Bamidbar 20

Then the sons of Israel, all of them, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people settled in Raqim. And Miriam died there, and was buried there.

And there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled against Moses and Aaron.

And when the people quarreled with Moses, they said: 'Would that we had perished at the death of our brothers before God!'

'And why have you two brought the congregation of God to this desolate wilderness, that we should die in it — we and our beasts?'

'And why have you two brought us up from Egypt, and led us to this wretched place — no sown crop, and no figs, and no vines, and no pomegranates; and there is not even water to drink.'

And Moses and Aaron came fleeing from before the congregation to the entrance of the tent of the assembly; and the two of them fell upon their faces. And the light of God appeared to them.

Then God spoke to Moses with speech.

'Take the staff, and assemble the congregation — you and Aaron your brother — and speak to the rock in their presence, and it will yield its water; so you shall bring forth for them water from the rock. Give them and their beasts to drink.'

And Moses took the staff from before God, as He had commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock; and he said to them: 'Hear, O rebels — shall we bring out water for you from this rock?'

And he raised his hand, and struck the rock with his staff twice; and much water came out, and the congregation and their beasts drank from it.

And God said to Moses and Aaron: 'Just as you did not make them trust in Me, and sanctify Me in the presence of the sons of Israel — so shall you two not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.'

That is the water of strife, over which the sons of Israel quarreled with the messenger, and He was magnified among them.

Then Moses sent messengers from Raqim to the king of Edom, saying: 'Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the calamities that have befallen us —

that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt evilly with us and with our fathers.

And we cried out to God, and He heard our voice; and He sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt. And behold, we are now in the town of Raqim, at the edge of your border.

We wish to pass through your land; we will not turn aside to any farmstead or vineyard, nor will we drink cistern water — but we will travel along the main road, turning neither right nor left, until we have passed through your territory.'

The Red One (Edom) said to him: 'You shall not pass through me — lest I come out against you with the sword.'

And the sons of Israel said to him: 'We will go up by the highway; and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay its price. There is no matter at all — only let us pass through.'

He said: 'You shall not pass, not even so.' And Edom came out to meet them with a great host and a mighty hand.

And when Edom refused to allow the house of Israel to pass through his territory, they turned away from him.

And they departed from Raqim, and the whole of their congregation came to Mount Hor.

And God said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, at the border of the land of Edom, saying:

'Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel — as I said when the two of you transgressed My command at the water of strife.'

'Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring the two of them up to Mount Hor.'

'And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron shall be gathered and shall die there.'

And Moses did as God had commanded him; and they went up to Mount Hor in the presence of the congregation.

And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there at the summit of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

And when the congregation saw that Aaron had indeed died, all the house of Israel wept for him thirty days.