---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "Then came. This was in the first month of the fortieth year alter Exodus. Compare Numbers 20:28 with Numbers 33:38 and Deuteronomy 2:1-7 . A gap of 37 ye"
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url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/numbers/20"
---

**Then came.** This was in the first month of the fortieth year alter Exodus. Compare [Numbers 20:28](../../../kjv/numbers/20/28) with [Numbers 33:38](../../../kjv/numbers/33/38) and [Deuteronomy 2:1-7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/2/1-7) . A gap of 37 years between the spies (Numbers chapter 13 and Numbers chapter 14) and Numbers chapter 20. This blank should be carefully noted. See note on [Numbers 14:34](../../../kjv/numbers/14/34) , and App-50 .
**children** = sons.
**and.** Note the Figure of speech *Polysyndeton* throughout this chapter. The old nation dead. History of new nation begins here, and each event singled out and emphasized.
**Kadesh.** The second time in eventful Kadesh. No history since the first time all a blank, except a list of journeyings in [Numbers 33](../../../kjv/numbers/33) .
**Miriam:** died early in fortieth year; Aaron in the fifth month. Compare verses: [Numbers 20:23-29](../../../kjv/numbers/20/23-29) with verses: Num 20:33 , Num 20:38 .

**Would God.** Figure of speech *Eonismos* ( App-6 ). No Hebrew for "God "here.
**when.** Compare [Numbers 11:33](../../../kjv/numbers/11/33) .
**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .

**why have ye . . . ?** Septuagint reads, "why hast thou? "Figure of speech *Erotesis* ( App-6 ).
**congregation** = assembly.

**wherefore . . . ?** Figure of speech *Erotesis.* App-6 .
**evil.** See App-44 .
**or of.** Note Figure of speech *Paradiastole,* App-6 , to emphasize the three items: figs, vines, and pomegranates. figs, vines, . . . pomegranates. See note on [Numbers 13:23](../../../kjv/numbers/13/23) .

**door** = entrance.
**tabernacle** = tent. Hebrew. *'ohel.* See App-40 .

**spake.** See note on [Numbers 1:1](../../../kjv/numbers/1/1) .

**the rod.** Compare [Numbers 17:5](../../../kjv/numbers/17/5) . Some think (from [Numbers 20:9](../../../kjv/numbers/20/9) ) the rod "from before the testimony", as in [Numbers 17:10](../../../kjv/numbers/17/10) ; but [Numbers 20:11](../../../kjv/numbers/20/11) it is "his rod".
**assembly** = congregation.
**speak ye unto the rock** . Not "smite" as in [Numbers 20:11](../../../kjv/numbers/20/11) .

**as** = according as.

**said.** He spoke to the People instead of to the rock.
**must we . . . ?** Figure of speech *Erotesis.* App-6 .

**his:** i.e. Moses' tribal rod. Compare [Numbers 20:8](../../../kjv/numbers/20/8) .
**smote.** Instead of speaking.
**twice.** Showing the heat of his feeling.
**drank.** Compare [1 Corinthians 10:4](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/10/4) , and see note there.

**believed Me not.** So Moses entered not in, because of unbelief.
**Me.** Hence called "rebellion" in [Numbers 20:24](../../../kjv/numbers/20/24) with [Numbers 27:14](../../../kjv/numbers/27/14) . Compare [Deuteronomy 32:51](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/51) . Compare "we" in [Numbers 20:10](../../../kjv/numbers/20/10) .
**in the eyes, &c.** His complaint in [Numbers 11:21-23](../../../kjv/numbers/11/21-23) was not public.

**Meribah** = contention. [Psalms 106:32](../../../kjv/psalms/106/32) , &c.
**He was sanctified** = He hallowed Himself. See note on "holy", [Exodus 3:5](../../../kjv/exodus/3/5) . Compare [Ezekiel 38:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/38/23) .

**befallen us** = "found us". Figure of speech *Prosopopoeia.* App-6 .

**behold.** Figure of speech *Asterismos* ( App-6 ), to emphasize the importance of the place. See notes on [Numbers 20:1](../../../kjv/numbers/20/1) .

**wells.** Hebrew. *beer.* See note on [Genesis 21:19](../../../kjv/genesis/21/19) .

**by me** = through me. "Me" put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Adjunct), App-6 , for "my country".

**without doing any thing else.** Hebrew "without a word": i.e. without [saying] a word. Figure of speech *Ellipsis.* App-6 .

**turned away.** Compare [Judges 11:18](../../../kjv/judges/11/18) . [Deuteronomy 2:4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/2/4) , [Deuteronomy 2:5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/2/5) .

**Kadesh.** See notes on [Numbers 20:1](../../../kjv/numbers/20/1) , and Compare [Numbers 33:37](../../../kjv/numbers/33/37) .
**Hor.** Compare [Numbers 33:37](../../../kjv/numbers/33/37) .

**gathered.** Figure of speech *Euphemismos* ( App-6 ) for dying = die, and be buried as all his fathers were, *Sheol* being *the* grave. See App-35 . Compare [Genesis 25:8](../../../kjv/genesis/25/8) . [Psalms 26:9](../../../kjv/psalms/26/9) . [Acts 13:36](../../../kjv/acts/13/36) .
**word.** Hebrew "mouth". Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for what was spoken by it. Compare [Numbers 20:12](../../../kjv/numbers/20/12) .

**unto his people.** Figure of speech *Ellipsis,* supplied from [Numbers 20:24](../../../kjv/numbers/20/24) .

**as** = according as.

**top of the mount.** Compare [Genesis 8:4](../../../kjv/genesis/8/4) ; [Genesis 22:2](../../../kjv/genesis/22/2) .[Exodus 19](../../../kjv/exodus/19) . [Matthew 5:1](../../../kjv/matthew/5/1) .[Ezekiel 40:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/2) .[Revelation 21:10](../../../kjv/revelation/21/10) . [Deuteronomy 34:1-5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/34/1-5) .[Matthew 17:1-3](../../../kjv/matthew/17/1-3) .

**saw.** Hebrew. *ra'ah,* to perceive, understand. Compare [Genesis 16:13](../../../kjv/genesis/16/13) ; [Genesis 42:1](../../../kjv/genesis/42/1) .[Exodus 20:18](../../../kjv/exodus/20/18) .
**dead.** The death of Aaron coincides with the end of the wanderings.
**the house of Israel.** See note on [Exodus 16:31](../../../kjv/exodus/16/31) ; one of the thirteen occurrences of the expression before the division of the two kingdoms; and compare note on [1 Kings 12:17](../../../kjv/1-kings/12/17) .

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