Numbers 20 24

Numbers 20:24 kjv

Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

Numbers 20:24 nkjv

"Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah.

Numbers 20:24 niv

"Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

Numbers 20:24 esv

"Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

Numbers 20:24 nlt

"The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 24 Meaning

Numbers 20:24 pronounces God's judgment upon Aaron, stating that he will die ("be gathered to his people") and will not enter the promised land. This severe consequence is directly linked to Aaron's specific act of rebellion and disobedience against God's direct instruction at the waters of Meribah. The verse underscores God's holiness and the serious nature of disrespecting His commands, particularly by those in positions of leadership, and demonstrates His impartiality in upholding divine standards.

Numbers 20 24 Context

Numbers chapter 20 describes a crucial turning point in Israel's wilderness journey, occurring near the end of their forty years. Following Miriam's death, the people once again grumble for water at Kadesh. God instructs Moses to "speak to the rock" to bring forth water. However, Moses, exasperated by the people's constant rebellion, strikes the rock twice, proclaiming, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" Both Moses and Aaron are judged for this act of disobedience, specifically for failing to "believe" in God or "uphold" Him as holy before the people. Verse 24, alongside verse 12, directly states Aaron's impending death and exclusion from the Promised Land as a consequence of this shared transgression at Meribah, reinforcing the severity of the leaders' failure in that moment. The verses immediately following detail Aaron's ascent of Mount Hor, his priestly garments being transferred to Eleazar, and his subsequent death, marking the end of the High Priesthood of Aaron.

Numbers 20 24 Word analysis

• Aaron (אַהֲרֹן, Aharon): The high priest, Moses' brother, holding the highest spiritual office in Israel. His judgment highlights that even those closest to God in service are not exempt from consequences of disobedience.
• shall be gathered to his people (יֵאָסֵף אֶל־עַמָּיו, ye'asef el-`ammāv): A common biblical euphemism for death, often implying a peaceful passing and being united with ancestors in the afterlife. This phrasing connects Aaron to the long line of patriarchs and Israel's spiritual community, suggesting not obliteration but an entry into a communal afterlife state. It denotes God's sovereign control over life and death.
• for he shall not enter (כִּי לֹא יָבֹא, ki lo yavo): Emphatic denial. The "not" (לֹא, lo) is absolute. This specific consequence — exclusion from the land — is directly tied to the specific sin.
• the land (הָאָרֶץ, ha'arets): Specifically refers to the Promised Land, Canaan. This land symbolized God's faithfulness to His covenant, rest, and blessing for Israel. Exclusion from it signifies the removal of that particular earthly dimension of blessing.
• which I have given (אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי, ’asher natattiy): Emphasizes God's sole proprietorship and sovereignty over the land; it is His to give or withhold. This highlights that Aaron's failure directly opposed God's established order.
• to the people of Israel (לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, livnê Yisra’el): Reinforces that the promise was for the collective, but also that Aaron's failure was in representing the collective and failing God in their presence.
• because (עַל־כִּי, `al-ki): Connects the consequence directly to the cause. There is a clear divine rationale for the judgment.
• you rebelled (מְרִיתֶם, m'rītem): From the root מָרָה (marah), meaning "to be rebellious, refractory, disobedient." This signifies an act of defiant insubordination against divine authority. It implies a conscious act against God's direct instruction.
• against My command (פִּי, pī): Literally "my mouth" or "my word." This emphasizes that the transgression was against a direct, explicit instruction from God Himself, not a general law or principle, but a precise verbal directive. It highlights the intimacy and immediacy of their offense against God's direct communication.
• at the waters of Meribah (עַל־מֵי מְרִיבָה, `al mê Merīvāh): Meribah means "contention" or "strife." This location and incident (recorded in Num 20:1-13) are crucial. The sin of Moses and Aaron involved not sanctifying God, demonstrating a lack of trust and attempting to take credit for God's miraculous provision.

• "Aaron shall be gathered to his people": This phrase signals that Aaron's life journey, particularly his role as high priest, is ending, and he will join his deceased ancestors. It also confirms his physical death as a direct divine decree. This is a moment of significant transition, both for Aaron and for the priesthood, moving from the generation of Moses and Aaron to their successors.
• "for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the people of Israel": This highlights a crucial theological point: access to God's promises and blessings, specifically the land, is contingent on obedience and faithfulness, even for leaders. It's a testament to God's impartial justice; no one is above His law. The promised land is God's gift, implying His right to restrict entry to those who do not honor His terms.
• "because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah": This is the heart of the judgment. The rebellion wasn't just an act; it was a failure to uphold God's holiness before His people. By striking the rock instead of speaking to it (Num 20:8) and by declaring, "Shall we bring forth water for you?" (Num 20:10), Moses and Aaron failed to attribute glory and power solely to God. This specific instance of defiance against a clear divine instruction publicly dishonored God in the eyes of Israel, which was critical for priestly leaders whose role was to sanctify God.

Numbers 20 24 Bonus section

The concept of being "gathered to his people" extends beyond merely dying; it often carries an undertone of spiritual reunion or the peaceful closure of one's life within the covenant community, regardless of the cause of death. This specific phrase is used for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other faithful figures, contrasting with those whose deaths are portrayed as a cursed cutting off. Thus, while Aaron suffered a severe earthly consequence, the language implies his spiritual salvation. The exclusion from the physical Promised Land points forward to the greater spiritual rest offered in Christ, into which unfaithfulness can prevent entry (Hebrews 4). The failure of Moses and Aaron also highlights the limitations of the Old Covenant priesthood. They could not fully enter God's rest or truly represent the people without flaw, necessitating the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who entered God's presence through perfect obedience and self-sacrifice (Heb 7-10). The event at Meribah served as a public demonstration of God's character as both merciful and unyieldingly holy, demanding that even His most esteemed servants uphold His sanctity above all else.

Numbers 20 24 Commentary

Numbers 20:24 reveals a solemn truth about God's justice and holiness. Aaron's death and exclusion from the Promised Land are not arbitrary punishments but direct consequences of his specific rebellion at Meribah. The sin of both Moses and Aaron at Meribah was not merely the physical act of striking the rock, but a deeper failure: a lack of faith in God's explicit instruction and, critically, a failure to sanctify Him in the eyes of the people (Num 20:12). As leaders and representatives of God, they were held to a higher standard (Lev 10:3). Their public display of impatience, doubt, and personal frustration implicitly blurred the lines of who was truly providing for Israel, robbing God of His due glory before the very people He delivered. God's declaration emphasizes His absolute authority, that His direct "command" (His "mouth," pī) must be obeyed without alteration, and that rebellion, especially from those in spiritual leadership, has severe ramifications. This serves as a perpetual warning that privileged access to God's presence or service does not exempt one from His standards; in fact, it often demands greater accountability. This event underlines the consistent biblical theme that disobedience leads to the withholding of blessings, including entry into "rest" (Heb 3-4).