And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

NUMBERS 20:2KJV
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Numbers 20:2 (KJV)

What does Numbers 20:2 mean?

Numbers 20:2 describes a crisis where the Israelites have no water, leading the whole community to come together and confront Moses and Aaron. The verse shows the people’s frustration and the beginning of a conflict between the leaders and the congregation.

At this point in the story, the Israelites are traveling through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Moses and Aaron are leading them, but the lack of water creates a desperate situation. The verse sets the stage for the events that follow, where the people’s need and anxiety push them to challenge their leaders.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 20:2

  • The word for "water" is מַיִם (mayim), which simply means water, highlighting the basic and urgent need the people faced.
  • "Congregation" comes from עֵדָה (edah), which refers to the whole gathered community of Israelites, not just a small group.
  • "Gathered" is from קָהַל (qahal), meaning to assemble or come together, often used for public gatherings, which here suggests a unified action by the people against their leaders.

Why Numbers 20:2 matters

  • This verse marks the beginning of a significant conflict that will shape the rest of the chapter, showing how physical needs can quickly lead to tension and confrontation.
  • The use of the word עֵדָה (edah) emphasizes that it was the entire community, not just a few troublemakers, who were dissatisfied, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain why Moses and Aaron respond so strongly in the following verses, as they are facing the pressure of the whole nation’s demands.

Where else these words appear

“gathered” Hebrew H6950 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
  • Deuteronomy 4:10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
  • 2 Chronicles 5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

“congregation” Hebrew H5712 · used in 140 verses

  • Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
  • Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.