Numbers 20 in the early church

90 passages quote, allude to, or echo Numbers 20, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 17 · 19 · 20 · 24 · 25 · 28 · 29

Numbers 20:1

In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:1Letter 78.35 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:1Exposition of Psalm 118 18.29.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Num 20:1–8Numbers, lines 473–497 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Numbers 20:2

Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:2–13On the Life of Moses 323 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 385–395
Num 20:2–11On the Life of Moses 413 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 385–395
Num 20:2–13Part 2, chapter 11 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Numbers 20:10

Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:10Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 575 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Num 20:10Homily on Isaiah 3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 235–250
Num 20:10Homilies on Numbers 6.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 20:10Homilies on the Psalms 48.4 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378
Num 20:10–12Sermon 352.4 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Num 20:10–29Numbers, lines 498–522 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Num 20:10–12Sermon 91 · Peter Chrysologusallusion, high confidenceca. 425-450

Numbers 20:11

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:11Commentary on John 6.240 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 230–248
Num 20:11Divine Institutes 4.10.9 · Lactantiusallusion, medium confidenceca. 303–311
Num 20:11Homilies 8.2 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 363-378
Num 20:11Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 10.8 · Egeriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 381-395
Num 20:11Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 11.2 · Egeriaallusion, high confidenceca. 381-395
Num 20:11Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 30 · Evagrius of Gaulallusion, medium confidenceca. 400
Num 20:11On Elijah and Fasting 15 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Num 20:11Hexameron (Exameron) 3.9 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-390
Num 20:11Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.58.5 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-397
Num 20:11Sermon 150.8 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Num 20:11Sermon 352.3 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
Num 20:11Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 12 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 394
Num 20:11Letters 33.2 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, medium confidenceca. 394–413
Num 20:11Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.17 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Num 20:11Tractates on the Gospel of John 26.12 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Num 20:11Tractates on the Gospel of John 28.9 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 406–420
Num 20:11City of God 10.8 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426
Num 20:11Sermon 43 · Peter Chrysologusallusion, high confidenceca. 425-450
Num 20:11Book 1, lines 141–162 · Seduliusallusion, medium confidenceca. 425-450
Num 20:11Hymn 1 (108 lines) · Seduliusallusion, medium confidenceca. 425-450
Num 20:11Book 1, section 11 · Seduliusallusion, medium confidenceca. 425-450
Num 20:11In Praise of the Desert 11 · Eucherius of Lyonallusion, medium confidenceca. 427-428

Numbers 20:12

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:12Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 575 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Num 20:12Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 803 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Num 20:12Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 20:12Homilies on Numbers 6.3 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 20:12Homilies on Numbers 22.3 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 20:12Letter 42 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 357–378
Num 20:12Homilies on the Psalms 48.4 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378
Num 20:12Tractates on the Psalms 52.12 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Num 20:12Against Parmenian the Donatist 7.1 · Optatus of Milevisallusion, medium confidenceca. 366–385
Num 20:12Letter 78.35 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:12Exposition of Psalm 118 21.20.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Num 20:12Homilies on Matthew 5.4 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
Num 20:12–13Against Jovinianus 2.4 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393
Num 20:12Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.16 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Num 20:12Apologetic Book 28.2 · Orosiusallusion, high confidenceca. 415–416

Numbers 20:13

These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:13Letter 78.35 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419

Numbers 20:14

From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:14–21Demonstration 11.9 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Num 20:14Letter 78.35 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:14Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 59.12.6 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, medium confidence374-377
Num 20:14–21:35On the Life of Moses 325 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 385–395
Num 20:14Exposition of Psalm 118 5.19.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397

Numbers 20:17

Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:17Miscellanies 4.2.5 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 198–203
Num 20:17Miscellanies 7.12.73 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 198–203
Num 20:17Homilies on Jeremiah 17.4 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 240
Num 20:17Preparation for the Gospel 6.6.48 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Num 20:17On Ecclesiastical Theology 1.8.1 · Eusebius of Caesareaecho, low confidenceca. 337–339
Num 20:17On Ecclesiastical Theology 3.3.1 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, medium confidenceca. 337–339
Num 20:17On Ecclesiastical Theology 3.3.13 · Eusebius of Caesareaecho, low confidenceca. 337–339
Num 20:17Catechetical Lecture 11.15 · Cyril of Jerusalemallusion, medium confidenceca. 350
Num 20:17Oration 2.33 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Num 20:17Oration 3.7 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Num 20:17Homilies 3.1 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 363-378
Num 20:17Letter 49.8 · Jeromeecho, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:17Letter 125.20 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:17Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 59.12.6 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, high confidence374-377
Num 20:17Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 59.12.7 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374-377
Num 20:17On the Life of Moses 417 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 385–395
Num 20:17On the Life of Moses 419 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, medium confidenceca. 385–395
Num 20:17Exposition of Psalm 118 5.19.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Num 20:17Exposition of Psalm 118 5.19.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Num 20:17Homily 11 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, medium confidenceca. 390–394
Num 20:17Against Jovinianus 1.14 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidence393
Num 20:17Letters 12.4 · Paulinus of Nolaquotation, high confidenceca. 394–413
Num 20:17The Institutes 11.4 · John Cassianecho, low confidenceca. 419–426

Numbers 20:19

“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:19Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 59.12.7 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377

Numbers 20:20

But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:20Letter 78.35 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419

Numbers 20:24

“Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:24Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 20:25

Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:25–26Letter 67.4 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Num 20:25–28Oration 16.1 · Gregory of Nazianzusecho, medium confidenceca. 362–383
Num 20:25–28Part 2, chapter 11 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Numbers 20:28

After Moses had removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:28On the Incarnation 37.1 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 318–325
Num 20:28Letter 78.36 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:28Exposition of Psalm 118 18.29.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397

Numbers 20:29

When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 20:29Letter 39.4 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 20:29Letter 78.36 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419