Numbers 20:14-29

New International Version

Edom Denies Israel Passage

¹⁴Moses sent messengers from Kadesh^(A) to the king of Edom,^(B) saying:

“This is what your brother Israel says: You know^(C) about all the hardships^(D) that have come on us. ¹⁵Our ancestors went down into Egypt,^(E) and we lived there many years.^(F) The Egyptians mistreated^(G) us and our ancestors, ¹⁶but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry^(H) and sent an angel^(I) and brought us out of Egypt.^(J)

“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.^(K) ¹⁷Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.^(L)”

¹⁸But Edom^(M) answered:

“You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.^(N)”

¹⁹The Israelites replied:

“We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock^(O) drink any of your water, we will pay for it.^(P) We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”

²⁰Again they answered:

“You may not pass through.^(Q)”

Then Edom^(R) came out against them with a large and powerful army. ²¹Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory,^(S) Israel turned away from them.^(T)

The Death of Aaron

²²The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh^(U) and came to Mount Hor.^(V) ²³At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom,^(W) the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²⁴“Aaron will be gathered to his people.^(X) He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command^(Y) at the waters of Meribah.^(Z) ²⁵Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.^(AA) ²⁶Remove Aaron’s garments^(AB) and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people;^(AC) he will die there.”

²⁷Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor^(AD) in the sight of the whole community. ²⁸Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar.^(AE) And Aaron died there^(AF) on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, ²⁹and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died,^(AG) all the Israelites mourned for him^(AH) thirty days.