Keraia
Numbers 20

Numbers 20:13

Water from the Rock · Numbers 20:1–13
Read Numbers 20

Translations

Modern
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.
Traditional
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.
Literal
Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with YHWH, and He was consecrated among them.
Latin
Hæc est aqua contradictionis, ubi jurgati sunt filii Israël contra Dominum, et sanctificatus est in eis.

Original

Hebrew
English
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

Notes

Numbers 20:13

  • Meribah means “Arguing” or “Quarreling.” As they had earlier at Rephidim(Exodus 17:1–7), the Israelites gave a name that described what happened there. The name pointed more to the event than to the place itself.

  • At Meribah, God showed his holiness through judgment. He disciplined both Aaron and Moses for their sin.

Numbers 20:2–13

The people of Israel complained again about not having water and food (compare 11:4–35; 21:4–5; Exodus 15:22–25). So, Moses and Aaron disobeyed the Lord. As a result, they lost the privilege of entering the promised land.

Theme notes and profiles

Aaron Eleazar Moses

Parallels

Exodus 17:1–7

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Meribah: A place where Moses disobeyed God

Glossary

Aaron’s Rod Deuteronomy, Book of Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea Massah and Meribah Meribah Mount Hor Numbers, Book of Wilderness of Zin Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Called Meribah to Commemorate the Murmuring Israel: Complain for Lack of Water in Meribah; the Rock is Struck Meribah: Meribah-Kadesh, Fountain in the Desert of Zin Trouble: About Water Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning