Commentari biblici

Nu 20:1-29.

THE DEATH OF MIRIAM.

1. Then came the children of Israel . . . into the desert of Zin in the first month--that is, of the fortieth year (compare

Nu 20:22, 23, with Nu 33:38).

In this history only the principal and most important incidents are recorded, those confined chiefly to the first or second and the last years of the journeyings in the wilderness, thence called Et-Tih. Between

Nu 19:22 and Nu 20:1

there is a long and undescribed interval of thirty-seven years.

the people abode in Kadesh--supposed to be what is now known as Ain-el-Weibeh, three springs surrounded by palms. (See on

Nu 13:26).

It was their second arrival after an interval of thirty-eight years

(De 2:14).

The old generation had nearly all died, and the new one encamped in it with the view of entering the promised land, not, however, as formerly on the south, but by crossing the Edomite region on the east.

Miriam died there--four months before Aaron

[Nu 33:38].

2-13. there was no water for the congregation--There was at Kadesh a fountain, En-Mishpat

(Ge 14:7),

and at the first encampment of the Israelites there was no want of water. It was then either partially dried up by the heat of the season, or had been exhausted by the demands of so vast a multitude.

6. Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly--Here is a fresh ebullition of the untamed and discontented spirit of the people. The leaders fled to the precincts of the sanctuary, both as an asylum from the increasing fury of the highly excited rabble, and as their usual refuge in seasons of perplexity and danger, to implore the direction and aid of God.

8. Take the rod--which had been deposited in the tabernacle

(Nu 17:10),

the wonder-working rod by which so many miracles had been performed, sometimes called "the rod of God"

(Ex 4:20),

sometimes Moses'

(Nu 20:11)

or Aaron's rod

(Ex 7:12).

10. [Moses] said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?--The conduct of the great leader on this occasion was hasty and passionate

(Ps 106:33).

He had been directed to speak to the rock

[Nu 20:8],

but he smote it twice

[Nu 20:11]

in his impetuosity, thus endangering the blossoms of the rod, and, instead of speaking to the rock, he spoke to the people in a fury.

11. the congregation drank, and their beasts--Physically the water afforded the same kind of needful refreshment to both. But from a religious point of view, this, which was only a common element to the cattle, was a sacrament to the people

(1Co 10:3, 4)

--It possessed a relative sanctity imparted to it by its divine origin and use.

12. The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, &c.--The act of Moses in smiting twice betrayed a doubt, not of the power, but of the will of God to gratify such a rebellious people, and his exclamation seems to have emanated from a spirit of incredulity akin to Sarai's

(Ge 18:13).

These circumstances indicate the influence of unbelief, and there might have been others unrecorded which led to so severe a chastisement.

13. This is the water of Meribah--The word "Kadesh" is added to it

[De 32:51]

to distinguish it from another Meribah

(Ex 17:7).