Catholic Commentary on Numbers 20

"Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." (Numbers 20:12)

Water from the Rock and the Death of Aaron

Miriam dies and is buried. The people quarrel with Moses again: there is no water. God tells Moses to take the staff and gather the assembly and speak to the rock before their eyes; it will pour out its water. Moses gathers the people and says: listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock? Then he strikes the rock twice with his staff. Water gushes out. But God says to Moses and Aaron: Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them. The precise sin is debated: speaking in anger (must we bring you water?), striking the rock instead of speaking to it, striking it twice, or some combination. Whatever the exact failure, Moses has somehow not honoured God as holy before the people at the very moment he was sent to do exactly that.

The severity of the consequence, that Moses and Aaron will not enter the land, is the measure of the weight of leadership: those who speak for God in the sight of the people bear a proportionately greater responsibility for the quality of their witness. The Catechism notes that this judgment is not vindictive but reveals the seriousness of the mediatorial role (CCC 2584). Aaron dies on Mount Hor. Moses removes his garments and puts them on Aaron's son Eleazar. All the Israelites mourn Aaron thirty days.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Moses struck the rock in frustration and anger when God told him to speak to it. Leadership carried too long without renewal can produce this: the exhausted action that substitutes force for faith. Do not try to produce by striking what God has promised to provide by speaking. Speak the word. Trust the rock to give water at the word.

Prayer

Lord God, forgive us when we strike what you told us to speak to, when we act in frustration rather than faith. Honour your holy name through us even when the people are quarrelling and the way is long. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

20
Water from the Rock
(Exodus 17:1–7)
1 In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
 
2 Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! 4 Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”
 
6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 And the LORD said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
 
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.
 
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
 
13 These were the waters of Meribah,* 20:13 Meribah means quarreling; also in verse 24; see Exodus 17:7. where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.
Edom Refuses Passage
 
14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, 16 and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt.
 
Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
 
18 But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
 
19 “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”
 
20 But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. 21 So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.
The Death of Aaron
 
22 After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. 23 And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. 26 Remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
 
27 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded, and they climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. 28 After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

*20:13 20:13 Meribah means quarreling; also in verse 24; see Exodus 17:7.

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