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Numbers 20:3

Moses
Discouragement and depressionDoubt

1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

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

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD!
KJV
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
WEB
The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!
ASV
And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!
DARBY
And the people contended with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!
BLB
And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “And if only we had utterly perished [with] our brothers before the face of YHWH!
ÅB
Og folket kivedes med Moses og sa: Å, at vi var omkommet dengang våre brødre omkom for Herrens åsyn!
OTB
Folket trettet med Moses og sa: “Om vi bare hadde omkommet da våre brødre omkom for Herrens åsyn!
B1930
Og folket kivedes med Moses og sa: Å, at vi var omkommet dengang våre brødre omkom for Herrens åsyn!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 17:2

    Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

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  • Numbers 16:31–35

    And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

    Read in context

  • Numbers 14:1–2

    And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 16:2–3

    And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

    Read in context

  • Numbers 11:33–34

    And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

    Read in context

  • Numbers 16:49

    Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

    Read in context

  • Numbers 11:1

    And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

    Read in context

  • Job 3:10–11

    Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

    Read in context