Бамидбар 20:2 Комментарий: Rashi, Kli Yakar, Tur HaArokh & Rabbeinu Bahya

ולא היה מים לעדה AND THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE CONGREGATION — Since this statement follows immediately after the mention of Miriam’s death, we may learn from it that during the entire forty years they had the “well” through Miriam’s merit (Taanit 9a).

And there was no water for the congregation. As a form of punishment, they lacked water because they did not eulogize her [Miriam] properly. For regarding Moses and Aaron it says, and the children of Israel wept for them, but here it does not say “and they wept for her.” And it says, she died there and was buried there — in the place where she died, there was her burial immediately, and she was forgotten like a dead person from the heart, and they did not feel her absence at all. Therefore, the water was withheld from them so that they would retroactively know that the well was in Miriam’s merit. And our Sages (Moed Katan 28a) said that her death was placed adjacent to the section of the Red Heifer to tell you that just as sacrifices atone, so too the death of the righteous atones. And why was it specifically placed adjacent to the Red Heifer? Because in truth it is not a sacrifice unless we find the scripture calls it a sin-offering Numbers 19:9. But the main reason is that just as the heifer comes to clean its child’s filth, so too the righteous woman, the mother of all living, through her death cleanses the filth of her descendants.

-3. ויקהלו העם על משה ועל אהרן וירב העם עם משה, “The people gathered against Moses and Aaron and they quarreled with Moses.” Although they gathered against both Moses and Aaron, their principal target was Moses with whom they started quarrelling.