What did Moshe mean when he said that Hashem punished him 'because of them'?
Ramban: He meant either that the episode with the rock, which ended with his being punished, was the result of their quarrels (with Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu) or that he needed to strike the rock twice (not in accordance with Hashem's instructions 1 ) due to Yisrael's doubts. 2
Seforno: He meant that his punishment not to enter Eretz Yisrael (which they caused) was meted out to him in order to facilitate sending their children into Galus 3 and shed genuine tears annually - to bear the full brunt of the sin of the Meraglim. 4 And this would have been less severe had Moshe entered the Land together with them. 5
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: He meant that, when Moshe and Aharon said 'Shall we take water for you from the rock', the people thought that they [said it incredulously ? thinking that water would not emerge ? because they failed to explain that Hashem commanded them to say it. And Hashem was therefore angry with Moshe - because of them.
Oznayim la'Torah: 1:13:5:1. He therefore pointed out that, in his capacity as the leader who had erred by agreeing to send the spies, he was being punished on account of their sins. 6
Seforno: As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim, 106:26, 27 and in Yechezkel, 20:23.
Refer to Bamdbar 20:12:3:2* , 3. 6
It seems that also the Rosh says this, only a some words are missing. (PF)
See Oznayim la'Torah.
Why did Moshe mention his own punishment, seeing as he was only concerned with issues that were connected to the community at large, and even though it only took place at the end of forty years in the desert?
Ramban #1: He was reprimanding them for causing not only the barring of their entry into Eretz Yisrael, but also his. And he was making a point here of mentioning the punishment of all those who were barred from entering the Land.
Ramban #2: In order to mention Yehoshua 1 who would replace him as the new leader and who would take Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael, since he was being punished by means of a decree forbidding him to cross the Yarden.
Seforno: Refer to 1:37:1:2.
In the following Pasuk.
