In the first month, the Israelites came into the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. It was there that Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, died and was buried.
Soon, there was no water for the people. Once again, they gathered against Moses and Aaron, their voices rising with complaint.
"If only we had died when our brothers perished before the LORD!" they cried. "Why did you bring us into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? This place has no grain, no figs, no vines, no pomegranates—there isn't even water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron turned away from the angry crowd and fell facedown at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. The glory of the LORD appeared to them, and He spoke:
"Take the staff, and you and Aaron gather the people. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give its water. From the rock you shall bring forth water for the community and their livestock."
Moses obeyed and took the staff from before the LORD. Then he and Aaron gathered the people before the rock. But frustration burned in his heart, and Moses said,
"Listen, you rebels! Must we bring you water from this rock?"
He lifted his arm and struck the rock twice with the staff. At once, water gushed out in abundance, and the people and their animals drank deeply.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy before the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I give them."
These were the waters of Meribah—meaning "quarreling"—where the people argued with the LORD, and He showed Himself holy among them.
Afterward, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying,
"This is what your brother Israel says: You know the hardships we have faced. Our ancestors went to Egypt, and the Egyptians mistreated us. But when we cried to the LORD, He heard us and sent His angel, bringing us out of Egypt. Now we are here at Kadesh, on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your land. We will not cross through fields or vineyards, nor drink from your wells. We will stay on the King's Highway and turn neither right nor left until we pass through."
But Edom replied sharply,
"You shall not pass through, or we will come out against you with the sword."
Israel pleaded again, "We will keep to the main road, and if we or our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. We only wish to pass through on foot."
Still, Edom refused and came out with a large army. Seeing this, Israel turned away.
The people then journeyed from Kadesh to Mount Hor, near the border of Edom. There the LORD spoke again:
"Aaron will be gathered to his people. He shall not enter the land I am giving the Israelites, for you both rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's priestly garments and put them on his son, for Aaron will die there."
Moses obeyed. Before the eyes of all Israel, they climbed Mount Hor. On the mountain, Moses removed Aaron's garments and clothed Eleazar, his son. Then Aaron lay down and died there on the summit.
Moses and Eleazar descended from the mountain, and when the people saw that Aaron was gone, all Israel mourned for him thirty days.