Matthew Henry Commentary Numbers 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 20
"And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah! And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto them. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink. And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle. And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them." — Numbers 20:1-13 (ASV)
After thirty-eight years of a tiresome stay in the wilderness, the armies of Israel advanced towards Canaan again. There was no water for the congregation. We live in a world of needs, and wherever we are, we must expect to encounter something to cause us trouble. It is a great mercy to have plenty of water, a mercy whose value we would better recognize if we experienced the lack of it.
Upon this, they murmured against Moses and Aaron. They spoke the same absurd and crude language their fathers had used. It made their crime worse that they had suffered so long for the discontent and distrusts of their fathers, yet they repeated the same mistakes. Moses had to again, in God's name, command water out of a rock for them; God is as able as ever to supply His people with what they need.
But Moses and Aaron acted wrongly. They took much of the glory of this work of wonder to themselves: “Must we fetch water?” as if it were done by some power or worthiness of their own. They were to speak to the rock, but they struck it. Therefore, it is charged against them that they did not sanctify God; that is, they did not give to Him alone the glory of this miracle which was due to His name.
And being provoked by the people, Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips. This same pride of man still seeks to usurp the office of the appointed Mediator, and for mankind to be its own wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Such a state of sinful independence, such a rebellion of the soul against its Savior, the voice of God condemns on every page of the Gospel.
"And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king`s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee. And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet. And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him." — Numbers 20:14-21 (ASV)
The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared receiving damage from the Israelites. And if this numerous army had been under any discipline other than that of the righteous God Himself, there might have been cause for this jealousy.
But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred revived when the blessing was about to be inherited. We must not think it strange if reasonable requests are denied by unreasonable men, and if those whom God favours are affronted by men.
"And they journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor. And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be 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 waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor; and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [unto his people], and shall die there. And Moses did as Jehovah commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel." — Numbers 20:22-29 (ASV)
God commands Aaron to prepare to die. There is something of displeasure in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan, because he had failed in his duty at the waters of strife. There is much of mercy in them. Aaron, though he dies for his transgression, dies with ease, and in honor.
He is gathered to his people, as one who dies in the arms of Divine grace. There is much significance in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan, to show that the Levitical priesthood could make nothing perfect; that must be done by bringing in a better hope. Aaron submits, and dies in the method and manner appointed; and, from all that appears, with as much cheerfulness as if he had been going to bed.
It was a great satisfaction to Aaron to see his son, who was dear to him, preferred; and his office preserved and secured: especially, to see in this a figure of Christ's everlasting priesthood. A good man would desire, if it were the will of God, not to outlive his usefulness. Why should we covet to continue any longer in this world, than while we may do some service in it for God and our generation?
Jump to: