entire community. | 27So Moses did as the LORD commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. |
| 28As Moses was stripping Aaron's garments from him and clothing Aaron's son Eleazar with them, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Afterwards, Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. | 28After Moses 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. |
| 29When the entire community saw that Aaron had died, they mourned in memory of Aaron for 30 days. | 29When the whole community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel mourned for him 30 days. |
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