Water from the Rock
(Exodus 17:1–7)

1 וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (And came) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל (of Israel), כָּל־ (all) הָ֨עֵדָ֤ה (the congregation), מִדְבַּר־ (into the Wilderness) צִן֙ (of Zin) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן (first), וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and stayed) הָעָ֖ם (the people) בְּקָדֵ֑שׁ (in Kadesh). וַתָּ֤מָת (And died) שָׁם֙ (there) מִרְיָ֔ם (Miriam), וַתִּקָּבֵ֖ר (and was buried) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

2 וְלֹא־ (And not) הָ֥יָה (there was) מַ֖יִם (water) לָעֵדָ֑ה (for the congregation), וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ (and they gathered together) עַל־ (against) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) וְעַֽל־ (and) אַהֲרֹֽן׃ (Aaron). 3 וַיָּ֥רֶב (And contended) הָעָ֖ם (the people) עִם־ (with) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses) וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and spoke), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), וְל֥וּ (And if only) גָוַ֛עְנוּ (perishing) בִּגְוַ֥ע (we had perished) אַחֵ֖ינוּ (with our brothers) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH)! 4 וְלָמָ֤ה (And why) הֲבֵאתֶם֙ (have you⁺ brought up) אֶת־ (-) קְהַ֣ל (the assembly) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (into) הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר (the wilderness) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), לָמ֣וּת (to die)—שָׁ֔ם (here) אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (we) וּבְעִירֵֽנוּ׃ (and our livestock). 5 וְלָמָ֤ה (And why) הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ (have you⁺ made us come up) מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (out of Egypt) לְהָבִ֣יא (to bring) אֹתָ֔נוּ (us) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּק֥וֹם (the place) הָרָ֖ע (evil) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)? לֹ֣א׀ (Not) מְק֣וֹם (it is a place) זֶ֗רַע (of grain) וּתְאֵנָ֤ה (or figs) וְגֶ֙פֶן֙ (or vines) וְרִמּ֔וֹן (or pomegranates), וּמַ֥יִם (and water) אַ֖יִן (there is not) לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ (to drink).

6 וַיָּבֹא֩ (And went) מֹשֶׁ֨ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹ֜ן (and Aaron) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from the presence) הַקָּהָ֗ל (of the assembly) אֶל־ (to) פֶּ֙תַח֙ (the door) אֹ֣הֶל (of the Tent) מוֹעֵ֔ד (of Meeting), וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ (and they fell) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (their faces). וַיֵּרָ֥א (And appeared) כְבוֹד־ (the glory) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃פ (to them). 7 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses), לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 8 קַ֣ח (Take) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּטֶּ֗ה (the rod) וְהַקְהֵ֤ל (and gather together) אֶת־ (-) הָעֵדָה֙ (the congregation) אַתָּה֙ (you), וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן (and Aaron) אָחִ֔יךָ (your brother), וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֧ם (and speak) אֶל־ (to) הַסֶּ֛לַע (the rock) לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם (before their eyes); וְנָתַ֣ן (and it will yield) מֵימָ֑יו (its water). וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ (And you shall bring) לָהֶ֥ם (for them) מַ֙יִם֙ (water) מִן־ (from) הַסֶּ֔לַע (the rock) וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֥ (and give drink) אֶת־ (-) הָעֵדָ֖ה (to the congregation) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּעִירָֽם׃ (their livestock).

9 וַיִּקַּ֥ח (And took) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּטֶּ֖ה (the rod) מִלִּפְנֵ֣י (from before) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) צִוָּֽהוּ׃ (He had commanded him). 10 וַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ (And gathered together) מֹשֶׁ֧ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן (and Aaron) אֶת־ (-) הַקָּהָ֖ל (the assembly) אֶל־ (to) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַסָּ֑לַע (of the rock), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) לָהֶ֗ם (to them), שִׁמְעוּ־ (Hear) נָא֙ (now), הַמֹּרִ֔ים (you rebels); הֲמִן־ (from) הַסֶּ֣לַע (the rock) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) נוֹצִ֥יא (shall we bring forth) לָכֶ֖ם (for you⁺) מָֽיִם׃ (water)? 11 וַיָּ֨רֶם (And lifted up) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) יָד֗וֹ (his hand) וַיַּ֧ךְ (and struck) אֶת־ (-) הַסֶּ֛לַע (the rock) בְּמַטֵּ֖הוּ (with his rod) פַּעֲמָ֑יִם (twice). וַיֵּצְאוּ֙ (And came out) מַ֣יִם (water) רַבִּ֔ים (abundantly), וַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּ (and drank) הָעֵדָ֖ה (the congregation) וּבְעִירָֽם׃ס (and their livestock).

12 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) וְאֶֽל־ (and) אַהֲרֹן֒ (Aaron), יַ֚עַן (Because) לֹא־ (not) הֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣ם (you⁺ did believe) בִּ֔י (Me) לְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִי (to show My holiness) לְעֵינֵ֖י (in the eyes) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), לָכֵ֗ן (therefore) לֹ֤א (not) תָבִ֙יאוּ֙ (you⁺ shall bring) אֶת־ (-) הַקָּהָ֣ל (the assembly) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) אֶל־ (into) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥תִּי (I have given) לָהֶֽם׃ (them).

13 הֵ֚מָּה (Those were) מֵ֣י (the water) מְרִיבָ֔ה (of Meribah), אֲשֶׁר־ (because) רָב֥וּ (contended) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (with) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) וַיִּקָּדֵ֖שׁ (and He was consecrated) בָּֽם׃ס (among them).

Edom Refuses Passage

14 וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) מֹשֶׁ֧ה (Moses) מַלְאָכִ֛ים (messengers) מִקָּדֵ֖שׁ (from Kadesh) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אֱד֑וֹם (of Edom), כֹּ֤ה (Thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אָחִ֣יךָ (your brother) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel): אַתָּ֣ה (You) יָדַ֔עְתָּ (know) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַתְּלָאָ֖ה (the hardship) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) מְצָאָֽתְנוּ׃ (has found us). 15 וַיֵּרְד֤וּ (And how went down) אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our fathers) מִצְרַ֔יְמָה (to Egypt), וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב (and we dwelt) בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם (in Egypt) יָמִ֣ים (a time) רַבִּ֑ים (long). וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ (And afflicted) לָ֛נוּ (us) מִצְרַ֖יִם (Egypt) וְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ (and our fathers), 16 וַנִּצְעַ֤ק (and we cried out) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (and He heard) קֹלֵ֔נוּ (our voice) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (and sent) מַלְאָ֔ךְ (an angel) וַיֹּצִאֵ֖נוּ (and brought us up) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (out of Egypt).

וְהִנֵּה֙ (And here) אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (we are) בְקָדֵ֔שׁ (in Kadesh), עִ֖יר (a city) קְצֵ֥ה (on the edge) גְבוּלֶֽךָ׃ (of your border). 17 נַעְבְּרָה־ (Let us pass), נָּ֣א (please), בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ (through your country). לֹ֤א (Not) נַעֲבֹר֙ (we will pass) בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה (through fields) וּבְכֶ֔רֶם (or vineyards), וְלֹ֥א (and not) נִשְׁתֶּ֖ה (will we drink) מֵ֣י (the water) בְאֵ֑ר (of a well). דֶּ֧רֶךְ (The Highway) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of the King) נֵלֵ֗ךְ (we will go along); לֹ֤א (not) נִטֶּה֙ (we will turn aside) יָמִ֣ין (to the right hand) וּשְׂמֹ֔אול (or to the left) עַ֥ד (until) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) נַעֲבֹ֖ר (we have passed through) גְּבוּלֶֽךָ׃ (your territory).

18 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) אֱד֔וֹם (Edom), לֹ֥א (Not) תַעֲבֹ֖ר (you shall pass) בִּ֑י (through my land), פֶּן־ (lest) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (with the sword) אֵצֵ֥א (I come out) לִקְרָאתֶֽךָ׃ (against you).

19 וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (And said) אֵלָ֥יו (to him) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֘ל (of Israel), בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣ה (On the highway) נַעֲלֶה֒ (we will go), וְאִם־ (and if) מֵימֶ֤יךָ (of your water) נִשְׁתֶּה֙ (drink any) אֲנִ֣י (I) וּמִקְנַ֔י (or my livestock), וְנָתַתִּ֖י (and I will give) מִכְרָ֑ם (their price). רַ֥ק (Only) אֵין־ (nothing) דָּבָ֖ר (more), בְּרַגְלַ֥י (on foot) אֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה׃ (let me pass through).

20 וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), לֹ֣א (Not) תַעֲבֹ֑ר (you shall pass through). וַיֵּצֵ֤א (And came out) אֱדוֹם֙ (Edom) לִקְרָאת֔וֹ (against them) בְּעַ֥ם (with men) כָּבֵ֖ד (many) וּבְיָ֥ד (and with a hand) חֲזָקָֽה׃ (mighty). 21 וַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀ (And refused) אֱד֗וֹם (Edom) נְתֹן֙ (to give) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) עֲבֹ֖ר (passage) בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ (through his territory), וַיֵּ֥ט (and turned away) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) מֵעָלָֽיו׃פ (from him).

The Death of Aaron

22 וַיִּסְע֖וּ (And journeyed) מִקָּדֵ֑שׁ (from Kadesh) וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ (and came) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel), כָּל־ (all) הָעֵדָ֖ה (the congregation), הֹ֥ר (to Hor) הָהָֽר׃ (the Mount). 23 וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And spoke) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses) וְאֶֽל־ (and) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (Aaron) בְּהֹ֣ר (in Hor) הָהָ֑ר (the Mount) עַל־ (by) גְּב֥וּל (the border) אֶֽרֶץ־ (of the land) אֱד֖וֹם (of Edom), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 24 יֵאָסֵ֤ף (Shall be gathered) אַהֲרֹן֙ (Aaron) אֶל־ (to) עַמָּ֔יו (his people); כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֤א (not) יָבֹא֙ (he shall enter) אֶל־ (into) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I have given) לִבְנֵ֣י (to the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), עַ֛ל (upon) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) מְרִיתֶ֥ם (you⁺ rebelled against) אֶת־ (-) פִּ֖י (My word) לְמֵ֥י (at the water) מְרִיבָֽה׃ (of Meribah). 25 קַ֚ח (Take) אֶֽת־ (-) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron) וְאֶת־ (and) אֶלְעָזָ֖ר (Eleazar) בְּנ֑וֹ (his son) וְהַ֥עַל (and bring up) אֹתָ֖ם (them) הֹ֥ר (to Hor) הָהָֽר׃ (the Mount). 26 וְהַפְשֵׁ֤ט (And strip) אֶֽת־ (-) אַהֲרֹן֙ (Aaron) אֶת־ (-) בְּגָדָ֔יו (of his garments), וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֖ם (and put them on) אֶת־ (-) אֶלְעָזָ֣ר (Eleazar) בְּנ֑וֹ (his son); וְאַהֲרֹ֥ן (and for Aaron) יֵאָסֵ֖ף (shall be gathered) וּמֵ֥ת (and die) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

27 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And did) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) צִוָּ֣ה (had commanded) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ (and they went up) אֶל־ (to) הֹ֣ר (Hor) הָהָ֔ר (the Mount) לְעֵינֵ֖י (before the eyes) כָּל־ (of all) הָעֵדָֽה׃ (the congregation). 28 וַיַּפְשֵׁט֩ (And stripped) מֹשֶׁ֨ה (Moses) אֶֽת־ (-) אַהֲרֹ֜ן (Aaron) אֶת־ (-) בְּגָדָ֗יו (of his garments), וַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ (and put on) אֹתָם֙ (them) אֶת־ (-) אֶלְעָזָ֣ר (Eleazar) בְּנ֔וֹ (his son). וַיָּ֧מָת (And died) אַהֲרֹ֛ן (Aaron) שָׁ֖ם (there) בְּרֹ֣אשׁ (on the top) הָהָ֑ר (of the mountain). וַיֵּ֧רֶד (And came down) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) וְאֶלְעָזָ֖ר (and Eleazar) מִן־ (from) הָהָֽר׃ (the mountain). 29 וַיִּרְאוּ֙ (And saw) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (the congregation) כִּ֥י (that) גָוַ֖ע (was dead) אַהֲרֹ֑ן (Aaron), וַיִּבְכּ֤וּ (and they mourned) אֶֽת־ (for) אַהֲרֹן֙ (Aaron) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) י֔וֹם (days) כֹּ֖ל (all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (of Israel).