Numbers 20 2

Numbers 20:2 kjv

And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

Numbers 20:2 nkjv

Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 20:2 niv

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 20:2 esv

Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

Numbers 20:2 nlt

There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 2 Meaning

Numbers 20:2 records a critical moment in Israel's wilderness journey, depicting the assembly of the Israelites without access to water. This desperate need led them to congregate and voice their opposition directly against Moses and Aaron, God's appointed leaders. It signifies the community's immediate and united response of complaint and rebellion in the face of hardship, mirroring previous episodes of distrust and challenging the divine authority vested in their leadership.

Numbers 20 2 Context

Numbers chapter 20 marks a transition point in the Israelites' wilderness journey. After nearly four decades since their departure from Egypt, this chapter finds the Israelites back in Kadesh, the same area from which they had been sent away to wander for forty years due to their disbelief (Num 14). Miriam, Moses' sister, dies and is buried in this opening passage (Num 20:1), setting a solemn tone. The immediate scarcity of water mentioned in verse 2, occurring soon after Miriam's death and close to Aaron's impending demise later in the chapter, highlights the ongoing struggles and trials of the aging wilderness generation. This water crisis, occurring in Zin (another term for Kadesh), mirrors the earlier crisis at Rephidim (Ex 17) and underscores the repetitive nature of Israel's murmuring and lack of trust in God's provision and His appointed leaders. It precipitates a critical moment for Moses, resulting in the divine decree that he, too, would not enter the Promised Land.

Historically and culturally, the wilderness was a hostile environment, making water a non-negotiable necessity for survival for a multitude. The act of gathering "against" Moses and Aaron was not merely complaining; it was a communal uprising that challenged their God-given authority and legitimacy, seen by the Israelites as responsible for their current plight. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, public dissent against leadership was a serious act, often interpreted as an affront to the divine authority from which the leaders derived their power. This gathering was a direct challenge to the covenant relationship Israel had with God through Moses, indicating a fundamental lack of faith despite four decades of miraculous provision and guidance.

Numbers 20 2 Word analysis

• And there was no water (וְלֹא הָיָה מַיִם - wəloʾ hāyâ mayim):

  • "no water": Mayim (water) is a basic necessity for life, especially in a desert environment. Its absence immediately signals dire hardship and a life-threatening situation for a vast multitude and their livestock.
  • Significance: This physical lack symbolized a spiritual drought, revealing the people's lack of trust and spiritual thirst for God.

• for the congregation (לָעֵדָה - lāʿēdâ):

  • "the congregation": ʿĒdâ refers to the organized assembly or community of Israel. It denotes a formally gathered group, emphasizing that this was not merely individual grumbling but a unified, collective action.
  • Significance: The use of ʿēdâ highlights that the entire collective body, who were witnesses to God's wonders, was engaged in rebellion. This reflects the corporate failure of the nation.

• and they gathered themselves together (וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ - wayyiqqāhălû):

  • "gathered themselves together": From the root qāhal, meaning "to assemble, gather." The reflexive nature here implies a self-mobilized gathering. This verb is frequently used in Numbers to describe acts of assembly for rebellion or judgment (e.g., Korah's rebellion in Num 16).
  • Significance: This was not a humble plea but a coordinated action of confrontation and challenge to authority.

• against Moses (עַל־מֹשֶׁה - ʿal-mōšeh):

  • "against": ʿAl often implies opposition, being "upon" or "over," here clearly indicating hostile intent or complaint directed toward someone.
  • "Moses": God's chosen leader, mediator of the covenant. Accusing Moses was tantamount to accusing God, who had appointed him.

• and against Aaron (וְעַל־אַהֲרֹן - wəʿal-ʾahărōn):

  • "and against Aaron": Aaron was Moses' brother and the High Priest, representing the priestly lineage and direct connection to God's sanctuary.
  • Significance: Challenging Aaron was an assault on the established religious and spiritual authority. The complaint was thus against both political/divine leadership and the spiritual/religious head, effectively nullifying their divinely appointed roles in the eyes of the people.

Words-group analysis:

• "no water for the congregation": This phrase succinctly portrays the severe physical distress shared by the entire community, providing the immediate catalyst for their reaction. It sets the scene for a test of faith and leadership.
• "they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron": This demonstrates the intentionality and directness of their rebellion. It's a concerted challenge to the established divine order and highlights the pattern of the Israelites immediately blaming their leaders and God for their suffering, rather than seeking divine guidance or recalling past provisions.

Numbers 20 2 Bonus section

• The parallel between this Meribah (Strife) incident and the earlier one in Ex 17:1-7 underscores Israel's repetitive pattern of unfaithfulness. However, the outcomes differ, largely due to Moses' response in this later event. This emphasizes that divine patience, though vast, is not infinite, and prolonged rebellion can lead to more severe consequences.
• The absence of water often serves as a metaphor for spiritual dryness or separation from God's life-giving presence. The people's reaction demonstrates their focus solely on the physical symptom (lack of water) rather than the underlying spiritual issue (lack of faith and trust in God's provision).
• The wilderness wanderings, exemplified by this incident, serve as a timeless lesson for believers on the dangers of murmuring and the necessity of unwavering faith even in hardship. As alluded to in Heb 3-4, this generation's failure to enter the land was directly tied to their unbelief and hardheartedness, making Numbers 20:2 a poignant illustration of this truth.

Numbers 20 2 Commentary

Numbers 20:2 is a concise but potent verse that inaugurates the second major "Meribah" incident, crucial for understanding Moses's ultimate inability to enter the Promised Land. The complete absence of water immediately highlights the congregation's dire physical need, yet it's their predictable response—grumbling and outright rebellion against Moses and Aaron—that takes center stage. This immediate response of blaming their leaders, despite four decades of God's miraculous provision, underscores a persistent pattern of unbelief and lack of gratitude from the wilderness generation. It demonstrates their quick reversion to human impatience and suspicion rather than a faithful plea to their God. Their "gathering themselves together" was a collective act of challenging divine authority, reflecting a hardened heart similar to earlier instances. This specific confrontation, coming after nearly forty years in the wilderness, speaks volumes about the enduring unfaithfulness of this generation, culminating in Moses' own lapse in faith in the subsequent verses. It is a sober reminder that spiritual immaturity, expressed through complaint and distrust, has significant consequences.