Right Words

In re-reading this chapter recently, I was struck by how momentous it was for Moses and his siblings. First of all, Miriam, the eldest sibling, dies in Kadesh (20:1). Next, Moses and Aaron are excluded from Canaan for disobeying God’s command re: the miraculous water supply (“speak ye unto the rock”; vv. 7-13). Lastly, Aaron dies on Mount Hor (vv. 22-29). So it’s truly a watershed moment for Moses and his family, though his work continues all the way to Mount Pisgah (Deut. 34:1), including some tremendous prophecies (Deut. 32-33 etc.).