English Standard Version

Numbers 20:15-29 English Standard Version (ESV)

15. how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers.

16. And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.

17. Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. 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. But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”

19. And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”

20. But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.

21. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

22. And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

23. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom,

24. “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.

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. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.”

27. Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28. And 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. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.