20:1 Then came the children of Israel, [even] the whole
congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first a
month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and b Miriam died
there, and was buried there.
(a) This was forty years after their departure from Egypt.
(b) Moses and Aaron's sister.
20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they c
gathered themselves together against Moses and against
Aaron.
(c) Another rebellion was in Rephidim (Ex 17:1-16), and
this was in Kadesh.
20:8 Take the d 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.
(d) With which you did miracles in Egypt and divided the
sea.
20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together
before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye
rebels; e must we fetch you water out of this rock?
(e) The punishment which followed declared that Moses and
Aaron did not believe the Lord's promise as it
appeared in (Nu 20:12).
20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye
believed me not, to f sanctify me in the eyes of the
children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this
congregation into the land which I have given them.
(f) That the children of Israel should believe and
acknowledge my power and so honour me.
20:13 This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of
Israel strove with the LORD, and he h was sanctified in
them.
(h) By showing himself almighty and maintaining his glory.
20:14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of i
Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the
travail that hath befallen us:
(i) Because Jacob or Israel was Esau's brother, who was
called Edom.
20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his
border: wherefore Israel k turned away from him.
(k) To pass by another way.
20:24 Aaron shall be l gathered unto his people: for he shall
not enter into the land which I have given unto the
children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at
the water of Meribah.
