Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.
Parallel translations
- WEB There was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
- KJV And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
- NKJV Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.
- NASB There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and Aaron.
- NLT There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
With no water available, the congregation again gathered in opposition against Moses and Aaron. A new generation repeats the grumbling of their fathers.
Overview
Though forty years had passed, the people respond to hardship just as the earlier generation did at Rephidim and elsewhere. Thirst exposes the unbelief of the heart. The recurring failure shows Israel's need for a new heart, which God promises to give through the new covenant in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Num 16:19When Korah had gathered his whole assembly against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.
- Num 16:42But when the congregation gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting, and suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.
- Exod 15:23–24And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.)
- Exod 16:2And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
- 1 Cor 10:10–11And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
- Exod 16:12“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
- Num 11:1–6Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.
- Num 21:5and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
- Exod 17:1–4Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
- Num 16:3They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
- Exod 16:7and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we that you should grumble against us?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 20:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.