Numbers 20:18-29

¹⁸But the king of Edom replied, “You are forbidden to travel through our country, otherwise we will come out and stop you by force.”

¹⁹“We'll keep to the main road,” the Israelites persisted. “If we or our livestock drink your water, we'll pay you for it. That's all we want—just to pass through on foot.”

²⁰But the king of Edom insisted, “You are forbidden to travel through our country!” He came out with his large and powerful army to meet the Israelites head-on.

²¹Since the king of Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through his territory, the Israelites had to turn back.

²²The Israelites all left Kadesh and traveled to Mount Hor.

²³At Mount Hor, near the border with the country of Edom, the Lord told Moses and Aaron,

²⁴“Aaron will shortly join his forefathers in death. He will not enter the country I have given the Israelites, because you both disobeyed my command at the waters of Meribah.

²⁵Have Aaron and his son Eleazar join you and climb up Mount Hor together.

²⁶Take off Aaron's priestly clothes and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron is going to die there and join his forefathers in death.”

²⁷Moses did as the Lord ordered: They climbed up Mount Hor in full view of all the Israelites.

²⁸Moses removed the priestly clothes that Aaron was wearing and put them on Aaron's son Eleazar. Aaron died there, on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar went back down.

²⁹When the people realized that Aaron had died, they all mourned for him for thirty days.