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| 1 Then came the sons of Israel, the whole assembly, into the desert of Zin, in the first month, and the people dwelt in Kadesh,–and Miriam died there, and was buried there. |
First month – In April of the 40th year they assembled to enter the promised land. R5315:1
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| 2 And there was no water for the assembly,–so they gathered together against Moses, and against Aaron. |
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| 3 And the people contended with Moses,–and spake, saying, Would, then, we had died when our brethren died, before Yahweh! |
Chode with Moses – All leaders of honor and influence carry weighty responsibilities. R5315:1
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| 4 Wherefore, then, hast thou brought the convocation of Yahweh into this desert,–to die there, we, and our cattle?
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| 5 And wherefore, did ye cause us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place?–not a place of seeds, and figs, and vines, and pomegranates, even water, is there none, to drink. |
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| 6 And Moses and Aaron went in, from the presence of the multitude unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces,–and the glory of Yahweh appeared, unto them. |
Glory of the LORD – Surmised to have been a ray of light emanating from the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy. R5315:1
Unto them – Possibly also manifest to the people of Israel, who looked on. R5315:1
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| 7 Then spake Yahweh unto Moses, saying: |
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| 8 Take the staff, and gather together the assembly, thou, and Aaron thy brother, then shall ye speak unto the cliff, before their eyes, and it shall give forth its waters,–so shalt thou bring forth unto them water, out of the cliff, and shalt cause the assembly, and their cattle, to drink. |
Take the rod – Presumably "Aaron's rod that budded." R5315:1
A reminder to the people of the Lord's special acceptance of Aaron as the High Priest and assistant of Moses. R5315:2
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| 9 And Moses took the staff, from before Yahweh,–as he commanded him. |
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| 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered together the convocation, before the cliff,–and he said unto them: Hear, I pray you, ye rebels! Out of this cliff, must we bring forth for you, water? |
Must we fetch – Moses took the honor to himself instead of giving God the glory. R41:1, R5957:4
One of the most illustrious servants of God there fell under divine disapprobation. R5315:2
Similarly, the feet class will need to be specially upheld by the Lord that they stumble not through pride or self-conceit. R4047:5
Those who do not have sufficient faith in the Lord as the real Head of the Church are generally those who feel too much self-assurance. R3018:2
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| 11 And Moses lifted high his hand, and smote the cliff, with his staff, twice,–and there came forth water in abundance, and the assembly and their cattle, did drink. |
And Moses – Typifying, in this case, those who crucify the Son of God afresh; commit the sin unto death. R3077:4, R4058:1, R5333:3, R5957:5
Smote the rock – Type of Christ. R3077:4, R5333:3
In this he spoiled a type while he made another type. Christ Jesus, the true Rock, was to be smitten but once for our sins. But the second smiting made a new type--some now crucify Christ afresh, committing the sin unto death--the Second Death. R3077:3,4
Twice – Twice, typically putting Christ "to an open shame." (Heb. 6:6) R3077:4
The second time; the first time in Ex. 17:1-7; this time he was to speak to the rock, not smite it. R3077:3
The smiting of the rock at the beginning of Israel's experience was authorized; it was necessary that upon Jesus should fall the rod of affliction. The second smiting may symbolize a smiting of the people of God in the end of this age. R5315:3
Water came out – Symbolizing the blessings which flow from the smiting of Jesus' followers. Under the divine providence blessings will flow from the wrong course, yet no greater blessings than might have come by pursuing the right course. R5315:3
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| 12 Then said Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to hallow me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore, shall ye not bring in this convocation into the land which I have given unto them. |
Believed me not – Self-assertion and lack of faith were Moses' sin. R4047:6, R5315:5
Any denial of the Redeemer on the part of the consecrated would signify a crucifying afresh, a smiting of the rock a second time. R5315:4
The most unjust thing we can do is judge Moses or any other man by his deeds and not by his fruits. R4055:5
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| 13 The same, were the waters of Meribah [that is "Contention"] in that the sons of Israel contended with Yahweh,–and so he hallowed himself among them. |
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| 14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh, unto the king of Edom,–Thus, saith thy brother Israel, Thou thyself, knowest all the distress which befell us; |
Of Edom – Descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. R5316:1
Type of Christendom. D15
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| 15 and how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we abode in Egypt, many days, and that the Egyptians ill-treated us, and our fathers; |
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| 16 and we made outcry unto Yahweh, and he heard our voice, and sent a messenger, and brought us forth out of Egypt,–lo! then, we, are in Kadesh, a city at the extremity of thy boundary, |
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| 17 Let us, we pray thee, pass through thy land–we will not pass through field or vineyard, nor will we drink the waters of a well,–by the king's road, will we go–we will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left, until we get through thy boundary. |
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| 18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through my land,–lest, with the sword, I come out to meet thee. |
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| 19 And the sons of Israel said unto him–By the highway, will we go up, and, if, thy waters, we should drink–I, and my cattle, then would I give the price thereof,–only–it is nothing!–with my feet, would I pass through. |
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| 20 And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out to meet him, with a strong people, and with a firm hand. |
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| 21 Thus did Edom refuse to give Israel passage through his boundary,–and Israel turned away from him. |
Israel turned away – The Midianites, Moabites and Edomites were related to Abraham so Israel left them unmolested, except when they attacked. R5316:1
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| 22 Then set they forward from Kadesh,–and the sons of Israel, all the assembly, came in to Mount Hor. |
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| 23 Then spake Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, in Mount Hor,–near the boundary of the land of Edom, saying: |
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| 24 Aaron shall be withdrawn unto his kinsfolk, for he shall not enter into the land, which I have given unto the sons of Israel,–because ye spurned my bidding, at the waters of Meribah. |
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| 25 Take thou Aaron, and Eleazar his son,–and bring them up Mount Hor; |
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| 26 and strip thou Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son,–and, Aaron, shall be withdrawn, and shall die there. |
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| 27 And Moses did as Yahweh commanded,–and they went up into, Mount Hor, in sight of all the assembly. |
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| 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there, in the top of the mount,–and Moses and Eleazar came down out of the mount. |
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| 29 And all the assembly saw that Aaron was dead; and they bewailed Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel. |
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