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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><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"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Why did you bring the LORD&#8217s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Why have you brought the congregation of the LORD’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why then have you brought the LORD’S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Why then have you brought the LORD&#8217S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Why then have you brought the LORD’S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Why then have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness to die here, we and our livestock?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the LORD&#8217s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You brought us into this desert, and now we and our livestock are going to die! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And why have ye brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our cattle?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Did you bring the LORD's assembly into this desert just to have us and our animals die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Why have you brought us out into this wilderness? Just so that we can die here with our animals? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Why did you bring the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness? So we and our cattle could die here? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the LORD?s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought up the LORD's community into this wilderness? So that we and our cattle should die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And why have ye brought the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought Yahweh’s assembly into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And why have you brought in the assembly of YHWH to this wilderness to die there, we and our beasts?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and why have ye brought in the assembly of Jehovah unto this wilderness to die there, we and our beasts?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And for what brought ye the gathering of Jehovah into this desert to die there, we and our cattle.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought out the church of the Lord into the wilderness, that both we and our cattle should die? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Why have you led away the Church of the Lord, into the wilderness, so that both we and our cattle would die?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Why have you brought the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die here?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Why have you brought the assembly of LORD JEHOVAH to this wilderness that we should die here, we and our animals?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And why have ye brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, to die there, we and our cattle?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And wherefore have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, to kill us and our cattle?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/20-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=6250" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/20.htm">Water from the Rock</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: wə·lā·māh (Conj-w:: Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: hă·ḇê·ṯem (V-Hifil-Perf-2mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">have you brought</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/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.">the LORD’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/6951.htm" title="6951: qə·hal (N-msc) -- Assembly, convocation, congregation. From qahal; assemblage.">assembly</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">into</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/4057.htm" title="4057: ham·miḏ·bār (Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">wilderness</a> <a href="/hebrew/587.htm" title="587: ’ă·naḥ·nū (Pro-1cp) -- We. Apparently from 'anokiy; we.">for us</a> <a href="/hebrew/1165.htm" title="1165: ū·ḇə·‘î·rê·nū (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 1cp) -- Beasts, cattle. From ba'ar: cattle.">and our livestock</a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: lā·mūṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">to die</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">here?</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/17-3.htm">Exodus 17:3</a></span><br />But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-32.htm">Psalm 106:32-33</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-26.htm">Deuteronomy 1:26-27</a></span><br />But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. / You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-23.htm">Deuteronomy 9:23-24</a></span><br />And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him. / You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/16-2.htm">Exodus 16:2-3</a></span><br />And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. / “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/14-2.htm">Numbers 14:2-3</a></span><br />All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! / Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/21-5.htm">Numbers 21:5</a></span><br />and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-10.htm">1 Corinthians 10:10</a></span><br />And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm">Hebrews 3:16-19</a></span><br />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? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Exodus 14:11-12</a></span><br />They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4-6</a></span><br />Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/16-13.htm">Numbers 16:13-14</a></span><br />Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us? / Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/78-19.htm">Psalm 78:19-20</a></span><br />They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-30.htm">John 6:30-31</a></span><br />So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? / Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39-40</a></span><br />But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And why have you brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?</p><p class="hdg">why</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/11-5.htm">Numbers 11:5</a></b></br> We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/5-21.htm">Exodus 5:21</a></b></br> And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/17-3.htm">Exodus 17:3</a></b></br> And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore <i>is</i> this <i>that</i> thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?</p><p class="hdg">that we</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/16-13.htm">Numbers 16:13,14,41</a></b></br> <i>Is it</i> a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Exodus 14:11,12</a></b></br> And they said unto Moses, Because <i>there were</i> no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/16-3.htm">Exodus 16:3</a></b></br> And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, <i>and</i> when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/18-15.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/numbers/20-2.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/numbers/18-15.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/numbers/7-88.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/numbers/20-2.htm">Community</a> <a href="/numbers/20-2.htm">Congregation</a> <a href="/numbers/20-3.htm">Death</a> <a href="/numbers/20-1.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/numbers/18-32.htm">Die</a> <a href="/numbers/18-29.htm">LORD'S</a> <a href="/numbers/20-1.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/numbers/20-1.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/28-31.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/numbers/20-6.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/numbers/20-8.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Community</a> <a href="/numbers/20-6.htm">Congregation</a> <a href="/numbers/20-26.htm">Death</a> <a href="/numbers/21-5.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/numbers/20-26.htm">Die</a> <a href="/numbers/20-9.htm">LORD'S</a> <a href="/numbers/21-11.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/numbers/21-5.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/20-1.htm">The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/20-2.htm">They murmur for want of water</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/20-7.htm">Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/20-14.htm">Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/20-22.htm">At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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><b>Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly</b><br>This phrase reflects the Israelites' perception of their identity as a community chosen by God. The term "LORD's assembly" emphasizes their covenant relationship with Yahweh, who delivered them from Egypt. This question is directed at Moses and Aaron, highlighting their role as leaders. The assembly's complaint echoes previous instances of grumbling (<a href="/exodus/16-2.htm">Exodus 16:2-3</a>), showing a recurring pattern of doubt and lack of faith in God's provision.<p><b>into this wilderness</b><br>The wilderness represents both a physical and spiritual testing ground. Geographically, the Israelites are in the Desert of Zin, a harsh and arid region. Spiritually, the wilderness is a place of trial and dependence on God, reminiscent of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (<a href="/matthew/4.htm">Matthew 4:1-11</a>). The wilderness journey is a formative period for Israel, intended to teach reliance on God (<a href="/deuteronomy/8-2.htm">Deuteronomy 8:2-3</a>).<p><b>for us and our livestock to die here?</b><br>This phrase underscores the desperation and fear of the Israelites, who are concerned for their survival and that of their livestock, essential for their livelihood. Historically, livestock were vital for food, clothing, and sacrifices. The question implies a lack of trust in God's promise to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey (<a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Exodus 3:8</a>). It also foreshadows the ultimate consequence of unbelief, as many in this generation would not enter the Promised Land (<a href="/numbers/14-29.htm">Numbers 14:29-30</a>). This complaint can be seen as a type of Christ's suffering, where He faced death in obedience to God's will, contrasting the Israelites' fear of death due to lack of faith.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses_and_aaron.htm">Moses and Aaron</a></b><br>Leaders of the Israelites, responsible for guiding them through the wilderness.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God, who are expressing their frustration and lack of faith in God's provision.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness_of_zin.htm">The Wilderness of Zin</a></b><br>A desolate area where the Israelites are camped, highlighting their physical and spiritual challenges.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord's_assembly.htm">The LORD’s Assembly</a></b><br>Refers to the congregation of Israel, emphasizing their identity as God's chosen people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_event_of_complaint.htm">The Event of Complaint</a></b><br>The Israelites' grumbling against Moses and Aaron due to the lack of water, reflecting a recurring theme of doubt and rebellion.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_provision.htm">Trust in God's Provision</a></b><br>Despite the challenging circumstances, believers are called to trust in God's faithfulness and provision, just as the Israelites were expected to do.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_complaining.htm">The Danger of Complaining</a></b><br>Complaining can lead to a hardened heart and a lack of faith. Christians should cultivate gratitude and trust in God's plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_under_pressure.htm">Leadership Under Pressure</a></b><br>Moses and Aaron faced immense pressure from the people. This highlights the need for leaders to rely on God for wisdom and strength in difficult times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_community.htm">The Importance of Community</a></b><br>The term "LORD’s assembly" reminds us of the importance of community in our faith journey. Believers should support and encourage one another, especially in times of trial.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/learning_from_the_past.htm">Learning from the Past</a></b><br>The Israelites' repeated failures serve as a cautionary tale. Christians should learn from these accounts to avoid similar pitfalls in their spiritual walk.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_striking_a_rock_yield_water_for_all.htm">Numbers 20:2-11 - How could striking a rock realistically produce enough water for an entire nation and their livestock?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_psalm_114_8_consistent_with_moses'_rock.htm">Does the miraculous water from rock in Psalm 114:8 align with other biblical accounts of Moses striking a rock, or are there inconsistencies?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_a_nation_follow_a_cloud_smoothly.htm">Numbers 9:17-20: How could an entire nation coordinate travel solely based on a cloud's movement without creating significant logistical issues or leaving substantial archaeological traces?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_was_moses_barred_from_canaan.htm">Why couldn't Moses enter the Promised Land?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Why have ye brought up</span> <span class="cmt_word">the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness?</span> These words are almost exactly repeated from <a href="/exodus/17-3.htm">Exodus 17:3</a>. They, and those which follow, are no doubt out of place if considered as expressing the feelings of the great bulk of the people, who had no knowledge of Egypt, and had grown up in the wilderness. But on such occasions it is always the few who put words into the months of the many, and the ringleaders in this gainsaying would naturally be the survivors of the elder generation, whose dis. position was exactly the same as ever, and who had always shown a remarkable want of originality in their complaints. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/20-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Why</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלָמָ֤ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have you brought</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲבֵאתֶם֙</span> <span class="translit">(hă·ḇê·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD’s</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">assembly</span><br /><span class="heb">קְהַ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(qə·hal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6951.htm">Strong's 6951: </a> </span><span class="str2">Assembly, convocation, congregation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">הַזֶּ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(haz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wilderness</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miḏ·bār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for us</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנַ֖חְנוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·naḥ·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_587.htm">Strong's 587: </a> </span><span class="str2">We</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and our livestock</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְעִירֵֽנוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·‘î·rê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1165.htm">Strong's 1165: </a> </span><span class="str2">Beasts, cattle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to die</span><br /><span class="heb">לָמ֣וּת</span> <span class="translit">(lā·mūṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> </span><span class="str2">To die, to kill</span><br /><br /><span class="word">here?</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/20-4.htm">OT Law: Numbers 20:4 Why have you brought the assembly (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/20-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 20:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 20:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/20-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 20:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 20:5" /></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>