Numbers

Tells about the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, including their travels and the census of their tribes.

Chapter 20

1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

*The Israelites arrived at the Desert of Zin with everyone in the group during the first month. They stayed in a place called Kadesh. While there, Miriam passed away and was buried.

2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

*There was no water for the people, so they complained to Moses and Aaron.

3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

*The people complained to Moses and said, "We wish we had died with our brothers before the Lord did."

4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

*Why did you bring the LORD's people to this desert, where both we and our animals will die?

5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

*Why did you bring us out of Egypt and lead us to this bad place? It has no crops, fig trees, grapes, or pomegranates, and there's no water to drink.

6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

*Moses and Aaron left the group and went to the entrance of the tent where the people met. They fell on their faces, and God's great presence showed up to them.

7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

*And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

*"Get the staff, and bring everyone together - you, your brother Aaron, and tell the rock to release water while they watch. This will provide water for both the people and their animals to drink."

9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

*Moses grabbed the stick, just like God told him to.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

*Moses and Aaron brought everyone together near the rock. He asked the people, "Listen, you disobedient ones; do we need to get water from this rock for you?"

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

*Moses lifted his hand and hit the rock with his staff two times. Then, a lot of water came out and the people and their animals all drank.

12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

*And God spoke to Moses and Aaron, because you didn't believe me, to make me holy for the Israelites, so you can't take this group into the land I gave them.

13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

*This is the water from Meribah. The Israelites argued with God, and He became holy through it all.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

*Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom from Kadesh with a message: "Your brother Israel wants you to know about all the troubles we've faced."

15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

*Our ancestors went to Egypt and stayed there for a long time. While there, both we and our ancestors were mistreated by the Egyptians.

16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

*When we called to God, He listened and sent an angel to save us from Egypt. Now, we're in Kadesh, a city at the edge of your land.

17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

*Please let us go through your land. We won't go through fields or vineyards, and we won't drink from your wells. We'll stay on the main road and won't veer right or left until we leave your territory.

18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

*Edom told him, "You can't go past me. If you do, I'll attack you with swords."

19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet.

*The Israelite children told him, "We'll take the higher road. If my family and animals drink your water, I'll pay for it. I'll just walk, nothing else."

20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

*He said, "You can't go through." Then Edom sent many people to stop him with great force.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

*So, Edom wouldn't let Israel pass through his land: that's why Israel went a different way.

22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.

*The Israelite kids and their group traveled from Kadesh to Mount Hor.

23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

*And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron on Mount Hor, near the edge of the Edom land, saying,

24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

*Aaron will join his people; he can't go to the land given to the Israelites kids since they disobeyed God's command at the Meribah water place.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

*Bring Aaron and Eleazar, his son, to Mount Hor.

26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

*Take the clothes off Aaron, and put them on Eleazar, his son. Then Aaron will join his people and pass away there.

27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

*And Moses followed God's instructions: everyone saw them climb Mount Hor together.

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 from the mount.

*Moses took away Aaron's clothes and gave them to his son Eleazar. Then Aaron passed away on the mountain peak. After that, Moses and Eleazar went back down the mountain.

29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

*When the people saw that Aaron died, they were sad for 30 days, everyone in Israel.

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