1The whole congregation of Israelites came into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people stayed in Kadesh; where Miriam died and was buried. 2And there was no water there for the congregation to drink; and they gathered against Moses and Aaron. 3And they blamed Moses, and said, “If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! 4Have you brought the congregation of the LORD up into this wilderness, so that we and our cattle should die here? 5And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us into this evil place? It has no grain, figs, grapevines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” 6And Moses and Aaron went from before the assembly to the entrance of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces; and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7And the LORD said to Moses, 8“Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, you, and your brother Aaron, and speak to the rock before their eyes; and it shall pour out its water, and you shall bring water out of the rock for the congregation and their cattle to drink.” 9And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. 10And Moses and Aaron called the congregation together before the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels: must we fetch you water out of this rock?” 11And Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his rod; and the water gushed out abundantly, and the congregation and their cattle drank. 12But then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy before the Israelites, you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them (because he was told to speak to the rock – not strike it!).” 13This is the water of Meribah (Strife); because the Israelites strove with the LORD, and He was proved holy among them.

14And from Kadesh, Moses sent emissaries to the king of Edom with this message, “This is what your brother, Israel, says, ‘You know all the hardships that we have been through - 15How our ancestors went down into and have dwelt in Egypt for a long time; and the Egyptians mistreated us, and our fathers; 16And when we cried to the LORD, He heard our voice, and sent an angel, and has brought us up out of Egypt: and we are now in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border: 17Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any fields, or your vineyards, nor will we drink water from any wells. We will travel along the king's highway; we will not turn to the right nor to the left, until we have passed through your territory.” 18But Edom replied, “You shall not pass through my territory. If you try, I will come out against you with the sword.” 19And the Israelites replied, “We will go along the main road; and if we or our cattle drink any of your water, I will pay you for it: We will only go through on foot, and do nothing else.” 20But again, Edom replied, “You shall not go through!” And he came out against Moses with a large and powerful army. 21And since Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, Israel turned around, away from Edom.

22And the whole congregation of Israelites journeyed from Kadesh, and came to Mount Hor. 23And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, 24“Aaron shall be gathered to his people (in death). He shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you both disobeyed My word at the water of Meribah. 25Bring Aaron and Eleazar, his son, up Mount Hor; 26And remove Aaron’s garments, and put them on Eleazar, his son; for Aaron shall die there and be gathered to his people.” 27And Moses did as the LORD commanded: they ascended Mount Hor in the sight of the entire congregation. 28And Moses removed Aaron’s garments, and put them on Eleazar, his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came back down from the mountain. 29And when the entire congregation realized that Aaron was dead, they - all the house of Israel - mourned for him for thirty days.