Numbers 20:8

Translations

Modern

“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.”

Traditional

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.

Literal

“Take the rod and gather together the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes; and it will yield its water. And you shall bring for them water from the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock.”

Latin

Tolle virgam, et congrega populum, tu et Aaron frater tuus, et loquimini ad petram coram eis, et illa dabit aquas. Cumque eduxeris aquam de petra, bibet omnis multitudo et jumenta ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

“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.”

Notes

Numbers 20:8–9

Moses placed the staff in front of the ark of the covenant to stop the Israelites from complaining (compare 17:10). The staff represented God's authority given to Moses and Aaron. God's instructions to his representatives are very precise and require exact obedience (compare James 3:1; also see 2 Timothy 2:24–26).

Numbers 20:7–9

God heard Israel’s complaints and accepted them as valid. He did not ignore their concerns.

Then God told Moses to deal with the problem and provide a solution.

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

Related verses

Exodus 4:17
But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”
Isaiah 43:20
The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.
Nehemiah 9:15
In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them.
Isaiah 48:21
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Acts 2:1–4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Exodus 17:5–6
And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
Luke 11:13
So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
John 4:10–14
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Mark 11:22–24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.
Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Parallels

Exodus 17:1–7

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel

Glossary

Aaron Deuteronomy, Book of Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea Mount Hor Numbers, Book of Wilderness of Zin Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Moses Striking the Rock Instead of Speaking to It, Disobeys Disobedience to God: Moses God: Supplying Water at Meribah Israel: Complain for Lack of Water in Meribah; the Rock is Struck Miracles: Catalogue of Water from the Rock in Kadesh Rocks: Meribah in Kadesh Trouble: About Water

Numbers 20:8

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