Numbers 20 10

Numbers 20:10 kjv

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Numbers 20:10 nkjv

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?"

Numbers 20:10 niv

He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"

Numbers 20:10 esv

Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"

Numbers 20:10 nlt

Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. "Listen, you rebels!" he shouted. "Must we bring you water from this rock?"

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 10 Meaning

Numbers 20:10 captures a critical moment where Moses, acting in anger and frustration, spoke rashly and failed to honor God appropriately before the assembly. Instead of simply speaking to the rock as commanded by God to provide water, Moses expressed his own exasperation with the rebellious Israelites and questioned if "we" (Moses and Aaron) could bring forth water from the rock, thereby undermining God's exclusive power and His holiness in the eyes of the people. This act of disobedience and failure to sanctify the Lord resulted in Moses and Aaron being barred from entering the promised land.

Numbers 20 10 Context

Numbers 20 is a pivotal chapter, marking the return of the Israelites to Kadesh-Barnea after nearly 38 years of wilderness wandering following their initial rebellion and rejection of the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14). Moses' sister Miriam has just died, and the people are again without water, leading to their familiar grumbling against Moses and Aaron. This water shortage mirrors the earlier event at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7), also called Meribah, where God commanded Moses to strike the rock for water. In this new instance at the waters of Meribah (Kadesh), God instructs Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water, demonstrating a different mode of divine provision and demanding strict obedience. The immediate context of verse 10 sets up Moses' disobedient actions and words which incur God's judgment, preventing him and Aaron from entering Canaan. It underscores the severity of leadership failures and the absolute necessity of faithfully upholding God's holiness before His people.

Numbers 20 10 Word analysis

• He and Aaron gathered the assembly together:

  • "He": Refers specifically to Moses, the primary leader and speaker, although Aaron is present. This highlights Moses' central role and accountability.
  • "Aaron": As high priest and co-leader, his presence underscores the unified, albeit flawed, leadership facing the complaining assembly.
  • "gathered the assembly": Emphasizes the entire community's witness to Moses' words and actions, amplifying the public nature of his failure to sanctify God's name.

• before the rock:

  • "Rock" (סֶלַע, selaʿ): Refers to a large stone or cliff face, serving as a physical manifestation of God's promise to provide water. Unlike the first instance (Ex 17) where the rock was struck, this instance requires speaking to it, changing the mode of divine action. The rock itself became a testament to God's continuous care and testing of faith.

• and he said to them, 'Listen, you rebels':

  • "he said": Again, primarily Moses' words are being reported, carrying the weight of his authority and, consequently, his failure.
  • "Listen": An imperative call for attention, used by Moses to assert his leadership.
  • "you rebels" (מֹרִים, morim): From the Hebrew root מָרָה (marah), meaning "to be rebellious, disobedient, bitter." This is a deeply exasperated and condemnatory term, indicating Moses' extreme frustration with the people's perpetual complaining and lack of faith. While the people were indeed rebellious, Moses' expression of anger crossed the line, turning God's provision into a personal contest rather than a divine demonstration of power.

• 'must we bring you water out of this rock?':

  • "must we bring you water": This rhetorical question is the crux of Moses' sin in his speech.
    • "we": The critical pronoun. Instead of emphasizing God as the sole provider and the "I" behind the miracle (as in Exodus 17:6), Moses associates himself and Aaron as the source of the power. This indicated a failure to humbly portray God as holy and solely sovereign, taking glory to himself.
    • "bring" (יצא, yatsa, in the causative stem, hiphil): To "cause to come forth." By using this phrasing, Moses implies that they possess the power to extract water, subtly removing God from His central, singular role as the true bringer of life.
    • The question mark: Although phrased as a question, it carries the tone of exasperation and doubt in God's clear instruction. It challenged God's authority or means of provision, suggesting either a struggle on their part or a perceived difficulty in God's command. This demonstrated a lack of belief and faith in God's simple instruction to speak to the rock, ultimately dishonoring Him before the entire congregation.

Numbers 20 10 Bonus section

The phrase "must we bring you water" is understood by scholars as more than a rhetorical question; it reveals a human lapse. Moses, under immense pressure and irritation from constant Israelite complaining, allowed his personal frustration to eclipse God's clear instructions. This subtle shift from "God will bring water through me" to "shall we bring water?" represents a moment where Moses effectively positioned himself, even momentarily, between God and the people's perception of God's power. It highlights the profound responsibility of leaders to glorify God alone in all their actions and words, for even a minor misrepresentation of God's character or power can have significant repercussions in the spiritual realm and the sight of the faithful.

Numbers 20 10 Commentary

Numbers 20:10 encapsulates Moses' profound error at Meribah. His sin was not merely striking the rock twice when he was commanded to speak to it (v.11), but, as this verse reveals, it began with his words and the underlying attitude. Calling the people "rebels" from a place of personal anger and exasperation, rather than divine patience, and then asking, "shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" was a grave transgression. This implied self-reliance and the drawing of credit to himself and Aaron, thereby failing to fully "sanctify" (Numbers 20:12) or set apart God as utterly holy, powerful, and alone capable. In that moment, Moses misrepresented God, diminishing His glory and absolute authority before the entire assembly. This act of disobedience and unfaithfulness, born from bitter human anger rather than faithful obedience, dishonored God and had severe consequences for Moses, preventing him from leading Israel into the Promised Land. It stands as a solemn warning that even God's chosen leaders must demonstrate unwavering faith and humble obedience, always pointing to God as the true source of all power and glory.