Numbers 20: The Death of Miriam / The Waters of Meribah / Passage Through Edom Refused / The Death of Aaron
After some statutes and commandments, we shift into narrative. The story flashes forward some 38 years, to the 40th year of wandering in the wilderness. The generation that did not trust in the Lord has died out. As commanded by God, it is their children that will enter the promised land. What happened during those missing 38 years was probably some more doubting of God, birth, death, and plenty of eating of manna. Don't take my word for it. Use your imagination instead.
The Death of Miriam: Numbers 20.1
A brief formulaic verse informs us that Miriam (Moses' sister) dies and is buried in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin. This is in the "first month" and though the year is not given, commentators assume it is the fortieth year of wandering.
The Waters of Meribah: Numbers 20.2-13
Deja vu. This scene has already happened before, in Exodus 17. But the tale here takes a strange twist.
The people complain against Moses and Aaron that they were taken into the wilderness for the sole purpose of dying of thirst along with their livestock. They consider those previous complainers, their parents, lucky: "Would that we had died when our kindred died before the Lord!" (Num. 20.3). Some things never change - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - like father like son - you get the point. The Israelites complain and lose faith in God.
Aaron and Moses approach God, who gives them a plan for procuring water from a rock, an old trick used for the previous generation. Moses takes his staff, addresses the "rebels" strikes the rock twice, and water flows out abundantly. The people and livestock drink.
Here is where it gets weird. The Lord tells Moses and Aaron that they will not lead the assembly into the promised land "because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites" (Num. 20.12). What? The mistrust is never explicated, so exactly how Aaron and Moses doubted the Lord is a mystery. Moses was not punished when he previously consulted the Lord - so why would it be a problem now? Moses is the Lord's intermediary, after all.
This means that the only two people of Moses' generation that will enter the promised land are Caleb and Joshua. This exception makes the Moses mystery all the more confusing. Moses was a reluctant leader, but is never shown as doubting the Lord. Why, then, is he lumped with all the other Israelites? This is a question to keep in mind as we continue to read through Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Passage through Edom Refused: Numbers 20.14-21
Here begins Israel's diplomatic and military struggles as they near the promised land.
Edom has a strange relationship with the Israelites. The nation of Edom is descended from Esau (also called Edom), who of course is the brother of Jacob (later named Israel). The brothers had something of a strained relationship, and Jacob stole his brother's birthright and the blessing of the father. There might be a little residual bitterness a few generations later. Perhaps. But the refusal of the king of Edom is given without explanation, so the real reason for this is unclear. [This section is a terrific example of the bible's at-times-frustratingly laconic nature]
Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom to request passage through his territory. The message begins by bring the king up to date on the history of Israel, recounting the migration to Egypt, oppression, escape from Egypt, and wandering in the wilderness. The message then asks for safe passage, stating that the Israelites will not not pass through (and thereby destroy) fields or vineyards, and that they will not drink the water of Edomite wells; the Israelites will stay on the King's Highway.
The message allows the reader to quickly be brought up to date on the Exodus story, and reveals the intentions of the Israelites to travel through Edom peacefully.
The king does not allow the Israelites to pass. Even when they promise to remain on the highway, their request is denied.
The Death of Aaron: Numbers 20.22-29
The Israelites set out from Kadesh and come to Mount Hor, which stands on the border of Edom. The Lord reminds Moses that he and Aaron will not enter the promised land for "rebelling" at Meribah. The Lord then gives instructions that Aaron and his son Eleazar are to go up to the top of Mount Hor. Aaron must be stripped of his vestments, which will be given to Eleazar. Aaron shall be gathered to his people and will die there.
When the congregation learns that Aaron has died, they mourn thirty days.
Think back to Numbers 19's command that Eleazar is to sacrifice the red heifer. All of a sudden, God's specificity about the sacrificier makes a lot more sense. Since Aaron will not be around to sacrifice the heifer, his son must do it. The bible is interesting in this way - the reasons for seemingly inexplicable actions are sometimes revealed much later.
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