Numbers 20
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Directions concerning campaigns, Deu 20:1. The priest shall encourage the people with the assurance that God will accompany and fight for them, Deu 20:2-4. The officers shalt dismiss from the army all who had just built a new house, but had not dedicated it, Deu 20:5. All who had planted a vineyard, but had not yet eaten of its fruits, Deu 20:6. All who had betrothed a wife, but had not brought her home, Deu 20:7. And all who were timid and faint-hearted, Deu 20:8. The commanders to be chosen after the timid, etc., had retired, Deu 20:9. No city to be attacked till they had proclaimed conditions of peace to it, provided it be a city beyond the bounds of the seven Canaanitish nations; if it submitted, it was to become tributary; if not, it was to be besieged, sacked, and all the males put to the sword; the women, children, and cattle to be taken as booty, Deu 20:10-15. No such offers to be made to the cities of the Canaanites; of them nothing shall be preserved, and the reason, Deu 20:16-18. In besieging a city no trees to be cut down but those which do not bear fruit, Deu 20:19, Deu 20:20.
Open source ↗THE DEATH OF MIRIAM. (Num. 20:1-29) Then came the children of Israel . . . into the desert of Zin in the first month--that is, of the fortieth year (compare Num 20:22-23, with Num 33:38). In this history only the principal and most important incidents are recorded, those confined chiefly to the first or second and the last years of the journeyings in the wilderness, thence called Et-Tih. Between Num 19:22 and Num 20:1 there is a long and undescribed interval of thirty-seven years. the people abode in Kadesh--supposed to be what is now known as Ain-el-Weibeh, three springs surrounded by palms. (See on Num 13:26). It was their second arrival after an interval of thirty-eight years (Deu 2:14). The old generation had nearly all died, and the new one encamped in it with the view of entering the promised land, not, however, as formerly on the south, but by crossing the Edomite region on the east. Miriam died there--four months before Aaron [Num 33:38].
Open source ↗Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation,.... Not immediately after the transaction of the above things, recorded in the preceding chapters; as the sending of the spies into the land of Canaan, and their report of it; the business of Korah, and the giving of several laws respecting the priesthood, and the purification of the people; but thirty eight years after: nor was this the congregation that came out of Egypt; their carcasses, by this time, had fallen in the wilderness, as had been threatened, excepting some few, so that this was a new generation: what passed during this time we have very little account of, excepting their journeyings from place to place, in Num 33:1, by which it appears, there were eighteen stations between the place they encamped at when the spies were sent, and this they now came to; and that the place from whence they came hither was Ezion Geber; from hence they journeyed: and came unto the desert of Zin; which is different from the wilderness of Sin, Exo 16:1 as appears by their names, which are different, and by the stations of the Israelites, Num 33:11, hither they came in the first month; the month of Nisan, on the tenth day of it, according to the Targum of Jonathan, which was the first month of the fortieth year of their coming out of Egypt, so Aben Ezra; with which agrees the Jewish chronologer (u), which says, this was the fortieth year, and the beginning of the month Nisan: and the people abode in Kadesh: which is by some thought to be different from Kadeshbarnea, from whence the spies were sent, and lay to the south of the land of Canaan, whereas this was upon the borders of Edom; but Doctor Lightfoot (w) shows them to be the same: it is supposed to be eight hours north or northnorth-west of Mount Sinai, which may…
Open source ↗Assembling of the Congregation at Kadesh. - In the first month the children of Israel came into the desert of Zin, i.e., in the fortieth year of their wanderings, at the commencement of which "the whole congregation" assembled together once more in the very same place where the sentence had been passed thirty-seven years and a half before, that they should remain in the desert for forty years, until the rebellious generation had died out. The year is not mentioned in Num 20:1, but, according to Num 14:32., it can only be the year with which the forty years of the sentence that they should die out in the wilderness came to an end, that is to say, the fortieth year of their wandering. This is put beyond all doubt by what follows. For the whole congregation proceeds from Kadesh in the desert of Zin to Mount Hor, where Aaron died, and that, according to Num 33:38, in the fifth month of the fortieth year after the exodus from Egypt. Miriam died during the time that the people were staying (ישׁב) in Kadesh, and there she was buried.
Open source ↗After thirty-eight years' tedious marches, or rather tedious rests, in the wilderness, backward towards the Red Sea, the armies of Israel now at length set their faces towards Canaan again, and had come not far off from the place where they were when, by the righteous sentence of divine Justice, they were made to begin their wanderings. Hitherto they had been led about as in a maze or labyrinth, while execution was doing upon the rebels that were sentenced; but they were now brought into the right way again: they abode in Kadesh (Num 20:1), not Kadesh-barnea, which was near the borders of Canaan, but another Kadesh on the confines of Edom, further off from the land of promise, yet in the way to it from the Red Sea, to which they had been hurried back. Now, I. Here dies Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, and as it should seem older than either of them. She must have been so if she was that sister that was set to watch Moses when he was put into the ark of bulrushes, Exo 2:4. Miriam died there, Exo 2:1. She was a prophetess, and had been an instrument of much good to Israel, Mic 6:4. When Moses and Aaron with their rod went before them, to work wonders for them, Miriam with her timbrel went before them in praising God for these wondrous works (Exo 15:20), and therein did them real service; yet she had once been a murmurer (Num 12:1), and must not enter Canaan. II. Here there is another Meribah. one place we met with before of that name, in the beginning of their march through the wilderness, which was so called because of the chiding of the children of Israel, Exo 17:7. And now we have another place, at the latter end of their march, which bears the same name for the same reason: This is the water of Meribah, Num 20:13. What was there done was here re-acted. 1. There…
Open source ↗20:1The number of years since leaving Egypt is not specified, but Aaron’s death (20:22-29) took place in Israel’s fortieth year in the wilderness (33:36-39). • Miriam died: All in her generation shared this fate (14:26-30), including Moses and Aaron (20:2-13, 22-29).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… צִן (Tsin, H6790) — Tsin, a part of the Desert רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn, H7223) — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… קָדֵשׁ (Qâdêsh, H6946) — Kadesh, a place in the Desert מִרְיָם (Miryâm, H4813) — Mirjam, the name of two Israelitesses מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill קָבַר (qâbar, H6912) — to inter
Open source ↗מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… רִיב (rîyb, H7378) — properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לוּא (lûwʼ, H3863) — a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that! גָּוַע (gâvaʻ, H1478) — to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… בְּעִיר (bᵉʻîyr, H1165) — cattle מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity תְּאֵן (tᵉʼên, H8384) — the fig (tree or fruit) גֶּפֶן (gephen, H1612) — a vine (as twining), especially the grape רִמּוֹן (rimmôwn, H7416) — a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely) פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) מוֹעֵד (môwʻêd, H4150) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;… נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… שָׁקָה (shâqâh, H8248) — to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to בְּעִיר (bᵉʻîyr, H1165) — cattle
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… מָרָה (mârâh, H4784) — to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist;… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) בְּעִיר (bᵉʻîyr, H1165) — cattle
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Open source ↗הֵם (hêm, H1992) — they (only used when emphatic) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מְרִיבָה (Mᵉrîybâh, H4809) — Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity רִיב (rîyb, H7378) — properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) קָדֵשׁ (Qâdêsh, H6946) — Kadesh, a place in the Desert מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… תְּלָאָה (tᵉlâʼâh, H8513) — distress מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath.
They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.
and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.
for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.
And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
The time we spent traveling from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Brook of Zered was thirty-eight years, until that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them.
Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife.