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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:1 | Letter 78.35 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Num 20:1 | Exposition of Psalm 118 18.29.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Num 20:1–8 | Numbers, lines 473–497 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Numbers 20:2
Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:2–13 | On the Life of Moses 323 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Num 20:2–11 | On the Life of Moses 413 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Num 20:2–13 | Part 2, chapter 11 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:10 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 575 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Num 20:10 | Homily on Isaiah 3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 235–250 |
| Num 20:10 | Homilies on Numbers 6.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Num 20:10 | Homilies on the Psalms 48.4 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| Num 20:10–12 | Sermon 352.4 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Num 20:10–29 | Numbers, lines 498–522 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
| Num 20:10–12 | Sermon 91 · Peter Chrysologus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
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.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:12 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 575 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Num 20:12 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 803 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Num 20:12 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Num 20:12 | Homilies on Numbers 6.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Num 20:12 | Homilies on Numbers 22.3 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Num 20:12 | Letter 42 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357–378 |
| Num 20:12 | Homilies on the Psalms 48.4 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| Num 20:12 | Tractates on the Psalms 52.12 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Num 20:12 | Against Parmenian the Donatist 7.1 · Optatus of Milevis | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 366–385 |
| Num 20:12 | Letter 78.35 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Num 20:12 | Exposition of Psalm 118 21.20.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Num 20:12 | Homilies on Matthew 5.4 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Num 20:12–13 | Against Jovinianus 2.4 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | 393 |
| Num 20:12 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 16.16 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Num 20:12 | Apologetic Book 28.2 · Orosius | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:13 | Letter 78.35 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:14–21 | Demonstration 11.9 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Num 20:14 | Letter 78.35 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Num 20:14 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 59.12.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, medium confidence | 374-377 |
| Num 20:14–21:35 | On the Life of Moses 325 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Num 20:14 | Exposition of Psalm 118 5.19.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.”
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.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:19 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 59.12.7 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, medium confidence | 374-377 |
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:20 | Letter 78.35 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:24 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
Numbers 20:25
Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:25–26 | Letter 67.4 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Num 20:25–28 | Oration 16.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | echo, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Num 20:25–28 | Part 2, chapter 11 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:28 | On the Incarnation 37.1 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 318–325 |
| Num 20:28 | Letter 78.36 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Num 20:28 | Exposition of Psalm 118 18.29.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
Numbers 20:29
When the whole congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Num 20:29 | Letter 39.4 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Num 20:29 | Letter 78.36 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |