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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/20-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/04_Num_20_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 20:12 - Water from the Rock" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not trust Me to show My 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class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/numbers/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/numbers/20.htm">New International Version</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, &#8220Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/numbers/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” <a href="/esv/numbers/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” <a href="/bsb/numbers/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” <a href="/kjv/numbers/20.htm">King James Bible</a> And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to 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. <a href="/nkjv/numbers/20.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” <a href="/nasb_/numbers/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” <a href="/nasb/numbers/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, &#8220Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/numbers/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” <a href="/lsb/numbers/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” <a href="/amp/numbers/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” <a href="/csb/numbers/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.” <a href="/hcsb/numbers/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, &#8220Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.&#8221 <a href="/asv/numbers/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/numbers/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you refused to believe in my power, these people did not respect me. And so, you will not be the ones to lead them into the land I have promised." <a href="/erv/numbers/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the LORD 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. <a href="/gwt/numbers/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "You didn't trust me! You didn't show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I'm giving them." <a href="/gnt/numbers/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> But the LORD reprimanded Moses and Aaron. He said, "Because you did not have enough faith to acknowledge my holy power before the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land that I promised to give them." <a href="/isv/numbers/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> But the LORD rebuked Moses and Aaron, telling Moses: "Because you both didn't believe me, because you didn't consecrate me as holy in the presence of the Israelis, you won't be the ones to bring this congregation into the land that I'm about to give them." <a href="/msb/numbers/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ?Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.? <a href="/net/numbers/20.htm">NET Bible</a> Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them." <a href="/nheb/numbers/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." <a href="/wbt/numbers/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to 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. <a href="/web/numbers/20.htm">World English Bible</a> Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/numbers/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And YHWH says to Moses and to Aaron, “Because you have not believed in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore you do not bring in this assembly to the land which I have given to them.” <a href="/ylt/numbers/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Jehovah saith unto Moses, and unto Aaron, 'Because ye have not believed in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore ye do not bring in this assembly unto the land which I have given to them.' <a href="/slt/numbers/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Jehovah will say to Moses, and to Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to consecrate me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, for this, ye shall not bring in this gathering to the land which I gave to them.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/numbers/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Because you have not believed me, to sanctify me before the children of Israel, you shall not bring these people into the land, which I will give them. <a href="/cpdv/numbers/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, so as to sanctify me before the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this people into the land, which I will give to them.” <a href="/nabre/numbers/20.htm">New American Bible</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: Because you did not have confidence in me, to acknowledge my holiness before the Israelites, therefore you shall not lead this assembly into the land I have given them. <a href="/nrsvce/numbers/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/numbers/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the presence of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. <a href="/hpbt/numbers/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe and to Ahron: “Because you did not believe in me for my sanctification before the children of Israel, because of this you shall not bring in this assembly to the land which I have given to them.”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/numbers/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the LORD 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.' <a href="/sep/numbers/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because ye have not believed me to sanctify me before the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. <a href="/parallel/numbers/20-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=6326" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/numbers/20.htm">Water from the Rock</a> …11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. 12<a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">But the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">Moses</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: wə·’el- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/175.htm" title="175: ’a·hă·rōn (N-proper-ms) -- An elder brother of Moses. Of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses.">Aaron,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3282.htm" title="3282: ya·‘an (Adv) -- From an unused root meaning to pay attention; properly, heed; by implication, purpose; used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause.">“Because</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">you did not</a> <a href="/hebrew/539.htm" title="539: he·’ĕ·man·tem (V-Hifil-Perf-2mp) -- To confirm, support. ">trust</a> <a href="/hebrew/bî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">Me</a> <a href="/hebrew/6942.htm" title="6942: lə·haq·dî·šê·nî (Prep-l:: V-Hifil-Inf:: 1cs) -- To be set apart or consecrated. A primitive root; to be clean.">to show My holiness</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: lə·‘ê·nê (Prep-l:: N-cdc) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">in the sight</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.)."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of the Israelites,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: lā·ḵên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">you will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: ṯā·ḇî·’ū (V-Hifil-Imperf-2mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">bring</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: haz·zeh (Art:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/6951.htm" title="6951: haq·qā·hāl (Art:: N-ms) -- Assembly, convocation, congregation. From qahal; assemblage.">assembly</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">into the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: nā·ṯat·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">I have given</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">them.”</a> 13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-51.htm">Deuteronomy 32:51-52</a> For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. / Although you shall see from a distance the land that I am giving the Israelites, you shall not enter it.” <a href="/psalms/106-32.htm">Psalm 106:32-33</a> At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips. <a href="/deuteronomy/1-37.htm">Deuteronomy 1:37</a> The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land. <a href="/deuteronomy/3-26.htm">Deuteronomy 3:26</a> But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-21.htm">Deuteronomy 4:21</a> The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. <a href="/deuteronomy/34-4.htm">Deuteronomy 34:4</a> And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.” <a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm">Hebrews 3:16-19</a> For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ... <a href="/hebrews/4-1.htm">Hebrews 4:1-2</a> Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-4.htm">1 Corinthians 10:4-5</a> and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. / Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6-7</a> Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. / He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” <a href="/numbers/27-12.htm">Numbers 27:12-14</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites. / After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was; / 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. <a href="/deuteronomy/31-2.htm">Deuteronomy 31:2</a> he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ <a href="/deuteronomy/32-48.htm">Deuteronomy 32:48-52</a> On that same day the LORD said to Moses, / “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession. / And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. ... <a href="/psalms/95-8.htm">Psalm 95:8-11</a> do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. / For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” ... <a href="/ezekiel/20-15.htm">Ezekiel 20:15</a> Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.because ye believed<a href="/numbers/11-21.htm">Numbers 11:21,22</a> And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month… <a href="/2_chronicles/20-20.htm">2 Chronicles 20:20</a> And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.<a href="/isaiah/7-9.htm">Isaiah 7:9</a> And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.sanctify<a href="/numbers/27-14.htm">Numbers 27:14</a> For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.<a href="/leviticus/10-3.htm">Leviticus 10:3</a> Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.<a href="/deuteronomy/1-37.htm">Deuteronomy 1:37</a> Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.ye shall<a href="/numbers/20-24.htm">Numbers 20:24</a> 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 water of Meribah.<a href="/numbers/11-14.htm">Numbers 11:14</a> I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.<a href="/deuteronomy/3-23.htm">Deuteronomy 3:23-26</a> And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/20-10.htm">Aaron</a> <a href="/numbers/20-10.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/numbers/14-11.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/exodus/14-31.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/numbers/19-10.htm">Children</a> <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Community</a> <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Congregation</a> <a href="/numbers/16-13.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/numbers/20-8.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/numbers/18-32.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-32.htm">Honor</a> <a href="/numbers/20-1.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/numbers/19-10.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/numbers/20-10.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/numbers/11-18.htm">Sanctify</a> <a href="/numbers/19-5.htm">Sight</a> <a href="/numbers/14-11.htm">Treat</a> <a href="/exodus/19-9.htm">Trust</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/20-23.htm">Aaron</a> <a href="/numbers/20-22.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-32.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-12.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/numbers/20-13.htm">Children</a> <a href="/numbers/20-22.htm">Community</a> <a href="/numbers/20-22.htm">Congregation</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-6.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/numbers/20-27.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/numbers/20-13.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/numbers/22-17.htm">Honor</a> <a href="/numbers/20-13.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/numbers/20-13.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/numbers/20-23.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/numbers/27-14.htm">Sanctify</a> <a href="/numbers/20-27.htm">Sight</a> <a href="/numbers/25-17.htm">Treat</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-32.htm">Trust</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 20</div>1. <a href="/numbers/20-1.htm">The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies.</a> 2. <a href="/numbers/20-2.htm">They murmur for want of water</a> 7. <a href="/numbers/20-7.htm">Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah</a> 14. <a href="/numbers/20-14.htm">Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him</a> 22. <a href="/numbers/20-22.htm">At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to His chosen leaders, Moses and Aaron. Throughout the Pentateuch, God frequently speaks to Moses, establishing him as a prophet and leader. Aaron, as the high priest, also holds a significant role in mediating between God and the Israelites. This divine communication underscores the seriousness of the message and the authority of God over His appointed leaders.Because you did not trust Me The lack of trust here refers to the incident at Meribah, where Moses struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God commanded (<a href="/numbers/20-7.htm">Numbers 20:7-11</a>). This act demonstrated a failure to fully rely on God's instructions. Trust in God is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasized in <a href="/proverbs/3-5.htm">Proverbs 3:5-6</a> and exemplified by figures like Abraham (<a href="/genesis/15-6.htm">Genesis 15:6</a>).to show My holiness Holiness is a central attribute of God, signifying His purity, separateness, and divine nature. By not following God's command precisely, Moses and Aaron failed to uphold God's holiness before the people. <a href="/leviticus/10-3.htm">Leviticus 10:3</a> highlights the importance of sanctifying God in the eyes of the Israelites, a responsibility of the leaders.in the sight of the Israelites The public nature of Moses and Aaron's actions meant that their disobedience had a communal impact. The Israelites were witnesses to their leaders' failure to honor God, which could undermine their faith. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of leaders setting a godly example, as seen in <a href="/1_timothy/4-12.htm">1 Timothy 4:12</a>.you will not bring this assembly into the land This consequence is significant, as it denies Moses and Aaron the fulfillment of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, a task they had been working towards since the Exodus. This punishment reflects the principle that leaders are held to a higher standard (<a href="/james/3.htm">James 3:1</a>) and that disobedience has serious repercussions.that I have given them The Promised Land is a central element of God's covenant with Abraham (<a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Genesis 12:7</a>). It represents God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Despite Moses and Aaron's failure, God's plan for the Israelites remains intact, demonstrating His sovereignty and grace. This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate rest and inheritance believers find in Christ (<a href="/hebrews/4-8.htm">Hebrews 4:8-10</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a> The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is reprimanded for his lack of trust and failure to uphold God's holiness. 2. <a href="/topical/a/aaron.htm">Aaron</a> Moses' brother and the high priest of Israel. He shares in the responsibility and consequence of the actions taken at Meribah. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a> The covenant God of Israel, who is holy and demands faith and obedience from His people. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a> The chosen people of God, who are journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land. They witness the events at Meribah and the consequences of Moses and Aaron's actions. 5. <a href="/topical/m/meribah.htm">Meribah</a> The place where the Israelites quarreled with Moses due to a lack of water, leading to the incident where Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_trusting_god.htm">The Importance of Trusting God</a> Moses and Aaron's failure to trust God fully resulted in severe consequences. Trust in God is foundational to our relationship with Him. <a href="/topical/g/god's_holiness_must_be_upheld.htm">God's Holiness Must Be Upheld</a> The incident at Meribah underscores the importance of honoring God's holiness. Our actions should reflect His character and commands. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a> Even leaders like Moses and Aaron faced consequences for their disobedience. This serves as a reminder that no one is above God's law. <a href="/topical/l/leadership_accountability.htm">Leadership Accountability</a> Leaders are held to a high standard and must lead by example. Their actions can have significant impacts on those they lead. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a> True faith is demonstrated through obedience. We must act in accordance with God's instructions, even when circumstances are challenging.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 20</a> <a href="/q/does_moses'_ban_affect_his_account's_credibility.htm">Deuteronomy 3:26 indicates Moses was forbidden to enter the land—how does this affect the credibility of his supposed firsthand account? </a> <a href="/q/why_was_moses_barred_from_canaan.htm">Why couldn't Moses enter the Promised Land?</a> <a href="/q/where_did_moses_see_the_promised_land.htm">Where did Moses view the Promised Land before dying?</a> <a href="/q/why_is_gehazi's_curse_so_harsh.htm">Why does Gehazi’s curse (2 Kings 5:26–27) seem disproportionately harsh compared to other sins in the Old Testament?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron.--We read in <a href="/psalms/106-33.htm" title="Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.">Psalm 106:33</a> that the Israelites "provoked (literally, made to rebel) his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." Whatever was the nature of the sin thus committed, it is clear that Aaron was a participator in it with Moses. Some have thought that the sin of Moses consisted in addressing the people as rebels (or as rebellious ones); but this is the charge repeatedly brought against them in the book of Deuteronomy (see <a href="/numbers/1-26.htm" title="Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;">Numbers 1:26</a>; <a href="/numbers/1-43.htm" title="Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.">Numbers 1:43</a>; <a href="/numbers/9-23.htm" title="At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.">Numbers 9:23</a>; <a href="/numbers/31-27.htm" title="And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war on them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:">Numbers 31:27</a>), under circumstances in which it is impossible to suppose that Moses committed the same sin. It has also been thought that the sin of Moses and Aaron consisted in arrogating to themselves the honour which was due only to God. "Must we fetch you water?" but the personal pronoun does not occur in the Hebrew, as it might, and probably would, have occurred, if intended to be emphatic. The more probable explanation appears to be that, notwithstanding the miraculous supply of water which had begun at Rephidim, and which had been subsequently continued, Moses and Aaron distrusted the word and power (<a href="/numbers/20-12.htm" title="And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.">Numbers 20:12</a>) of God, and that they yielded to the impulse of impatience and anger, as betrayed both by the language which they used and by the double smiting of the rock, to which Moses had been commanded only to speak. To what degree Aaron was concerned in these sins can be inferred only from the facts that he, as well as Moses, was charged with the sin of unbelief, and that the punishment of exclusion from the land of Canaan was inflicted upon both. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 12. - Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel. It is very important, and at the same time very difficult, to understand what the precise sin of Moses and Aaron was upon this occasion. That it was very serious is manifest from the punishment which is entailed. Aaron, indeed, does not appear in the narrative, save in his usual subordinate position as associated with his brother by the Divine mandate. It has been said that he might have checked the unadvised words of Moses, but that is wholly beside the mark. Aaron had obviously no control whatever over his far more able and energetic brother, and therefore could have no responsibility in that respect. We can only suppose that he inwardly assented to the language and conduct with which he was outwardly associated, and therefore shared the guilt. A less degree of sin was (so to speak) necessary in his cause, because he had on former occasions so greatly dishonoured his office; and the anger of God against the sin of his ministers, although laid to sleep, is ever ready to awake upon the recurrence of a similar provocation. We may therefore dismiss him, and consider only the case of Moses. It is impossible to suppose that Moses actually doubted the power of God to supply the present need, for he held in his hand the very rod with which he had struck the rock in Rephidim, nor is there anything in his words or acts upon this occasion to imply any such disbelief. The language of <a href="/numbers/11-21.htm">Numbers 11:21, 22</a> may be cited on the other side, but that was spoken in passion, and spoken to God, and cannot be held as expressing an actual failure of faith. Nor do subsequent references point to unbelief as having been the sin of Moses (cf. <a href="/numbers/27-14.htm">Numbers 27:14</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/32-51.htm">Deuteronomy 32:51</a>; <a href="/psalms/106-33.htm">Psalm 106:33</a>). Rather, they point to disobedience and indiscretion; to such disloyal conduct and language as produced a bad impression upon the people, and did not place the Divine character before them in its true light. We must understand, therefore, that the want of belief with which Moses stood charged was not a want of faith in the power of God, but a want of obedience to the will of God, bearing in mind that the two faults of disbelief and disobedience are but two sides of one inward fact, and are perpetually confounded in the language of Scripture (compare the use of ἀπειθεῖν in the New Testament). What then was the disobedience of Moses? Here, again, the more obvious answer is insufficient. It is true that Moses struck the rock twice instead of (or perhaps in addition to) speaking to it; but God had bid him take the rod, and he might naturally think he was meant to use it as before; moreover, the people could not have known anything of the exact terms of the command, and would have thought no more of his striking the rock at Kadesh than at Rephidim; but it was the fact of the bad impression made upon the people which was the ground of the Divine rebuke. We come back, therefore, to the simple conclusion expressed by the Psalmist (<a href="/psalms/106-32.htm">Psalm 106:32, 33</a>), that Moses lost his temper, and in the irritation of the moment spoke and acted in such a way and in such a spirit as to dishonour his Master and to impair the good effect of the Divine beneficence. It is quite likely that the repeated striking of the rock was one sign of the anger to which Moses gave way, but we could hardly have attached any serious character to the act if it had stood alone. It is in the words of Moses, words in which he associated Aaron with himself, that we must find the explanation of the displeasure he incurred. That he called the people "rebels" was unseemly, not because it was untrue, or because it was an uncalled-for term of reproach, but because he himself was at that very moment a rebel, and disloyal in heart to his Master (cf. verse 24). That he should say, "Must we fetch you water out of this rock?" showed how completely he was carried away. It is true that God had said to him, "Thou shalt bring forth to them water," and, "Thou shalt give the congregation... drink" (compare this with <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a>), and it is probable that his own words were more or less consciously dictated by this remembrance; but he knew very well that the Divine mandate afforded him no real justification; that he and Aaron were the merest instruments in the hand of God; that it was peculiarly necessary to keep this fact before the minds of the people; nevertheless, his vexation and anger betrayed him into putting himself - a mere man, and a man too in a very bad temper - into the place of God before the eyes of the whole congregation. Moses had fallen at least once before (see on Numbers 11:11-15) into a similar error, one so natural to an angry mind; but this was the first time that he had made his error public, and thereby dishonoured the Master whom it was his special duty to uphold and glorify. This was the sin, and if the punishment seem disproportionate, it must be remembered that the heinousness of a sin depends quite as much on the position of the sinner as upon its intrinsic enormity. Ye shall not bring this congregation into the land. That they should die in the wilderness was implied in this sentence, but was not strictly a part of the sentence itself. Moses, indeed, although he did not enter the land of promise in its narrower sense, yet he died within the inheritance of Israel. Since they had behaved unworthily of their high office as leaders of the people, therefore that office should be taken from them before the glorious end. <a href="/commentaries/numbers/20-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>But the LORD יְהוָה֮ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to Moses מֹשֶׁ֣ה (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver and Aaron, אַהֲרֹן֒ (’a·hă·rōn) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_175.htm">Strong's 175: </a> Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses “Because יַ֚עַן (ya·‘an) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3282.htm">Strong's 3282: </a> Heed, purpose, to indicate the reason, cause you did not לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no trust הֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣ם (he·’ĕ·man·tem) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_539.htm">Strong's 539: </a> To confirm, support Me בִּ֔י (bî) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> to show My holiness לְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִי (lə·haq·dî·šê·nî) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6942.htm">Strong's 6942: </a> To be set apart or consecrated in the sight לְעֵינֵ֖י (lə·‘ê·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - cdc <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> An eye, a fountain of the Israelites, בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son you will not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no bring תָבִ֙יאוּ֙ (ṯā·ḇî·’ū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go this הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that assembly הַקָּהָ֣ל (haq·qā·hāl) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6951.htm">Strong's 6951: </a> Assembly, convocation, congregation into וְאֶֽל־ (wə·’el-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to the land הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land I have given them.” נָתַ֥תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/numbers/20-12.htm">Numbers 20:12 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/numbers/20-12.htm">OT Law: Numbers 20:12 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron Because (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/20-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 20:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 20:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/20-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 20:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 20:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>