The Sin of Moses and Aaron:
This chapter begins with the death of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.  After that, there is another famine at Kadesh.  The Israelites issue the same grumblings as before: “And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to drink.” (Num. 20:5)  The Lord then appears to Moses and Aaron and tells them to go and “order the rock to yield its waters.” (Num. 20:8) Yet, Moses goes before the Israelite community and shouts at them “Listen to me, you rebels!  Are we to bring water for you out of this rock? Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out in abundance for the community and their livestock to drink.”  (Num. 20:10-11)  The Lord did as He promised and provided water for the Israelites, yet He was angry with Moses and Aaron for disobeying Him.  He said, “Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the Israelites, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.” (Num. 20:12)  Moses was angry with the Israelites and treated them contemptuously.  But, more egregiously, he did not just speak to the rock as the Lord had commanded him, but struck the rock twice in defiance of God’s orders.  Moreover, Moses contends that he is the one bringing water from the rock, and not God. Because of these sins of disobedience, God forbids Moses and Aaron from entering the Promised Land.  This they did at the waters of Meribah.

Edom’s Refusal of Passage:
Moses sent word to the Edomites that their “brother Israel” wished to pass through their country along the King’s Highway, which runs north-south in Edom (Jordan), parallel to the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. .  Edomites were the descendants of Esau, who had been the twin brother of Jacob.  Yet, just as Esau was bitter at Jacob, so too still, was Edom bitter at Israel, saying, “you shall not pass through.”

The Death of Aaron:
The Israelites reach Mount Hor on the border of Edom.  The Lord instructs Aaron to come up to the top of Mt. Hor and divest his garments and give them to his son, Eleazar, “for there Aaron shall be taken in death.” (Num. 20:26)  Once up on top of Mt. Hor, “Aaron died there on top of the mountain.”

The Bronze Serpent:
After mourning Aaron for 30 days, the Israelites departed from Mt. Hor and headed back on the Red Sea road to bypass Edom.  But, again, the Israelites grumbled against Moses and against God saying, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water?  We are disgusted with this wretched food!” [ie, the manna] (Num. 21:5)  It is interesting that the Israelites complained against the manna from heaven, as many today grumble against the Eucharist and Jesus.  For punishment, the Lord sent “fiery serpents” among them, which “bit the people so that many of them died.” (Num. 21:6)  The people then repented of their sin and asked Moses to pray to the Lord, to forgive them and save them from the serpents.  Then, Moses prayed and the Lord instructed him: “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover.”  (Num. 21:8) So, Moses made a “bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered.” (Num. 21:9)  Jesus, of course, referenced this passage directly, by applying it to Himself.  He said: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)  Jesus was referring to Himself being lifted up on the Cross, and whoever believes in Him would have eternal life.

Israelite Victories:
The Israelites journey around Moab, and conquer Sihon, the king of the Amorites. From there, the Israelites went up along the road to Bashan, and advanced against Og, the king of Bashan. With the assurance of the Lord, they advanced against Bashan and struck down Og and all his people “until not a survivor was left to him, and they took possession of his land.” (Num. 21:35)