Reference: Kadesh Barnea
Fausets
Ain el Weibeh in the Arabah, 10 miles N. of the place where Mount Hor abuts on that valley. Three fountains issue from the chalky rock. Here wady el Ghuweir affords access northwestwards through mountainous Edom; from here accordingly Moses sent to ask a passage through Edom by "the king's highway." Barnea = "son of wandering", i.e. Bedouin (Furst). "Country of convulsion," compare Ps 29:8 (Speaker's Commentary). "The wilderness of Kadesh," i.e. the desert adjoining Kadesh; the northern part of the Paran wilderness was called Zin (Nu 10:12; 13:21). The encampment from which the spies were sent and to which they returned (Nu 13:26; 32:8); sometimes called Kadesh alone. Meribah Kadesh is the same (Eze 47:19; 48:28 margin; Jos 15:3,23). The encampment at Kadesh is called Rithmah from retem, "the broom," the most conspicuous shrub of the desert (Nu 33:18).
Probably the encampment at Rithmah was during Israel's first march toward Canaan; that at Kadesh was in the same locality, though on a different spot, 38 years afterward, in the 40th year, when they were about entering Canaan. The ancient name of Kadesh was En Mishpat (Ge 14:7). El Ain (identified by some with Kadesh because this site is called Gadis and the neighbouring plain, Abu Retemet, is like Rithmah) is too far N.W., 70 miles from Mount Hor and 60 from Mount Seir; but Kadesh was only one march from Mount Hor (Nu 20:16,22; 33:37), "on the edge of Edom," "on its uttermost border"; on low ground (whereas El Ain is on high ground) from whence the spies "go up" to Canaan. A line drawn from E1 Ain to the river of Egypt (Jos 15:21-27) would cut the middle of the Negeb, and so cut away part of Judah's inheritance. The true Kadesh must be more S.; Petra or Selah was too far in the heart of Edom to be Judah's frontier, and "in the uttermost border of Edom."
However, Palmer identifies Kadesh with El Ain as "one of the natural borders of the country; the Tih, a comparative desert, the Negeb or South, Palestine, and Syria forming an ascending scale of fertility." The encampment at Rithmah (Nu 33:18-19) was in summer the second year after the Exodus (Nu 13:20), that at Kadesh in the same district the first month of the 40th year (Nu 20:1). At the first encampment Israel stayed probably for months; they waited for the spies 40 days (Nu 13:25); Moses and the tabernacle remained (Nu 14:44), while the people vainly tried to reverse God's sentence and to occupy Canaan (De 1:34-46): "ye abode in Kadesh many days" (a long indefinite time). Then Israel "compassed Mount Seir," i.e. wandered in the desert of Paran, until all that generation died (De 2:1).
In this period were the 17 stages, Nu 33:19-36. Lastly, Israel again was at Kadesh in the first month of the 40th year, and stayed for three or four months (Nu 20:1-28; 33:38). Here Miriam died and was buried. Here water failed, and Moses by impatient striking of the rock, attribution of the miracle to himself and Aaron ("must we fetch," etc.), and unbelief ("ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me") in the goodness of God to an unworthy people, dishonoured God, and he and Aaron were adjudged the penalty of not entering Canaan (Nu 20:12-13; compare Ps 106:32-33). From hence Moses sent to the king of Edom (Nu 20:14, etc.).
On the messengers' return Israel turned from Edom, leaving Kadesh finally, and after Aaron's death at Mount Hor marched around Edom to Moab (Nu 33:41-49). Kadesh ("holy") may have been named from the long presence of the sanctuary and priests. En Mishpat, "fountain of judgment," corresponds, judgment and sanctity emanating from the one divine source. Meribah Kadesh, "strife," is a perversion of judgment; the opposites in the one name marking graphically the sad events connected with Kadesh. Kadesh gradually sank to its original obscurity as a watering place for the nomads of the desert. The cliffs at the mouth of wady el Ghuweir near Ain el Weibeh, and in front of the host in marching eastward through Mount Seir, may have been the scene of Moses' striking the rock (cela, not tsuwr) (Nu 20:7 ff). Merely certain occurrences and enactments are recorded of the 38 years' wandering, in Nu 15-19.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
And what the land is, whether it is rich or poor, whether there be wood in it, or not. And be of good courage, and bring some of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath.
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
But they presumed to go up unto the mountaintop: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. read more. And the people contended with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! And why have you brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather you the assembly together, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth its water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock: so you shall give the congregation and their animals drink. read more. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he struck the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their animals also. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified among them.
This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified among them. And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, you know all the travail that has befallen us:
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, you know all the travail that has befallen us: How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians afflicted us, and our fathers: read more. And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and has brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border:
And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and has brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border: Let us pass, I pray you, through your country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's highway, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your borders. read more. And Edom said unto him, you shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with the sword. And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the highway: and if I and my cattle drink of your water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet. And he said, you shall not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: therefore Israel turned away from him. And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, read more. Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there. And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.
And they departed from Hazeroth, and encamped at Rithmah. And they departed from Rithmah, and encamped at Rimmonperez.
And they departed from Rithmah, and encamped at Rimmonperez. And they departed from Rimmonperez, and encamped at Libnah. read more. And they set out from Libnah, and encamped at Rissah. And they journeyed from Rissah, and encamped at Kehelathah. And they went from Kehelathah, and encamped at mount Shepher. And they set out from mount Shepher, and encamped at Haradah. And they set out from Haradah, and encamped at Makheloth. And they set out from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath. And they departed from Tahath, and encamped at Terah. And they set out from Terah, and encamped at Mithkah. And they went from Mithkah, and encamped at Hashmonah. And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth. And they departed from Moseroth, and encamped at Benejaakan. And they set out from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhaggidgad. And they went from Horhaggidgad, and encamped at Jotbathah. And they set out from Jotbathah, and encamped at Abronah. And they departed from Abronah, and encamped at Eziongeber. And they set out from Eziongeber, and encamped in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. And they set out from Kadesh, and encamped at mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.
And they departed from mount Hor, and encamped at Zalmonah. And they departed from Zalmonah, and encamped at Punon. read more. And they departed from Punon, and encamped at Oboth. And they departed from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, at the border of Moab. And they departed from Iyim, and encamped at Dibongad. And they set out from Dibongad, and encamped at Almondiblathaim. And they set out from Almondiblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho. And they encamped by the Jordan, from Bethjeshimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.
And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I swore to give unto your fathers, read more. Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he has trodden upon, and to his children, because he has wholly followed the LORD. Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, You also shall not go in there. But Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover your little ones, who you said should be a prey, and your children, who in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in there, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. Then you answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when you had girded on every man his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the hill. And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest you be smitten before your enemies. So I spoke unto you; and you would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. And the Amorites, who dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. And you returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you. So you abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that you abode there.
Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spoke unto me: and we went around mount Seir many days.
And it went out to the south side to Maalehakrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side of Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Addar, and turned about to Karka:
And the furthermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, read more. And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, read more. And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpelet,
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.
And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.
And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.