And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom,
God speaks to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the edge of Edom's land. Edom, Israel's own relatives, had just refused to let them pass. What God says next is not about Edom at all, but about Aaron: the sentence passed at Meribah is now due.
The place: turned aside at Edom's border
Israel is at Mount Hor because Edom, their own relatives, refused them the road. Writers see a pattern here: opposition from people tied to God's people by blood.
J. N. DarbyBut Israel's wandering is drawing to its close, and we now come to the enemies who oppose its ending, and the people's entry into the land they longed for. Edom, full of jealousy, will not let the way be shortened; Israel turns away from him. Some people oppose us, driven by relentless hatred. Yet it is right to turn away from them, because of some outward relationship between them and ourselves. We must know how to recognise them. God will judge them in His own time; our hand must not be on them.
The opposition here comes from closer to home than before.
The Bible TreasuryAt this stage of the journey (Num. 20:14) Satan's opposition shows itself — not in the hatred of strangers, nor in their own rebellion, but in the open hostility of relatives. When the issue lies between God and the world, natural relationships are no guarantee against hatred. We find it here, as in the gospel. "And a person's enemies will be those of his own household" (Matt. 10:36). Moses sent to the king of Edom saying, "your brother Israel," and Edom's answer is a threat.
The reason: what happened at Meribah
The next verse points back to the waters of Meribah. What Moses said at the rock put himself and Aaron where God should have been.
F. B. HoleAnd it was not only a matter of what he did but also of what he said. It was true enough that the people were sadly rebellious in heart. He was not wrong to address them as "you rebels." But he also said, "shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" With those words he presented himself and Aaron as the doers of the miracle, instead of lifting the people's thoughts up to God Himself. God did not fail: He gave a generous response. Even so, His disciplinary action fell on both Moses and Aaron. Neither of them would be allowed to lead the people into the land.
Grace and government
Why should two men so honoured be shut out of Canaan? Writers answer by separating God's grace from His government of His people on earth.
C. H. MackintoshThe reader will do well to ponder deeply the subject of grace and government. It may seem astonishing to us, hard to understand, that one so loved as Moses should be refused entrance into the promised land. But in this we see the solemn working of divine government, and we have to bow our heads and worship.
High office gave no shelter. The same writer sets Aaron beside two others who lost what they held for the same reason.
C. H. MackintoshWeighty words were spoken to Saul, when he had failed to obey the word of the Lord. So we have before us examples of a prophet, a priest and a king, all judged under the government of God for an act of disobedience. The prophet and the priest lost their entrance into the land of Canaan, and the king lost his throne. The reason was simple: they disobeyed the word of the Lord.
Death announced in advance
The way Aaron leaves is unusual.
F. B. HoleThe time had now come for Aaron to disappear. As with Moses a little later, God gave notice of his death in advance. He had no period of weakness and no sickbed, for he could climb to the top of a mountain in the sight of the people. There, stripped of his garments, which were placed on his son, he died. The Aaronic priesthood was for earth, so it could be handed on, "because they were prevented by death from continuing in office" (Heb. 7:23).
Eleazar, and priesthood that outlives death
The priesthood does not end at Mount Hor. It passes to a son who stands for someone greater.
Samuel RidoutNext, Aaron passes away. His priestly garments of glory and beauty pass to his son Eleazar. Eleazar is a picture of Christ in resurrection, and only a risen Christ gives power for true priesthood. It is the risen Lord who is our Priest.
Summary
- Place — God speaks at Mount Hor because Edom, a relative by blood, has barred the road. Hostility can come from those nearest. Israel turns aside instead of fighting.
- Cause — Aaron dies outside the land because of Meribah. There he and Moses put themselves forward as the ones fetching the water, instead of pointing the people to God.
- Government — God governs His own people on earth. A prophet, a priest and a king each lost their place for disobeying His word.
- Manner — no illness and no surprise: Aaron is told beforehand and walks up the mountain in full view of the people.
- Continuation — the garments pass to Eleazar. Death cuts short the earthly priesthood, so it must be handed on. It points to a Priest death cannot replace.