
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 20
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The Israelites arrived in a body at the wilderness of Zin on the first new moon, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.
va-ya-VO-u v'-nay yis-ra-AYL kol ha-e-DAH mid-BAR tzin ba-KHO-desh ha-ri-SHON va-YAY-shev ha-AM b'-ka-DAYSH va-TA-mot SHAM mi-REE-yam va-ti-ka-VAYR SHAM
אוַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל כׇּל־הָ֨עֵדָ֤ה מִדְבַּר־צִן֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב הָעָ֖ם בְּקָדֵ֑שׁ וַתָּ֤מׇת שָׁם֙ מִרְיָ֔ם וַתִּקָּבֵ֖ר שָֽׁם׃
2The community was without water, and they joined against Moshe and Aharon.
v'-LO-ha-YAH ma-YIM la-e-DA, va-yi-ka-HA-lu al mo-SHEH v'-al a-ha-RON
בוְלֹא־הָ֥יָה מַ֖יִם לָעֵדָ֑ה וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹֽן׃
3The people quarreled with Moshe, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished at the instance of Hashem!
vai-YA-rayv ha-AM im mo-SHE va-YO-meru lay-MOR: v'-LU ga-VA-nu bi-g'-VA a-KHEE-nu lif-NEI a-do-NAI
גוַיָּ֥רֶב הָעָ֖ם עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר וְל֥וּ גָוַ֛עְנוּ בִּגְוַ֥ע אַחֵ֖ינוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
4Why have you brought Hashem's congregation into this wilderness for us and our beasts to die there?
v'-la-MA ha-VE-tem et-k'-HAL a-do-NAI el ha-mid-BAR ha-ZEH, la-MUT sham a-na-KH'-nu u-v'-ee-RE-nu
דוְלָמָ֤ה הֲבֵאתֶם֙ אֶת־קְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה לָמ֣וּת שָׁ֔ם אֲנַ֖חְנוּ וּבְעִירֵֽנוּ׃
5Why did you make us leave Egypt to bring us to this wretched place, a place with no grain or figs or vines or pomegranates? There is not even water to drink!”
v'-la-MA he-e-li-TU-nu mi-mitz-RA-yim l'-ha-VEE o-TA-nu el ha-ma-KOM ha-RA ha-ZEH, lo ma-KOM ze-RA u-te-E-na, u-ge-FEN ve-ri-MON, u-MA-yim a-YIN lish-TOT.
הוְלָמָ֤ה הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם לְהָבִ֣יא אֹתָ֔נוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הָרָ֖ע הַזֶּ֑ה לֹ֣א ׀ מְק֣וֹם זֶ֗רַע וּתְאֵנָ֤ה וְגֶ֙פֶן֙ וְרִמּ֔וֹן וּמַ֥יִם אַ֖יִן לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃
6Moshe and Aharon came away from the congregation to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces. The Presence of Hashem appeared to them,
vai-YA-vo MO-sheh v'-a-ha-RON mi-p'-NAY ha-ka-HAL el pe-TAKH o-HEL mo-ED va-yi-p'-LU al p'-NE-hem va-YAY-ra k'-vod a-do-NAI a-lay-HEM
ווַיָּבֹא֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה וְאַהֲרֹ֜ן מִפְּנֵ֣י הַקָּהָ֗ל אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
7and Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying,
va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR
זוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
8“You and your brother Aharon take the rod and assemble the community, and before their very eyes order the rock to yield its water. Thus you shall produce water for them from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their beasts.”
KAkh et ha-ma-TEH v'-ha-KE-hel et ha-E-da, a-TAH v'-a-ha-ROn a-KHEE-kha, v'-di-BAR-tem el ha-SE-lah l'-ay-NAY-hem, v'-na-TAN may-MAV, v'-ho-TZE-ta LA-hem MA-yim min ha-SE-lah, v'-hish-KEE-ta et ha-E-da v'-et b'-ee-RAM.
חקַ֣ח אֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֗ה וְהַקְהֵ֤ל אֶת־הָעֵדָה֙ אַתָּה֙ וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֧ם אֶל־הַסֶּ֛לַע לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם וְנָתַ֣ן מֵימָ֑יו וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ לָהֶ֥ם מַ֙יִם֙ מִן־הַסֶּ֔לַע וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֥ אֶת־הָעֵדָ֖ה וְאֶת־בְּעִירָֽם׃
9Moshe took the rod from before Hashem, as He had commanded him.
vai-YI-kakh MO-sheh et ha-ma-TEH mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI ka-a-SHER tzi-VA-hu
טוַיִּקַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֖ה מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּֽהוּ׃
10Moshe and Aharon assembled the congregation in front of the rock; and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, shall we get water for you out of this rock?”
vai-YAKH-li-MO-sheh v'-a-ha-RON et ha-ka-HAL el pe-NE ha-sa-LA va-YO-mer la-HEM shi-MU-NA ha-mo-REEM ha-MIN ha-SE-lah ha-ZEH no-TZI la-KHEM MA-yim
יוַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַקָּהָ֖ל אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ הַמֹּרִ֔ים הֲמִן־הַסֶּ֣לַע הַזֶּ֔ה נוֹצִ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם מָֽיִם׃
11And Moshe raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Out came copious water, and the community and their beasts drank.
vai-YA-rem MO-she et ya-DO va-YAKH et ha-SE-lah b'-ma-TE-hu pa-a-MA-yim va-YETZ-u MA-yim ra-BEEM va-TE-she-TA ha-E-da u-ve-i-RAM. {SE}
יאוַיָּ֨רֶם מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־יָד֗וֹ וַיַּ֧ךְ אֶת־הַסֶּ֛לַע בְּמַטֵּ֖הוּ פַּעֲמָ֑יִם וַיֵּצְאוּ֙ מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים וַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּ הָעֵדָ֖ה וּבְעִירָֽם׃
12But Hashem said to Moshe and Aharon, “Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of B'nei Yisrael, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them.”
va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH v'-el a-ha-RON YA-an lo he-e-man-TEM BEE l'-HAK-dee-SHAY-nee l'-ay-NAY b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL la-KHAYN LO ta-VEE-u et ha-ka-HAL ha-ZEH el ha-A-retz a-sher na-TA-tee la-HEM
יבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ יַ֚עַן לֹא־הֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣ם בִּ֔י לְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִי לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֵ֗ן לֹ֤א תָבִ֙יאוּ֙ אֶת־הַקָּהָ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לָהֶֽם׃
20:12 Because you did not trust Me

Rashi (1040-1105)
The account of Moshe hitting the rock to get water for his people is one of the most perplexing stories in the entire Bible. Hashem tells him to speak to the rock in order to bring forth water, but Moshe hits the rock instead and is punished by being prevented from entering the Land of Israel, “because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the B’nei Yisrael.” What could be so terrible about hitting the rock instead of speaking to it? One explanation, given by Rashi, is that while Moshe understood that the water flowing from the rock was God’s doing, he did not make this sufficiently clear to the rest of the Children of Israel. Instead of hitting the rock, which implied that it was his own power that brought forth the water, Moshe should have spoken to it. By failing to do this, he missed an opportunity to attribute greatness to Hashem. It is not enough for us to recognize Hashem in our lives or within history; we have a duty to make sure others recognize Him as well.
13Those are the Waters of Meribah—meaning that the Israelites quarrelled with Hashem—through which He affirmed His sanctity.
HEM-MAH may me-ree-VAH a-SHER ra-VU v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL et a-do-NAI va-yi-ka-DAYSH BAM.
יגהֵ֚מָּה מֵ֣י מְרִיבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־רָב֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּקָּדֵ֖שׁ בָּֽם׃
14From Kadesh, Moshe sent messengers to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Yisrael: You know all the hardships that have befallen us;
vai-YISH-lakh mo-SHEH mal-a-KHEEM mi-ka-DAYSH el ME-lekh e-DOM, KOH a-MAR a-KHE-kha yis-ra-AYL, a-TAH ya-DA-at AYT kol ha-te-la-AH a-SHER m'-tza-a-T'-NU
ידוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח מֹשֶׁ֧ה מַלְאָכִ֛ים מִקָּדֵ֖שׁ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ אֱד֑וֹם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אָחִ֣יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתָּ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַתְּלָאָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְצָאָֽתְנוּ׃
15that our ancestors went down to Egypt, that we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and that the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our ancestors.
vai-YER-du a-vo-TAY-nu mitz-RA-yi-MAH, va-NE-sh'V b'-mitz-RA-yim ya-MEEM ra-BEEM, vai-RA-u LA-nu mitz-RA-yim v'-la-a-vo-TAY-nu.
טווַיֵּרְד֤וּ אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ לָ֛נוּ מִצְרַ֖יִם וְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃
16We cried to Hashem and He heard our plea, and He sent a messenger who freed us from Egypt. Now we are in Kadesh, the town on the border of your territory.
va-nitZ'-AK el a-do-NAI, va-yish-MA ko-LAY-nu, va-yish-laKH mal-akh, va-yo-tzi-AY-nu mi-mitz-RA-yim, v'-hi-NEH a-naKH-nu b'-ka-DAYSH, ir k'-TZEH g'-vu-LE-kha
טזוַנִּצְעַ֤ק אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע קֹלֵ֔נוּ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיֹּצִאֵ֖נוּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְהִנֵּה֙ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ בְקָדֵ֔שׁ עִ֖יר קְצֵ֥ה גְבוּלֶֽךָ׃
17Allow us, then, to cross your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, and we will not drink water from wells. We will follow the king's highway, turning off neither to the right nor to the left until we have crossed your territory.”
na-a-B'-RAH-NA b'-ar-TZE-kha lo na-a-VOR b'-sa-DEH u-v'-KE-rem v'-lo nish-TEH may b'-AYR DE-rekh ha-ME-lekh ne-LEKH lo ni-TEH ya-MEEN u-s'-mo-OL ad a-SHER na-a-VOR g'-vu-LE-kha
יזנַעְבְּרָה־נָּ֣א בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ לֹ֤א נַעֲבֹר֙ בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה וּבְכֶ֔רֶם וְלֹ֥א נִשְׁתֶּ֖ה מֵ֣י בְאֵ֑ר דֶּ֧רֶךְ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ נֵלֵ֗ךְ לֹ֤א נִטֶּה֙ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֔אול עַ֥ד אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲבֹ֖ר גְּבֻלֶֽךָ׃
18But Edom answered him, “You shall not pass through us, else we will go out against you with the sword.”
vai-YO-mer e-LAV e-DOM lo ta-a-VOR BI, PEN ba-KHE-rev e-TZE lik-ra-TE-kha
יחוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֱד֔וֹם לֹ֥א תַעֲבֹ֖ר בִּ֑י פֶּן־בַּחֶ֖רֶב אֵצֵ֥א לִקְרָאתֶֽךָ׃
19“We will keep to the beaten track,” the Israelites said to them, “and if we or our cattle drink your water, we will pay for it. We ask only for passage on foot—it is but a small matter.”
va-yo-M'ru e-LAV b'-nay yis-ra-AYL ba-m'-si-LAH na-a-LEH, v'-im may-MAY-kha nish-TEH a-NEE u-mik-NAY, v'-na-ta-TEE mikh-RAM, rak AYN-da-VAIR b'-rag-LAI e-e-vo-RAH
יטוַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֥יו בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣ה נַעֲלֶה֒ וְאִם־מֵימֶ֤יךָ נִשְׁתֶּה֙ אֲנִ֣י וּמִקְנַ֔י וְנָתַתִּ֖י מִכְרָ֑ם רַ֥ק אֵין־דָּבָ֖ר בְּרַגְלַ֥י אֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה׃
20But they replied, “You shall not pass through!” And Edom went out against them in heavy force, strongly armed.
vai-YO-mer lo ta-a-VOR, vai-YAY-tze e-DOM lik-RA-to, b'-AM ka-VED u-v'-YAD cha-ZA-kah
כוַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑ר וַיֵּצֵ֤א אֱדוֹם֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ בְּעַ֥ם כָּבֵ֖ד וּבְיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה׃
21So Edom would not let Yisrael cross their territory, and Yisrael turned away from them.
vai-ma-EN e-DOM ne-TON et yis-ra-AYL a-VOR bi-g'-vu-LO va-YET yis-ra-AYL me-a-LAV.
כאוַיְמָאֵ֣ן ׀ אֱד֗וֹם נְתֹן֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֲבֹ֖ר בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥ט יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵעָלָֽיו׃
22Setting out from Kadesh, the Israelites arrived in a body at Mount Hor.
vai-YIS-u mi-ka-DAYSH va-ya-VO-u v'-nay yis-ra-AYL kol ha-E-da HOR ha-HAR
כבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקָּדֵ֑שׁ וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כׇּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה הֹ֥ר הָהָֽר׃
23At Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom, Hashem said to Moshe and Aharon,
va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHE v'-el a-ha-RON b'-hor ha-HAR, al g'-VUL e-retz e-DOM lay-MOR
כגוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֑ר עַל־גְּב֥וּל אֶֽרֶץ־אֱד֖וֹם לֵאמֹֽר׃
24“Let Aharon be gathered to his kin: he is not to enter the land that I have assigned to B'nei Yisrael, because you disobeyed my command about the waters of Meribah.
ye-a-SEF a-ha-RON el a-MAV, kee LO ya-VO el ha-A-retz a-SHER na-TA-tee liv-NAY yis-ra-AYL, al a-SHER me-ree-TEM et-PEE l'-MEY me-ree-VAH
כדיֵאָסֵ֤ף אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־עַמָּ֔יו כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־מְרִיתֶ֥ם אֶת־פִּ֖י לְמֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה׃
25Take Aharon and his son Elazar and bring them up on Mount Hor.
KAKH et a-ha-RON v'-et el-a-ZAR b'-NO v'-HA-al o-TAM hor ha-HAR
כהקַ֚ח אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר בְּנ֑וֹ וְהַ֥עַל אֹתָ֖ם הֹ֥ר הָהָֽר׃
26Strip Aharon of his vestments and put them on his son Elazar. There Aharon shall be gathered unto the dead.”
v'-haf-SHAYT et a-ha-RON et b'-ga-DAV v'-hil-BAH-sh'-TAM et el-a-ZAR b'-NO, v'-a-ha-RON yay-A-sef u-MAYT sham
כווְהַפְשֵׁ֤ט אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֖ם אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בְּנ֑וֹ וְאַהֲרֹ֥ן יֵאָסֵ֖ף וּמֵ֥ת שָֽׁם׃
27Moshe did as Hashem had commanded. They ascended Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.
vai-YA-as mo-SHEH ka-a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI va-ya-a-LU el ho-HAR l'-ay-NAY kol-ha-E-da
כזוַיַּ֣עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ אֶל־הֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר לְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־הָעֵדָֽה׃
28Moshe stripped Aharon of his vestments and put them on his son Elazar, and Aharon died there on the summit of the mountain. When Moshe and Elazar came down from the mountain,
vai-YAF-shayt MO-sheh et a-ha-RON et b'-ga-DAV vai-YAL-baysh o-TAM et el-a-ZAR b'-NO vai-YA-mot a-ha-RON sham b'-ROSH ha-HAR vai-YAY-red MO-sheh v'-el-a-ZAR min ha-HAR
כחוַיַּפְשֵׁט֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בְּנ֔וֹ וַיָּ֧מׇת אַהֲרֹ֛ן שָׁ֖ם בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַיֵּ֧רֶד מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֖ר מִן־הָהָֽר׃
29the whole community knew that Aharon had breathed his last. All the house of Yisrael bewailed Aharon thirty days.
vai-YI-ru kol ha-E-da KI ga-VA a-ha-RON, vai-v'-KU et a-ha-RON sh'-lo-SHEEM YOM, kol BAYT yis-ra-AYL. (S)
כטוַיִּרְאוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י גָוַ֖ע אַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיִּבְכּ֤וּ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים י֔וֹם כֹּ֖ל בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃