1And the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people dwelt in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2And there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves against Moses and against Aaron.
3And the people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying: Would that we had expired when our brothers expired before YHWH!
4And why have you brought the assembly of YHWH into this wilderness, to die there, we and our cattle?
5And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is no place of seed, or fig, or vine, or pomegranate; and there is no water to drink.
6And Moses and Aaron came from before the assembly to the entrance of the tent (ohel) of appointed time (moed), and fell upon their faces; and the glory of YHWH appeared to them.
7And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:
8Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it give its water; and you shall bring forth for them water out of the rock, and give the congregation and their cattle drink.
9And Moses took the rod from before YHWH, as he commanded (tzivvah) him.
10And Moses and Aaron assembled the assembly before the rock, and he said to them: Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth for you water out of this rock?
11And Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice; and much water came forth, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.
12And YHWH said to Moses and to Aaron: Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
13These are the waters of Meribah, where the sons of Israel strove with YHWH, and he was sanctified in them.
14And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has found us;
15how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt many days; and the Egyptians dealt evil with us and with our fathers;
16and we cried to YHWH, and he heard our voice, and sent a messenger, and brought us forth out of Egypt; and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city at the edge of your border.
17Let us pass, please, through your land; we will not pass through field or through vineyard, and we will not drink water of a well; we will go by the king's way, we will not turn aside to the right or to the left, until we have passed your border.
18And Edom said to him: You shall not pass through me, lest I come out against you with the sword.
19And the sons of Israel said to him: We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price; only there is nothing, on my feet let me pass through.
20And he said: You shall not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21And Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; and Israel turned away from him.
22And they journeyed from Kadesh; and the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to mount Hor.
23And YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying:
24Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not come into the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against my mouth at the waters of Meribah.
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to mount Hor.
26And strip Aaron of his garments, and clothe Eleazar his son with them; and Aaron shall be gathered, and shall die there.
27And Moses did as YHWH commanded (tzivvah); and they went up to mount Hor in the eyes of all the congregation.
28And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and clothed Eleazar his son with them; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount; and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
29And all the congregation saw that Aaron had expired, and they wept for Aaron thirty days, all the house of Israel.