Numbers 20 1

Numbers 20:1 kjv

Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Numbers 20:1 nkjv

Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.

Numbers 20:1 niv

In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

Numbers 20:1 esv

And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.

Numbers 20:1 nlt

In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 1 Meaning

Numbers 20:1 initiates a pivotal and tragic phase of Israel's wilderness journey, occurring approximately 38 years after the Exodus from Egypt. It records the significant event of the children of Israel returning to the Desert of Zin, specifically Kadesh, after decades of wandering. Most notably, it chronicles the death and burial of Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron, marking the end of one of Israel's foundational leaders and prophetesses from the Exodus generation. This verse sets the stage for crucial events that immediately follow, including Moses and Aaron's disobedience at Meribah, and the continued preparation for entry into the Promised Land by the new generation.

Numbers 20 1 Context

Numbers chapter 20 begins after a significant chronological gap in the narrative. Chapters 16-19 detail various laws and rebellions from the initial period in the wilderness, specifically a time much earlier in the journey. Between Num 19 and Num 20, approximately 38 years have passed, during which the generation condemned for unbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Num 14) had perished in the wilderness, fulfilling God's judgment. Chapter 20 thus re-establishes the narrative nearly 40 years into the Exodus, as the "new generation" — those under twenty at the time of the great rebellion and those born during the wandering — arrives back at Kadesh. This return to Kadesh signifies the completion of the punitive wandering phase and the beginning of the final push towards the Promised Land. The immediate context of the chapter describes a severe lack of water, leading to the rebellion of the people, Moses' fateful sin of striking the rock, and subsequently the death of Aaron. Miriam's death, recorded concisely here, thus marks the passing of the first of the three elder leaders (Miriam, Aaron, Moses) from the Exodus generation.

Word Analysis

• Then came (וַיָּבֹאוּ, vayavo'u): The Hebrew "waw" consecutive ("and came" or "then came") links this verse to what precedes but also introduces a significant new section, implicitly bridging a long chronological gap of about 38 years. It marks a dramatic shift in the narrative and timeline.
• the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, benei Yisrael): Refers to the collective nation of God's covenant people. Significantly, this is now a largely new generation, inheriting the identity and promises given to their fathers.
• the whole congregation (כָּל הָעֵדָה, kol ha'edah): Emphasizes the entire community's presence. Despite the divine judgment that had decimated the older generation, the "congregation" persisted and remained unified, highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
• into the desert of Zin (אֶל מִדְבַּר צִן, el midbar Tzin): A specific and stark desert region forming part of the southern boundary of the Promised Land, first mentioned when the spies journeyed through it (Num 13:21). It denotes the harsh environment and the continued experience of wilderness living, even at the very end of their journey.
• in the first month (בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן, bachodesh harishon): This is Nisan (Abib), the month of Passover and the Exodus. Without a specified year, it signals that this momentous arrival and death occur around the same time of year they originally left Egypt. Scholars generally place this in the fortieth year after the Exodus, implying the final approach to the land was beginning, completing the 38 years of judgment from Kadesh-Barnea.
• and the people abode in Kadesh (וַיֵּשֶׁב הָעָם בְּקָדֵשׁ, vayyeshev ha'am beKadesh): "Kadesh" (meaning "holy" or "sanctuary") refers to Kadesh-Barnea, a significant oasis and strategic location. It was their initial staging ground before the ill-fated entry attempt (Num 13). Their return here signifies the closure of one era and the beginning of the next, serving as a critical hub for their final preparations and battles before entering Canaan. "Abode" indicates a more settled stay, not just passing through.
• and Miriam died there (וַתָּמָת שָׁם מִרְיָם, vattamat sham Miryam): A stark, concise declaration. Miriam (מִרְיָם), likely meaning "bitter," or "rebellion" (or possibly related to Egyptian for "beloved"), was a prophetess (Ex 15:20) and a co-leader alongside Moses and Aaron (Micah 6:4). Her death signifies the first major leader of the Exodus generation to pass away at the very threshold of the Promised Land, a poignant reminder of mortality and the fulfillment of God's judgment against the generation that rebelled, even those leaders who would not enter the land.
• and was buried there: A simple, matter-of-fact statement. It completes the record of her passing, grounding her death in the same place where significant events were to unfold.

Numbers 20 1 Commentary

Numbers 20:1, though brief, is immensely significant. It effectively transitions the narrative, bridging a major chronological gap of nearly four decades in silence. This conciseness highlights God's sovereignty over time and judgment; the focus is not on the details of the prolonged wandering, but on key turning points and the faithful fulfillment of His decree regarding the condemned generation. The return to Kadesh symbolizes both a closure and a fresh start. It is where their initial attempt to enter the land was aborted due to unbelief, and now, a new generation arrives to make the final approach. Miriam's death is a solemn event. As Moses' older sister and a prophetess, her leadership (Micah 6:4) and her spiritual contributions (Ex 15:20-21) were vital. Her passing at Kadesh underscores that no one from the older, rebellious generation, not even prominent leaders (except Joshua and Caleb), would enter the Promised Land. This solemn truth foreshadows the impending deaths of Aaron and Moses himself within this very chapter and the next, marking the end of the Exodus generation's leadership and setting the stage for Joshua to lead the new generation into the land of promise.

Bonus Section

• The Unstated Decades: The significant chronological leap between Num 19 and Num 20 underscores the wilderness period not as an active, unfolding narrative of constant revelation or great feats, but as a period of judgment and purification, designed by God to allow the rebellious generation to perish. The brevity concerning these 38 years emphasizes God's consistent purpose and the fulfillment of His promises (both blessing and judgment) regardless of human perception or understanding.
• Kadesh as a Poetic and Prophetic Anchor: The return to Kadesh is deeply symbolic. It was the point of crisis that solidified God's judgment, transforming the initial swift journey into a long detour of punishment. Now, the return signifies the nearing completion of that judgment, serving as a powerful lesson on the consequences of unbelief and the steadfastness of God's word, whether in promise or in warning. It became the final resting place for one of the foundational figures of Israel's journey from Egypt.
• Miriam's Role and Absence: Miriam was not only Moses and Aaron's sister but a key figure in her own right, particularly evident at the Red Sea crossing where she led the women in song (Ex 15:20). Her death before entering the Promised Land means the people face the climactic challenges without her prophetic voice, adding weight to the impending leadership transition. Her silent passing (compared to the more detailed accounts of Aaron and Moses' deaths) may also suggest a recognition that while her role was crucial, her time had come, just as with the rest of her generation.