The Death of Miriam and the Death of Aaron

The fortieth year began with losses. In the first month, at Kadesh, Miriam died — the girl who watched the basket on the Nile, argued with her father for the unborn, and led the women out with timbrels after the sea. The Torah immediately adds: and there was no water for the congregation. The well that travelled in her merit vanished with her. The people gathered against Moses and Aaron, and God said: take the staff, gather the assembly and speak to the rock. Moses said, listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock — and struck it twice. Water came out abundantly, but the verdict fell on both brothers: because you did not trust Me to sanctify Me before Israel, you shall not bring this assembly into the Land. Commentators have argued for centuries over the precise failure. On the first of Av, on Mount Hor, Moses removed Aaron's priestly garments and put them on his son Elazar; Aaron died there at a hundred and twenty-three, mourned for thirty days by the whole house of Israel.