As Numbers chapter 20 continues, Israel is being led to travel through Edom. This is the land of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Abraham, Esau’s grandpa, was the first Hebrew. God chose Abraham to receive the Promise of a people of God. These are the Jewish nation. Abraham and Sarah had a son named Isaac, a child of promise born in their old age. Isaac’s wife Rebekah was also kept from conceiving for a time. When she finally conceived, two children were in her womb. Even while she was still carrying the twins, Rebekah was told the younger would be greater than the older. Jacob then was born second but to him the Promise was transferred. Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter. God later renamed Jacob Israel. It is from this patriarch that the nation Israel derives its name. The land that Jacob’s brother settled in was called Edom, a variant of his name. Therefore, the Israelites’ message to the king of Edom addresses him as a brother.
The message to Edom gave them a little of Israel’s history then requested passage through their land. Israel attested to God’s guidance and deliverance from Egypt. They vowed to stay on the road and not harm any vineyard or field. Edom refused passage and threatened battle to trespassers. Israel reiterated their request and promised to pay for any water they may drink on their way. Edom still refused entry to their land and actually brought out a large, powerful armed force to prove they meant it. Israel, of course, turned away.
Matthew Henry adds this note: “We must not think it strange if the most reasonable requests be denied by unreasonable men, and if those be affronted by men whom God favours.” Jacob and Esau’s relationship has been plagued by jealousy and sibling rivalry since the beginning. And darkness often has unexplainable conflicts with the Light.
Have you ever made what you thought was a reasonable request of someone and they denied you? I was divorced when my children were very young. Once in a while, I would ask their dad to be flexible on the time they were leaving or returning, and these requests were usually denied. Seeing this note from Matthew Henry makes me nod my head in assent. Why do we expect reasonable responses from people when that is not their usual way? And what was I trying to do? I was trying to get my own way. The angrier that might have made me reflected my own pride and stubbornness. Just like James says at the beginning of chapter 4 in his letter, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Do they not come from your own desires that battle within you? You want something but you don’t get it.” (James 4:1-2)
Another Sibling Passes
As the Israelites approached Mount Hor, God announced that it was time for Aaron to “be gathered to his people.” Israel had a conflict with his brother Esau then Moses must say goodbye to his brother Aaron in the span of a few verses. We have two examples of brothers divided in one chapter. When announcing Aaron’s time, God reminded them that Aaron and Moses rebelled against Him at Meribah. This is where Moses and Aaron struck the rock to get water rather than speak to it as instructed. They also asked the people, “Must we get water from a rock?” They were touching the glory by saying they are helping God. God gave explicit instructions to Moses on the passing of the mantle of the high priesthood to Eleazar, son of Aaron. As God had directed, Moses went up the mountain with Aaron and Eleazar in the sight of the whole community. At the top of the mountain, Moses took the priestly garments off Aaron and put them on Eleazar.
The next sentence tells us that Aaron died there on top of the mountain. We are not given detail on how Aaron died. Did he just lay down once the garments were removed? It would seem that way. There is dignity and honor in this death. “Even in their humiliation, God honors them.” (NIV Application Commentary) Going up in plain sight could be an encouragement to those who fear death. Moses would be encouraged that Eleazar would take Aaron’s place. This succession would also comfort Aaron and the people. God was gracious in publicly transferring the priestly garments to officially place Eleazar in the position of high priest.
Finally, the whole community honors Aaron by mourning him for 30 days. Aaron was opposed so many times by these same people, it is fitting that they now honor him. We are given no account of Miriam being mourned. Perhaps Israel gained wisdom from their mistake in that instance which could have led to the quarrel at Meribah. “One might conclude that the community’s resistance to properly mourning leads to a chain of anger and pain extending all the way to heaven. When Aaron dies at the end of the chapter, the community bewails him thirty days. Perhaps by then the Israelites have learned something.” (http://www.reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/chukat/death-miriam-death-aaron-death-moses-death-me)
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