Numbers
20:14-22 is self-explanatory. The ancestor of Edom was Esau, Jacob’s brother.
Therefore, when Israel (the descendents of Jacob) call Edom brothers, they are
appealing to common ancestry. This passage doesn’t say why Edom refuses passage
to the Israelites, even though Israel says they will only go on the highways
and will pay for any incidentals. Edom comes out in a show of military
strength, forcing Israel to take the long way around Edom.
I note that
there is no mention of the pillar of cloud during this interval. Was the pillar
tarrying with the Israelite camp while the messengers spoke with Edom? I assume
so, but I don’t know.
In verses
23-26, the LORD commands Moses and Aaron to bring Aaron’s son Eleazar to Mount
Hor, to pass the priesthood to Eleazar, for Aaron will die. He is to die
because of their sin at the waters of Meribah.
In the
sight of the congregation, Moses, Aaron and Eleazar go. On the mountain, Moses
strips Aaron of the priestly garments and puts them on Eleazar. Then Aaron dies.
I don’t
know what happened to Aaron’s body. Because Moses and Eleazar are Levites and
Eleazar is now high priest, he can’t touch his father’s body. Verse 28 says
that Moses and Eleazar come down from the mount. Already these men have
experienced the loss of family members; already they have had to follow
Levitical law through and in spite of grieving.
When the
congregation sees Aaron is dead, they mourn him for 30 days. Aaron: father, brother,
spokesperson, high priest. He served and walked with the living God.
Looking at Aaron's life, I note one certain lasting quality in Aaron: he raised his son Eleazar in the things of God. Eleazar performs
his duties well. Eleazar then raises a son, Phinehas, who is a man of quality
himself. (Don’t confuse this Phinehas with the priest Eli’s son Phinehas, who
was not of this quality.) The good Phinehas will show up in crucial times for
Israel. Watch for him to show up in Numbers 25.
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