Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 20:12

12 And the LORD spake unto Moses, and Aaron, Because ye believed me not , to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel , therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land: which I have given them.

But shewed your infidelity: which they did, either by their looks and gestures, or rather by the matter and manner of their expressions, and actions, either 1. by smiting the rock, and that twice, which is emphatically noted, as if he doubted whether once smiting would have done it, whereas he was not commanded to smite so much as once, but onely to speak to it: or 2. by the doubtfulness of these words, ver. 10. Must we fetch water out of the rock? which implies a suspicion of it, as the like words do, Gen. 18. 13. whereas they should have spoken positively and confidently to the rock to give forth waters. And yet they did not doubt of the power of God, but of his will, whether he would gratify these rebels with this further miracle after so many of the like kind. And besides the words themselves, it is considerable, both with what mind they were spoken, which God saw to be distrustful, and in what manner they were delivered, which the people might discern to come from disbelief or doubt. And there might be divers other unbelieving words used by them at this time and place, though they be not here recorded, it being usual in Scripture to give onely the summe or principal heads of discourses or events, leaving the rest to be gathered out of them. See Psal. 106. 32, 33.

(i. e.) To give me glory of my power in doing this miracle, and of my truth in punctually fulfilling my promise so to do, and of my goodness in doing it notwithstanding the peoples perverseness.

This made their sin scandalous, to the Israelites, who of themselves were too prone to infidelity and little needed such an ill example, to prevent the contagion whereof God leaves a monument of his great displeasure upon them, and inflicts a punishment as publick and manifest as their sin was.

Marginal references: chap. 27. 14. Deut. 1. 37. & 3. 26. & 32. 51.; Heb. not in [illegible: 1 word].