Numbers 20: 1- 29
Changing of the guard
20 Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4 Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” 6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. 10 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?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them. 14 Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers. 16 When we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ” 18 Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.” 19 So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” 20 Then he said, “You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him. 22 Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying: 24 “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. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there.” 27 So Moses did just as the LORD commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
I use to work in Washington D.C. for over 4 years. So, some people who have never visited our nation’s capital ask me what they should go see. I tell them that the museums are great to visit. I also tell them to make sure they go and spend some time at the holocaust museum. First on their list I tell them that they have to go and see Arlington Cemetery and the changing of the guard. They look at me with surprise – a visit to a grave yard is first to be recommended. Yep. For me it is one of the most emotional and meaningful part of any visit to Washington.
The guard is changed every hour on the hour October 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 through September 30, there are more than double the opportunities to view the change because another change is added on the half hour and the cemetery closing time moves from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
An impeccably uniformed relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the Changing of the Guard. Soon the new sentinel leaves the Quarters and unlocks the bolt of his or her M-14 rifle to signal to the relief commander to start the ceremony. The relief commander walks out to the Tomb and salutes, then faces the spectators and asks them to stand and stay silent during the ceremony.
The relief commander conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once. Then, the relief commander and the relieving sentinel meet the retiring sentinel at the center of the matted path in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknown who have been symbolically given the Medal of Honor. Then the relief commander orders the relieved sentinel, "Pass on your orders." The current sentinel commands, "Post and orders, remain as directed." The newly posted sentinel replies, "Orders acknowledged," and steps into position on the black mat. When the relief commander passes by, the new sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute.
The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed -- the 21-gun salute.
After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. Believe me they take their order seriously. I happened to be there once when a young boy came walking into this area and the guard got between him and the tomb. An embarrassed mom jutted out of the crowd to grab her curious child. Then the guard returned to his post in walking the mat. The Guards of Honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are highly motivated and are proud to honor all American service members who are "Known But to God."
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), and headquartered at Fort Myer, Virginia.
After members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment become ceremonially qualified, they are eligible to volunteer for duty as sentinels at the Tomb. If accepted, they are assigned to Company E of The Old Guard. Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall for males or 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches tall for females with a proportionate weight and build. An interview and a two-week trial to determine a volunteer's capability to train as a tomb guard is required.
During the trial phase, would-be sentinels memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history. This information must be recited verbatim in order to earn a "walk." A walk occurs between guard changes. A daytime walk is one-half hour in the summer and one hour in the winter. All night walks are one hour.
If a soldier passes the first training phase, "new-soldier" training begins. New sentinels learn the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the grave locations of nearly 300 veterans. They learn the guard-change ceremony and the manual of arms that takes place during the inspection portion of the Changing of the Guard. Sentinels learn to keep their uniforms and weapons in immaculate condition.
The sentinels will be tested to earn the privilege of wearing the silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge after several months of serving. First, they are tested on their manual of arms, uniform preparation and their walks. Then, the Badge Test is given. The test is 100 randomly selected questions of the 300 items memorized during training on the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The would-be badge holder must get more than 95 percent correct to succeed.
The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is a temporary award until the badge-holding sentinel has honorably served at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for nine months. At that time, the award can be made a permanent badge, which may then be worn for the rest of a military career. The silver badge is an upside-down, laurel-leaf wreath surrounding a depiction of the front face of the Tomb. Peace, Victory and Valor are portrayed as Greek figures. The words "Honor Guard" are shown below the Tomb on the badge.
The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, traditionally known as "The Old Guard," is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784.
The Old Guard is the Army's official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, and it also provides security for Washington, D.C., in time of national emergency or civil disturbance.
The unit received its unique name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847 following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. Fifty campaign streamers attest to the 3rd Infantry's long history of service, which spans from the Battle of Fallen Timbers to World War II and Vietnam.
Since World War II, The Old Guard has served as the official Army Honor Guard and escort to the president. In that capacity, 3rd Infantry soldiers are responsible for the conduct of military ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, national memorials and elsewhere in the nation's capital. In addition, soldiers of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, provide military funeral escorts at Arlington National Cemetery and participate in parades at Fort Myer and Fort Lesley J. McNair.
The Old Guard annually participates in more than 6,000 ceremonies, an average of 16 per day.
Despite this arduous schedule, The Old Guard continuously prepares for its security and infantry missions by conducting year-round training, culminating in a rigorous evaluation of unit tactical proficiency. Because of this, all soldiers are as familiar with traditional infantry or military-police duties as they are with ceremonial duties.
The black-and-tan "buff strap" worn on the left shoulder by each member of the 3rd Infantry is a replica of the knapsack strap used by 19th-century predecessors of the unit to display its distinctive colors and distinguish its members from other Army units. The present buff strap continues to signify an Old Guard soldier's pride in personal appearance and precision performance that has marked the unit for 200 years.
A further distinction of The Old Guard is the time-honored custom of passing in review with fixed bayonets at all parades. This practice, officially sanctioned by the War Department in 1922, dates to the Mexican War in 1847 when the 3rd Infantry led a successful bayonet charge against the enemy at Cerro Gordo. Today, this distinction is still reserved for The Old Guard alone.
Today we are going to see the Old Israelite Guard being changed. Miriam and Aaron die and then Moses will soon be removed as the leader and replaced by Joshua. Like Arlington Cemetery it is very moving to see these individuals pass off the scene.
20 Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.
In the first month the people arrived at the wilderness of Zin in the Negeb. (This was probably the first month of the fortieth year after leaving Egypt (33.38). But the emphasis here is on which month it occurred in). ‘The first month’ would spring out at those early readers. It was the anniversary of the Passover. It should have reinvigorated the people and encouraged their hopes of deliverance, but instead of the joyous celebration and hope that there should have been we find sorrow. As the people settled down in the area of Kadesh Miriam died there.
There was a threefold reason for the mention of this sad event. The first was because her death linked with the shortage of water. There was both physical drought and spiritual drought. This suggests what a blow this was to the people. In spite of her failings Miriam had been a provider of spiritual sustenance to the people, and they recognized that her death would bring them a spiritual drought along with the physical drought caused by lack of water.
The second was that Miriam’s death brought home God’s warning that the generation of which she was a member was doomed to die in the wilderness. It was even true of Miriam.
The third was because the death of Miriam would lead on both to the production of abundance of water at Meribah, and the ‘contention’ of God both with the people and with Moses and Aaron. When the people of God are at their lowest God always meets them with greater blessing, but in this case it would be a mixed blessing, for at Meribah Aaron and Moses would disqualify themselves from entry into the land. This would lead on to the death of Aaron, and more gloom. But it would then result in the appointment of a new High Priest and the even greater abundance of water at Beer (21.16). Man proposes, but God disposes, and then comes in with even greater blessing for His people. He Is ever ready to begin with us again.
Life is like that. God takes our disappointments and uses them to make us look to Christ. There we find in Him sustenance and life but how easily we can then spoil it all by allowing sin to take over, so hindering our growth.
The arrival at Kadesh would also result in the ‘sanctifying’ of Yahweh ‘in (by) them’, that is either by the provision of the waters of Meribah or in the people. His holiness was revealed either by the demonstrating of His compassion in miraculously providing water or through His being made holy in the sight of His people.
2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.
At the same time as Miriam died there was a real shortage of water. The dry wilderness and the hot sun were beginning to tell. So instead of a feast of rejoicing all was gloom. Miriam had died and Kadesh had failed them. They had no song and they had no water.
3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
The result was that once more the people began to rebel. They sent their leaders to make their feelings known to Moses. They ‘strove’ with Moses, and their cry expressed the wish that they had never survived to have to face up to such thirst.
4 Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here?
Why, the only result of their still being alive was that they had now been brought to this wilderness to die along with all their herds and flocks. All was despair.
Please take note of their accusation. They claimed to be ‘the assembly of Yahweh’ and yet they had no trust in Yahweh to provide. They were simply using the idea in order to put Moses and Aaron in the wrong. They were trying to force home on Moses and Aaron the greatness of their failure. How could they bring ‘the assembly of Yahweh’ to such a place. Did Moses and Aaron not realize that they were to be seen as completely to blame for their predicament and for letting down Yahweh’s holy people? It was they who had brought the assembly of Yahweh into the wilderness to die, when they could have been worshipping Yahweh in Egypt. They were responsible before Yahweh.
Such was their hypocrisy. Yet it was not only an accusation against Moses, it was an unspoken, backhanded accusation against Yahweh Himself. Moses had told them that they were His people, that they were ‘the assembly of Yahweh’, but now even He had brought them to die miserably here in the wilderness.
They should have recognized that if they were the ‘assembly of Yahweh’ their disappointment would only be for a moment. If they would but look to Him in confident trust they would be doubly blessed, first by the joy of trusting in the darkness, and then by the equal joy of receiving blessing and experiencing God’s power when the water came.
5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.”
Instead they were angry at the thought that they had been so well off in Egypt, and yet Moses had dragged them away from it! There they had had seed, and figs, and vines, and pomegranates, and above all plenty of water. To listen to them you would have thought that life in Egypt had been a bed of roses. But their main point was that Moses had promised a land of ‘milk and honey’, of seed, and figs, and vines and pomegranates, and that this evil place in which they found themselves was the very opposite. At least in Egypt they had had something. This was a place of total dearth and barrenness. And even Miriam was dead so that the song had gone from their hearts.
It should be noted that this was the new generation in which Moses had pinned such hopes, and for whom God had such great plans. But they had had thirty eight years in the wilderness and hope had grown dim. They were beginning to despair of any prospects for the future. Hope deferred was making the heart sick (Proverbs 13.12).
6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
The reaction of Moses and Aaron was to leave the assembly and approach the door of the Tent of meeting. That is always a good move to make in a crisis. And there they fell on their faces, ‘and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them’. He had not deserted them. He was still the same as ever. He does not change. It is we who change.
There comes a time in most of our lives when we have to face the difficulties of life in the wilderness. It is then that the test of our faith comes. Will we grumble and look back and wish we had never been converted? Or will we approach the door of the Tent of meeting that we might see the glory of God? For if we do this latter we can be sure that soon we will again begin to see His wondrous working on our behalf.
Yahweh’s response was gracious and generous. He recognized the strain under which His people were, and He responded accordingly. There was no hint of criticism in that response. He was ready to meet His people’s needs. He recognized the disappointment that they had received on arriving at Kadesh. And he knew that, unlike their fathers, they had not recently received good reports of the land. They had grounds for discouragement. So He was eager to encourage them, and at a word of command from Moses, to provide them with abundance of water. He was all compassion.
It should therefore have become a time of abundant blessing for all, a time when all experienced God in a way that would never be forgotten. But it would not be so for Moses and Aaron. There is no indication at this stage of the devastating event that would soon follow, an event that would blight Moses’ final days. But those who would serve God and be used by Him have to follow in the way of obedience, and must recognize that to fail to do so can only result in loss. While God was patient and understanding, Moses and Aaron were sadly less so. It was in fact in its own way an indication that they needed to be replaced. Yet as the future would reveal, this event probably raised Moses from the depths to which he had sunk to a new spiritual level. Without it his career might well have been over. He learned again that he was the servant of Yahweh, not the lord of Israel, a lesson all God’s leaders have to keep in mind.
7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.”
Patiently God prepared to give His people an indication of the power of His word. They would see what Yahweh could do using but the voice of His servants, and He would from it receive great glory. He would be ‘sanctified’, set apart as the Holy One, the unique and peerless One, in their eyes. And the people would gain great assurance in readiness to face the future. And they would see that all it would require was a word. They would go forward confident in the One Who spoke and it was done.
But Moses and Aaron were seething with anger. They had had enough of these treacherous people. First it had been their fathers, and now it was them. They were almost reluctant to act to provide the water. They considered that the people did not deserve it. But what they failed to consider was their own attitude. What they did not realize was that by their behavior they were forfeiting their own right to lead the people of God, and that God could see it. They were no longer fit to lead.
9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him.
Outwardly all seemed well. Moses obeyed Yahweh’s commandment and took the rod ‘from before Yahweh’. That it was essentially Yahweh’s rod that he used was well recognized by the people. But in taking it from before Yahweh he ought to have recognized how obediently he should have used it. It was not given to him for the glory of Moses. He was within the sphere of God’s commands, and it was intended to be for the glory of God. Even the rock would recognize the authority symbolized by that rod. The Creation would gladly respond to its Creator. But it was to be through the word of power, not through ill-will and violence.
10 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?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
But in the eyes of all the people, the whole assembly, the two leaders, instead of revealing the gracious power and provision of Yahweh, castigated the people, calling them rebels, and then pointed to themselves as the providers of what was to come. ‘Shall we bring you forth water?’ And then reluctantly and filled with anger Moses, such was his lack of control, struck the rock twice with ‘his’ rod. What should have been a glorious revelation of Yahweh’s power and goodness and authority, and have enhanced Moses reputation as the servant of Yahweh, became a petty display of temper and highhandedness against God’s express command. Moses and Aaron had taken over from, and misrepresented, Yahweh.
Apart from Moses’ anger the people might not have known that anything was wrong. They were not party to God’s commands. What they heard was their leaders’ accusation of rebellion. What they saw was Moses striking the rock twice with the rod of God, and the water pouring out. And they rejoiced and hastened to drink.
But God saw something very different. He saw two men who were taking God’s very symbol of authority and wildly misusing it, appropriating Yahweh’s authority to them and in the process wholly misrepresenting Him. He heard anger that should have been compassion. He saw resentment that should have been love. He witnessed the unbelievably arrogant behavior of these two who claimed to be leaders and to represent Him. He heard the claim that the water was being brought forth by Moses and Aaron. And He saw Moses take His rod and with it disobediently smite the rock, not once but twice. We might almost suggest that He could not believe His eyes. It was as though all the disobedience of the people was being lived out by these two men. They had got above themselves.
The water did come. The people were satisfied. But God was very ‘angry’ indeed. His servants had totally failed Him. They had proved themselves unfit for His service. They were no longer suited to the task ahead.
12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
God then made clear to them how desperately wrong their behavior had been. It was not so much the people who were in the wrong, and who were rebels, it was Moses and Aaron. They, His trusted leaders, had flouted His will and disobeyed Him. They had demonstrated that they no longer willingly did His will. They had shown total lack of control and a totally wrong attitude towards the people. They had dared to misuse the sacred rod which had come from ‘before Yahweh’, the instrument of His authority and of His Name, which to take in the hand indicated that they were the especial chosen of Yahweh. And they had shown that they themselves were no longer fitted to lead the people of God into the land, that they could misuse the holy. It was a wonder that they were not struck down on the spot as others had been before them.
Sadly what had been apparent about the fathers of these people at the beginning of the thirty eight years was now equally apparent of Moses and Aaron at the end. It had become apparent that they would not be able to cope with the entry into the land. They had excluded themselves. They were no longer fitted for it, and it would have to be made the responsibility of someone else.
For instead of performing the wonder with a word as they were commanded they had done it by twice smiting the rock. They had forgotten themselves. They had overlooked who and what they were, servants of God from whom obedience was required. They had misused the rod of God and the authority that had been given to them. Instead of demonstrating His gracious power, they had revealed reluctance of spirit. Instead of showing His loving kindness they had revealed anger. The people had gained the impression that Yahweh resented giving them water, and that the gift was in the end due to the rod in Moses’ hand, which he could use as he pleased, and not to Yahweh Himself. Why the claim had even been made that it was ‘they’ who had produced the water. It was almost unbelievable.
Perhaps also He knew that Moses was in such a state that he had not fully believed that the water would come out with only a word. That he had struck the rock in a kind of unbelief. It demonstrated that Moses’ faith was no longer up to the task ahead. He was no longer obedient. He was not listening carefully. He was doing his own thing. Whatever it was these two men had marred the image that God was seeking to represent. And it had been because of their lack of faith. So God would now need to seek a new leader for the entry into the land, one who would be obedient to His will, and would trust Him and obey Him fully.
It is the great danger for all Christian leaders that they can begin to think that God’s work is in their own hands. They can begin almost to think that they can choose to do whatever they want, that God is subject to their whim. And even the greatest can wane in their behavior and faith, and begin to magnify themselves. It is one of the greatest dangers facing Christian leaders. It is then that they have to be set aside to be replaced by those more trusting and obedient. God will not give His glory to another. While Moses was meek, God glorified him. Now he had become overbearing, God would replace him.
Please note the accusation - ‘Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel.’ It was their attitude towards Yahweh that was at fault, an attitude that was far worse than the people’s. They may have been justified in their view of the people, but they were not justified in their attitude towards God’s orders. And that attitude had resulted in their totally misrepresenting God, and reducing the presentation of His glory. Moses and Aaron had an attitude problem, and they had suggested that Yahweh had one as well.
The land was only available for those who would trust and obey God. That had been the theme right from the beginning. Thus the lesson had to come over strongly that those who would not trust and obey could not enter the land, whoever they were. That this gave Moses a huge jolt is unquestionable. His exclusion from the land was certain from that moment on and yet he undoubtedly became a humbler and a better man for it, and learned the humility that would enable him to better prepare the people for that entry, as Deuteronomy reveals. In his diminished dedication God had had mercy on him. Without this lesson he may well have had to be replaced earlier. And as a result, while he could not enter the land, he was able to possess it with his eyes. For in God’s Love for His servant Moses He ultimately allowed Moses to step in the Promised Land when we see that he and Elijah met our Lord and Savior Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
13 This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them.
And the waters were given the name Meribah, which means ‘contention’ (complaint). The same name had been given at an earlier incident at the beginning, soon after the departure from Egypt, when the people had also there contended with Moses because of lack of water. Thus the children had repeated what their fathers had done before them. The repetition of the name was probably deliberately in order to bring out that very fact. Moses wanted the people to recognize that they were following in their fathers’ footsteps, and that they were behaving little differently from their fathers. There had been a previous Rephidim (contention with God, resulting in blessing), and the people had gone on to disaster. Now they had their own Rephidim. They too had been contentious, and yet had received blessing. Let them take warning from it not to go on as their fathers had done. The repetition indicated a new beginning for God’s people. Now they could go forward if they had learned their lesson.
Moses and Aaron had failed Him, but they had not prevented His final aim. As a result of receiving the ‘waters of contention’ (called such because the people ‘contended’ with Him there) He was sanctified in the eyes of the people. They did recognize in it a wonderful provision from Yahweh. And in view of their contentiousness He was even more sanctified as a result of His graciousness being revealed in the face of their contention.
Perhaps we may conclude this section by again drawing attention to the word play on Miriam and Meribah. The section commences with the death of Miriam and ends with the waters of Meribah. This is surely deliberate. It indicates the passing away of the old order. First in the death of Miriam and then in the coming death of Aaron and Moses. For at the waters of Meribah not only did the people quarrel with God, but God quarreled with Moses and Aaron. But it also indicates that after death came life through the waters. The advance had begun. But they had to learn stage by stage that it would not always be straightforward.
The incident at Meribah was followed by an appeal to Edom to be allowed to use the King’s Highway through their territory. The march on Yahweh’s land had begun in earnest. But in the event they were required to skirt the territory and were not allowed through. God’s presence with His people was not a guarantee that they would face no problems, only that He would help them to overcome them in one way or the other.
This incident was firstly a reminder to Israel of the obstacles that lay ahead. They had to recognize that they were not going to be welcomed in their project. Even a brother tribe refused them assistance. It would be tougher later. But secondly it stressed to Israel that they were not there as aggressors and seekers of spoil. The Canaanites (including the Amorites) were there for the taking for Yahweh’s judgment was coming on them. But with neighboring tribes they were to seek peace not aggression.
All Christians have to face constant attack. Sometimes, as here, the way to fight it is to avoid the place of testing, and go around it. ‘Abstain from every form of evil’ (1 Thessalonians 5.22). ‘Flee youthful desires’ (1 Timothy 2.22). In the battle of the flesh avoidance is often a primary weapon. At other times when the battle is in the mind flight is of little use, then we have to stand and fight, ‘take to you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand’ (Ephesians 6.13), just as Israel would be required to stand against the enemies of God, against Arad and the Canaanites (Numbers 21.1-3). In the battle of the mind we cannot flee, but must stand firm on the promises of God, as our Lord Jesus did during His temptations.
14 Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us, 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.
It was to Moses’ credit that having learned that he himself would not be allowed to enter the land there was no hint of his refusing to go forward so as to bring God’s people there. We are probably to see from this that he recognized how grievously he had been at fault. He had learned the lesson of obedience. It would mean that his usefulness could continue. Indeed that lesson came in useful in this next incident. Without it he might well have smitten Edom with the rod of God. But he had learned obedience.
Moses pointed out that Israel were brothers to Edom (Jacob was Esau’s brother, and Esau had established himself in Edom), and reminded them that Canaan was their real home. They were not coming to make trouble. They were going home. They had a right to be on the way there. He also sought to draw on Edom’s sympathy by reminding them how Israel had, as they well knew, suffered in Egypt, and how they had been treated. This knowledge of what Edom was aware of may well suggest that he knew that the two tribal groups had maintained contact with each other through the years.
16 When we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border.
Moses’ aim was to indicate why they, with such a large force, were almost on Edom’s borders, and explained precisely where they were camped. He knew that Edomite scouts would already have reported back their presence. He wanted it known that they had no ill intent. They were there because Yahweh had heard their pleas, and had sent His angel to bring them out of Egypt. They were thus there on Yahweh’s instructions. His message also contained the gentle hint that not to assist them would be to go against Yahweh. And all knew what that entailed for news of His activities would have gone before them.
17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ”
So he made the reasonable plea that they be allowed to pass along the King’s Highway. That was a recognized trade route that led through Edom towards the land on the east of the Jordan and up towards Damascus. It was called the King’s Highway, partly because it was the way used by travelling kings and was suitable for the travel of larger bodies of people.
He promised that while passing along it Israel would be totally circumspect. They would use their own provisions and would not trespass on Edomite property or springs. They would pass right through Edom without straying right or left.
18 Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”
Edom’s reply was a firm ‘no’. If they did seek to pass through they would be met with the sword. Edom’s armies would positively resist them. Edom was taking no chances with such a large body of people.
19 So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”
The messengers were again sent to the king of Edom, on behalf of the whole of Israel. But the change to the first person indicates the hand of Moses. The promise was repeated that they would go through peaceably, and it was added that they would pay for anything that they required. All they wanted was passage through.
20 Then he said, “You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand.
The king of Edom again refused permission, but recognizing that his refusal might result in warlike action from the advancing host, moved to his borders with a display of strength, at the points where he knew they might make the attempt. If they wanted to come through, they would have to fight every step of the way. With its mountain passes Edom was fairly easy to defend in that area.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.
Moses was clearly determined not to antagonize a related tribe. He possibly recognized how sensible it would be to maintain good relations with those who lived on the borders of Canaan. They would not want them interfering during the invasion. Furthermore he was under Yahweh’s strict instructions (Deuteronomy 2.4-6). And he had learned at Meribah that he must not misuse the rod of Yahweh. War would be a waste of time as Israel were forbidden to occupy the land of a brother tribe, a tribe who themselves had received the land from Yahweh. By this the point was got over to the people that the land that Yahweh did wish them to occupy was specific and fixed. They were there on Yahweh’s business. They should therefore receive a certain amount of assurance from the fact that Yahweh had previously given land in the area, whose inhabitants were still in safe occupation of it, and were protected by Him.
Thus Moses was recognizing (and being made to recognize) that they were not there as aggressors to take into possession any land they liked, but were there under the command of God to take only the land that He had given them.
However, the blunt statement in verse 21 contains a double entendre. Had Edom been more helpful it might have made a great difference to relations in the future. As it was Israel ‘turned away from Edom’. The opportunity of a lasting friendship had been lost so that later Israel would have no hesitation in invading Edom (24.18). But in the context the main point was that they did not seek to force their way through. They took another route.
22 Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.
They journeyed from the place where Yahweh had been revealed as holy in their eyes, and skirting round Edom came to Mount Hor,
23 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying: 24 “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.
This would be the last time that Yahweh spoke to ‘Moses and Aaron’. Soon Aaron would be no more. We are simply told that Mount Hor was by the border of the land of Edom. The time had come for the death of Aaron as chastisement for his failures. After the failure of Moses and Aaron at ‘the waters of Meribah’ there had to be a new beginning, although even now it was not yet time for Moses to be replaced. But it was now time for Aaron’s replacement to take over. It was the next step in the new beginning.
However, it should be noted that neither Moses nor Aaron were ‘struck down’. Both died with dignity. God did not overlook their years of faithful service. Being ‘gathered to his fathers’ indicated proper burial, and that he was not dying under God’s judgment. He was joining the faithful who had gone before. Yet in all this it was made clear that what was happening was within the will of Yahweh. It was not to be seen as a disaster but as Yahweh’s next step forward.
It is apparent from what is described that Aaron had ascended the mountain in his High Priestly regalia for this was a solemn ceremonial in which one High Priest was replaced by another.
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there.”
Moses was therefore commanded to take Aaron and Eleazar up into Mount Hor, where Aaron was to be stripped of his High Priestly garments which were then to put on his son Eleazar who was to be the new High Priest. Such a lofty place was seen as bringing men nearer to God, but had the advantage of not being too public. Aaron was to be allowed to be replaced in quiet and private dignity. And it was to be the place where he would die and be buried. It was a reminder that the High Priesthood did not pass at the will of man but at the will of Yahweh.
27 So Moses did just as the LORD commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
So in accordance with Yahweh’s commandment (a constant stress throughout the Pentateuch) Moses took Aaron and Eleazar into the mountain. Yet to some extent the people were being made aware that some change was taking place for they were aware of their entry into the mountain. It was not something done in secret. However, they were used to the fact that when Moses took men into a mountain they would have a special revelation of God (Exodus 24.1-2, 9-11) and that it was not a place for them to be, and they waited patiently for their return.
28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
And there in the mountain Moses took off from Aaron his High Priestly garments and put them on his son. Provision would undoubtedly have been made for this to happen with all decency. Indeed the likelihood is that both were wearing a similar priestly undergarment and that it was only the top garments that were exchanged. But the change signified to both that Eleazar was now taking Aaron’s place as High Priest of the whole of Israel. And there Aaron died after a long and useful life and there he joined his fathers.
29 Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
When Moses and Eleazar descended from the mountain the people would recognize from the way that Eleazar was dressed that Aaron was dead. And their hearts were moved and they wept. And for Israel there was thirty days of weeping, which would seem to have been standard on the passing of a great chieftain (Deuteronomy 34.8). In Israelite terms thirty days was a complete period (3 x 10). In Egypt it was seventy days (Genesis 50.3) but that may simply have been because of the exalted position of Joseph, and therefore of his father.
While mourning was a requirement at all such occasions we can be sure that in this case much of it was genuine. At such a time they would remember the great debt that they owed him, and old enmities would be forgotten.
But the most important thing of all was that the High Priesthood continued on unbroken. God’s purposes did not come to a halt. It was simply that there was a different Aaron in the clothing. Yahweh went on forever.
