Numbers 20:1-11

Death of Miriam

¹Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there.

²There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. ³Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! ⁴Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here? ⁵Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” ⁶Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; ⁷then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

The Waters of Meribah

⁸“Take the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.”

⁹So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; ¹⁰and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” ¹¹Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.

Death of Aaron