Miriam’s death and the hidden well

1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel came to the desert of Zin on the tenth day of the month Nisan. And Miriam died there, and was buried there.⁠a 2 A well had been given because of Miriam’s merit, so when she died the well was hidden, and the congregation had no water. 3 And they gathered against Moses and Aaron, and the people argued with Moses, and said, “If only we had died when our brothers died in the Lord’s presence! 4 And why have you brought the congregation of the Lord into this desert, so that we and our cattle should die here? 5 And why did you make us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place, a place which is not fit for sowing, or for planting fig trees, or vines, or pomegranates, and where there is no water to drink?”

Water from the rock

6 And Moses and Aaron went away from the complaining congregation to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces, and the Glory of the Lord’s Shekinah was revealed to them. 7 And the Lord spoke with Moses, saying: 8 “Take the staff of miracles, and gather the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and both of you adjure the rock, by the Great and explicit Name, while they look on, and it will give its water: but if it refuses to bring out water, you alone must strike it with the staff in your hand, and you will bring out water for them from the rock, that the congregation and their cattle may drink.” 9 And Moses took the staff of miracles from the Lord’s presence, as he had commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock. And Moses said to them, “Listen now, rebels: is it possible for us to bring out water for you from this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his staff struck the rock twice: the first time it dropped blood; but the second time abundant water came out.⁠b And the congregation and their cattle drank.

12 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron with an oath, “Because you have not believed in my Word, to sanctify me in the sight of the children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this congregation into the land that I will give them.” 13 These are the Waters of Contention, where the sons of Israel argued in the Lord’s presence because of the well that had been hidden; and he was sanctified in them, in Moses and Aaron, when the waters were given to them.

Edom refuses passage

14 Then Moses sent messengers from Rekem to the king of Edom, saying, “Your brother Israel says this. You know all the trouble that has happened to us. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt and lived in Egypt for a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our ancestors. 16 And we prayed to the Lord, who heard our prayers, and sent one of the ministering angels to lead us out of Egypt: and, look, we are in Rekem, a city built at the edge of your territory. 17 Let us now pass through your land: we will not seduce virgins, nor violate betrothed women, nor commit adultery with married women: on the highway of the King in heaven, we will go forward, and not turn to the right or to the left, to do any harm along the private roads while we pass through your territory.” 18 But Edom answered him, “You will not pass through my territory, or I will come against you with a drawn sword.” 19 And Israel said to him, “We would go by the king’s highway; if I or my cattle drink your water, I will pay you its value. I will only pass through, without doing wrong.” 20 But he said, “You will not pass through.” And Edom came out to meet him with a large army and with a strong hand. 21 So Edom would not allow Israel to pass through his territory; and Israel turned away from him, because it had been commanded by the Word of Heaven that they should not engage in battle against them, because the time had not yet come for Edom’s punishment to be entrusted to them.

The death of Aaron

22 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from Rekem, and came to Mount Amanus. 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Amanus, on the border of the land of Edom, saying: 24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he will not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you were rebels against my Word at the Waters of Contention. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Amanus. 26 And you will strip Aaron of his glorious priestly garments and put them on Eleazar his son; but Aaron will be gathered, and die there.” 27 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And they ascended Mount Amanus, in the view of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his glorious priestly garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the summit of the mountain and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when the soul of Aaron was at rest, the Cloud of Glory was lifted up on the first day of the month Av; and all the congregation saw Moses come down from the mountain with torn clothes; and he wept and said, “Woe to me because of you, my brother Aaron, the pillar of Israel’s prayers!” And they too wept for Aaron for thirty days, the men and the women of Israel.