Bible Strands
Numbers 20:10
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses and Aaron address the Israelite assembly gathered before the rock at the moment of water provision. Moses speaks directly to the congregation, identifying them as rebels while questioning whether he and Aaron will produce water from the stone.
The words — וַ/יַּקְהִ֜לוּ (va/i.yak.Hi.lu) denotes the action of assembling or gathering a group. הַ/סָּ֑לַע (ha./Sa.la') identifies the specific geological feature from which water is expected to emerge.
The thread — The confrontation at this location is later labeled the waters of Meribah in Psalms 106:32, where the text records that the people angered the LORD and brought trouble upon Moses.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that leadership responsibility is explicitly attributed to Moses and Aaron rather than to divine intervention alone. Readers must confront the direct challenge to obey God’s command without substituting human authority for divine provision.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Cross-references
- Psalms 106:32 At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them.
- Genesis 40:8 “We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
- Genesis 41:16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
- Numbers 11:22 If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”
- Deuteronomy 9:24 You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.
- Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:
- Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
- Luke 9:54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
- Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
- Acts 14:9 This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.