Numbers 20

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The whole Israelite community arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled at Kadesh. It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.	1 And the sons of Israel, and the entire multitude, went into the desert of Sin, in the first month. And the people stayed at Kadesh. And Miriam died there, and she was buried in the same place.
2 As the community had no water, they held a council against Moses and Aaron.	2 And when the people were in need of water, they came together against Moses and Aaron.
3 The people contended with Moses, exclaiming, "Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD'S presence!	3 And as it turned into sedition, they said: “If only we had perished among our brothers in the sight of the Lord.
4 Why have you brought the LORD'S community into this desert where we and our livestock are dying?	4 Why have you led away the Church of the Lord, into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle would die?
5 Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there is not even water to drink!"	5 Why did you cause us to ascend from Egypt, and why have you led us into this most wretched place, which is not able to be sown, which does not produce figs, or vines, or pomegranates, and which, moreover, does not even have water to drink?”
6 But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,	6 And Moses and Aaron, dismissing the multitude, entered the tabernacle of the covenant, and they fell prone on the ground, and they cried out to the Lord, and they said: “O Lord God, listen to the outcry of this people, and open for them, from your storehouse, a fountain of living water, so that, being satisfied, their murmuring may cease.” And the glory of the Lord appeared over them.
7 and the LORD said to Moses,	7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8 "Take the staff and assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron, and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters. From the rock you shall bring forth water for the community and their livestock to drink."	8 “Take the rod, and gather the people, you and your brother Aaron, and speak to the rock before them, and it shall bestow waters. And when you have brought forth water from the rock, the entire multitude and their cattle shall drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.	9 Therefore, Moses took the rod, which was in the sight of the Lord, just as he had instructed him.
10 He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock, where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels! Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"	10 And having gathered the multitude before the rock, he said to them: “Listen, you who are rebellious and unbelieving. Would we be able to cast out water from this rock?”
11 Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out in abundance for the community and their livestock to drink.	11 And when Moses had lifted up his hand, striking the stone twice with the rod, very great waters went forth, so much so that the people and their cattle were able to drink.
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the Israelites, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."	12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, so as to sanctify me before the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this people into the land, which I will give to them.”
13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites contended against the LORD, and where he revealed his sanctity among them.	13 This is the Water of Contradiction, where the sons of Israel were quarreling against the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
14 From Kadesh Moses sent men to the king of Edom with the message: "Your brother Israel has this to say: You know of all the hardships that have befallen us,	14 Meanwhile, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. They said: “Your brother Israel says this: You know of all the hardships which have overtaken us,
15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we stayed a long time, how the Egyptians maltreated us and our fathers,	15 how our fathers descended into Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted both us and our fathers,
16 and how, when we cried to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel who led us out of Egypt. Now here we are at the town of Kadesh at the edge of your territory.	16 and how we cried out to the Lord, and he heeded us and sent an Angel, who led us away from Egypt. Behold, we are situated in the city of Kadesh, which is at the extremity of your borders.
17 Kindly let us pass through your country. We will not cross any fields or vineyards, nor drink any well water, but we will go straight along the royal road without turning to the right or to the left, until we have passed through your territory."	17 And we beg you to permit us to cross through your land. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards; we will not drink the waters of your wells, but we will travel by the public ways, neither turning aside to the right, nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.”
18 But Edom answered him, "You shall not pass through here; if you do, I will advance against you with the sword."	18 Edom responded to them: “You shall not cross through me, otherwise, I will meet you armed.”
19 The Israelites insisted, "We want only to go up along the highway. If we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. Surely there is no harm in merely letting us march through."	19 And the sons of Israel said: “We will travel by the well-trodden path. And if we or our cattle drink from your waters, we will give you what is just. There shall be no difficulty in the price, only let us cross through quickly.”
20 But Edom still said, "No, you shall not pass through," and advanced against them with a large and heavily armed force.	20 But he answered, “You shall not cross.” And immediately he went out to meet them with a countless multitude and a strong hand;
21 Therefore, since Edom refused to let them pass through their territory, Israel detoured around them.	21 neither was he willing to agree to their petition to concede passage through his borders. For this reason, Israel diverted away from him.
22 Setting out from Kadesh, the whole Israelite community came to Mount Hor.	22 And when they had moved the camp from Kadesh, they arrived at mount Hor, which is at the borders of the land of Edom,
23 There at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,	23 where the Lord spoke to Moses:
24 "Aaron is about to be taken to his people; he shall not enter the land I am giving to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah.	24 “Let Aaron,” he said, “go to his people. For he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because he did not believe my mouth at the Waters of Contradiction.
25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up on Mount Hor.	25 Take Aaron, and his son with him, and lead them on to mount Hor.
26 Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar; for there Aaron shall be taken in death."	26 And when you have stripped the father of his vestments, you shall put them on Eleazar, his son. Aaron shall be gathered and shall die there.”
27 Moses did as the LORD commanded. When they had climbed Mount Hor in view of the whole community,	27 Moses did just as the Lord had instructed. And they ascended mount Hor, in the sight of the entire multitude.
28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain. When Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,	28 And when he had despoiled Aaron of his vestments, he clothed his son Eleazar with them.
29 all the community understood that Aaron had passed away; and for thirty days the whole house of Israel mourned him.	29 And when Aaron had died at the top of the mountain, Moses came down with Eleazar.
	30 And the entire multitude, seeing that Aaron lay dead, wept over him for thirty days, throughout all their families.