Numbers 20:27 kjv
And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
Numbers 20:27 nkjv
So Moses did just as the LORD commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
Numbers 20:27 niv
Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.
Numbers 20:27 esv
Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
Numbers 20:27 nlt
So Moses did as the LORD commanded. The three of them went up Mount Hor together as the whole community watched.
Numbers 20 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:22 | Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. | Noah's obedience to divine command. |
| Ex 12:50 | Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. | Israel's obedience to God's Passover commands. |
| Lev 8:36 | So Moses and Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded by Moses. | Obedience in the consecration of the priesthood. |
| Num 20:12 | But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me... therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land...” | Consequence of disobedience at Meribah. |
| Num 20:28 | Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. | The immediate consequence and transfer. |
| Num 27:23 | And he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken by Moses. | Moses' obedience in commissioning Joshua. |
| Deut 32:50-51 | And die on the mountain... just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, because you trespassed against Me... | Echoes Aaron's death due to trespass. |
| Deut 34:5 | So Moses the servant of the LORD died there... according to the word of the LORD. | Parallel to Moses' own death by divine command. |
| Jos 11:15 | As the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua; and so Joshua did. | Chain of command and obedience. |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done... “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” | God's absolute sovereignty and divine plan. |
| Ps 115:3 | But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. | God's absolute control over all events. |
| Ps 106:32-33 | They angered Him also at the waters of strife; so that it went ill with Moses on account of them... for they rebelled against His Spirit... | Meribah incident's negative impact on Moses. |
| Ex 29:29-30 | And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons’ after him, to be anointed in them and to be consecrated in them. | Regulation for priestly succession. |
| Lev 16:32 | And the priest who is anointed... shall make atonement... | Mentions the High Priest's successor. |
| Heb 5:4 | And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. | Divine appointment for priesthood. |
| Heb 7:23-24 | Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing; but He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. | Contrast between Aaronic succession and Christ's eternal priesthood. |
| Deut 31:7 | Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage...” | Public witness to a significant transition. |
| 1 Sam 12:7 | Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers. | Samuel calling the congregation to witness God's acts. |
| Lk 8:47 | Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people... | Public confession and witness. |
| Acts 1:22 | Beginning from the baptism of John to the day that He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection. | Importance of public witness. |
| 1 Tim 5:20 | Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. | Public accountability within the community. |
| Num 33:37-39 | They departed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, in the border of the land of Edom. Aaron went up to Mount Hor... and died there... | Geographical and chronological detail of Aaron's death. |
Numbers 20 verses
Numbers 20 27 Meaning
Numbers 20:27 describes Moses carrying out the LORD's direct command for Aaron to ascend Mount Hor. This action was performed in the full view of the Israelite community. The verse highlights Moses' immediate obedience to a difficult divine instruction concerning his brother Aaron's impending death and the subsequent public transfer of the high priestly office to Eleazar.
Numbers 20 27 Context
Numbers chapter 20 is a pivotal point in Israel's wilderness journey. It records key events after nearly forty years have passed since the exodus from Egypt. The chapter begins with the death of Miriam, followed immediately by the Israelites' fresh murmuring for water at Kadesh. This led to the incident at Meribah, where Moses, exasperated, struck the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded by God. As a result, both Moses and Aaron were disallowed from entering the Promised Land dueoholding God's holiness. Directly after this judgment and the refusal of Edom to grant passage, the Israelites move towards Mount Hor. Verse 27 specifically describes the obedient execution of the solemn command God gave to Moses and Aaron in verses 23-26 concerning Aaron's impending death and the succession of his son Eleazar to the high priesthood. This public ceremony of transition ensured the legitimacy of the new high priest and demonstrated God's uncompromising justice and faithfulness to His word to the entire community.
Numbers 20 27 Word analysis
- So Moses did: (וַיַּ֣עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֔ה - va-ya'as Moshe). The Hebrew verb
'asah(עָשָׂה) means to "do, make, carry out." This phrase emphasizes Moses' immediate and unreserved obedience to God's command. This was a difficult personal action for Moses, involving the loss of his elder brother and colleague, yet he performed it precisely as instructed, setting an example of submission to divine will, regardless of personal cost or sentiment. It reflects the principle of God's word being performed by His servants. - as the LORD commanded: (כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהוָ֑ה - ka'asher tzivah Yahweh). The Hebrew verb
tzavah(צָוָה) means "to command, charge, give orders." This clarifies that Moses' action was not of his own initiative but directly ordered by God Himself (Yahweh, the covenant God). This phrase underscores divine sovereignty and the authoritative nature of the instruction. It legitimizes the event as a divine decree rather than a human decision. - and they went up: (וַיַּֽעֲלוּ֙ - va-ya'alu). The verb
'alah(עָלָה) means "to go up, ascend." While it appears plural ("they went up"), it refers to the small procession consisting of Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar as stated in Numbers 20:25-26. Their ascent was not just physical, but symbolic of a sacred duty being undertaken in the presence of God. The verb's plularity includes Aaron, acknowledging his part in his own obedient acceptance of God's judgment. - Mount Hor: (הֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר - Hor ha-har). "Hor" literally means "mountain" in some Semitic languages, thus "Mount of Mountain." It was a known geographical landmark near the border of Edom (Num 33:37). The specific mountain adds tangibility and verifiability to the narrative, while also emphasizing the solemn, elevated location for such a sacred transition.
- in the sight of all the congregation: (לְעֵינֵ֥י כׇּל־הָעֵדָֽה - l'einei kol ha'edah). The phrase
l'einei(literally "to the eyes of") emphasizes the public nature of the event. The term'edah(עֵדָה) denotes the assembled community or "congregation" of Israel. This public setting was crucial. It confirmed the legitimacy of Aaron's removal due to divine judgment, validated Eleazar's installation as the new High Priest, prevented any future disputes regarding succession, and provided a visible lesson for the entire nation on the consequences of disobedience, even for its most esteemed leaders, and the solemnity of God's word.
Numbers 20 27 Bonus section
The High Priestly garments were more than just clothing; they were sacred insignia representing the office's authority, responsibilities, and the glory and beauty of its divine appointment (Ex 28:2, 40). The ritual stripping of these garments from Aaron and investing them upon Eleazar (Num 20:28) was a potent symbolic act. It wasn't merely a change of clothes but a visible, public, and divinely sanctioned transfer of the divine anointing, authority, and covenant responsibilities from one high priest to another. This act powerfully signified that the priesthood, as an office, continued unbroken, even as the individual office-bearer died. This contrasts sharply with the unique and permanent priesthood of Jesus Christ, who, unlike the Aaronic priests who "were prevented by death from continuing," holds an unchangeable priesthood that requires no successor (Heb 7:23-24). The specificity of Mount Hor as the place of death also parallels Moses' own death on Mount Nebo (Deut 32:49-50), emphasizing the common human mortality of even the greatest leaders, yet always under divine appointment and sovereignty.
Numbers 20 27 Commentary
Numbers 20:27 is a stark portrayal of obedience to divine command, even when incredibly painful or costly. Moses’ immediate and precise fulfillment of the LORD's directive to ascend Mount Hor with Aaron and Eleazar showcases a profound commitment to God's will above personal sorrow. The emphasis "as the LORD commanded" reinforces that the event was a sovereign decree from God, not a human choice. The ascension itself was a walk toward destiny—for Aaron, it was his death; for Eleazar, his inauguration; for Moses, a somber act of divine service. The phrase "in the sight of all the congregation" is critically important. It meant the entire assembly of Israel witnessed the departure of their High Priest and the formal, divinely-sanctioned transfer of his office. This public spectacle affirmed God’s judgment upon Aaron for the sin at Meribah (v. 12), ensuring transparency and establishing Eleazar's legitimate succession, thereby preserving the unbroken continuity of the high priesthood as a sacred institution appointed by God. It also served as a profound public lesson, underscoring that no one, regardless of their position or service, is exempt from the consequences of disobeying God's explicit commands, and that God's holiness demands reverence from His chosen leaders. This transition paved the way for the ongoing spiritual life of Israel, maintaining order and divine presence within the community through its appointed leadership.