Num 20:1-13 | TNotes | STEP | 20:1 The number of years since leaving Egypt is not specified, but Aaron’s death (20:22-29 ) took place in Israel’s fortieth year in the wilderness (33:36-39 ). • Miriam died: All in her generation shared this fate (14:26-30 ), including Moses and Aaron (20:2-13 , 22-29 ).

20:1 ^aThe number of years since leaving Egypt is not specified, but Aaron’s death (20:22-29 ^b) took place in Israel’s fortieth year in the wilderness (33:36-39 ^c).

• Miriam died: All in her generation shared this fate (14:26-30 ^d), including Moses and Aaron (20:2-13 ^e, 22-29 ^f).
Summary for Num 20:2-13: 20:2-13 ^g In the face of yet another complaint by the people of Israel about a lack of water and food (cp. 11:4-35 ^h; 21:4-5 ⁱ; Exod 15:22-25 ^j), Moses and Aaron disobeyed the Lord and lost the privilege of entering the Promised Land. 20:2 ^k There was no water: Throughout most of the year, Sinai and the Negev are very hot and dry.
20:3 ^l our brothers! The Israelites identified themselves with Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-5 ^m), the gluttons killed by the first plague (Num 11:33 ⁿ), the skeptics who had already died in the wilderness (14:29 ^o), the ten unfaithful spies (14:36-37 ^p), Korah, Abiram, and Dathan, the 250 prominent men, and the 14,700 who died in the second plague (16:32 ^q, 35 ^r, 49 ^s).
20:6 ^t they fell face down on the ground: As in previous conflicts (14:5 ^u, 10 ^v; 16:4 ^w, 19 ^x, 22 ^y), they prostrated themselves and awaited the glorious presence of the Lord to resolve the crisis.
Summary for Num 20:7-9: 20:7-9 ^z God heard Israel’s complaints, regarded them as legitimate, and commanded Moses to solve the problem.
Summary for Num 20:8-9: 20:8-9 ^aa The staff was kept before the Ark of the Covenant to prevent the Israelites from complaining (cp. 17:10 ^ab); it represented God’s authority in the hands of Moses and Aaron. The instructions that God gives his representatives are very precise and must be followed exactly (cp. Jas 3:1 ^ac; see also 2 Tim 2:24-26 ^ad).
Summary for Num 20:10-12: 20:10-12 ^ae Instead of reverently obeying God’s instructions, Moses rebuked the people (Must we bring you water from this rock?) and angrily struck the rock twice with the staff (20:11 ^af). God regarded Moses’ words and actions as a serious breach of faith; Moses “spoke foolishly” (Ps 106:32-33 ^ag; cp. Jas 1:20 ^ah) and did not trust God enough to demonstrate his holiness. By not doing exactly as he was told, Moses demonstrated a lack of faith in God to provide for his people. This lack of faith is also apparent in Moses’ words to the people. The Lord requires obedience and faith; anything less is an affront to his holy character (Num 20:24 ^ai; 27:14 ^aj). Such serious lack of obedience and faith had the same result as it had earlier (14:20-23 ^ak; see also 1 Cor 10:4-12 ^al).
20:13 ^am Meribah: As they had at Rephidim (Exod 17:1-7 ^an), the Israelites coined a name (“Arguing”) that referred more to the incident than to a geographical location.

• God demonstrated his holiness through his judgment on Aaron and Moses’ sin.