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 turn back and come in unto En-Mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smite the whole field of the Amalekite, and also the Amorite who is dwelling in Hazezon-Tamar.
and the sons of Israel journey in their journeyings from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud doth tabernacle in the wilderness of Paran;
And what the land is, whether it is fat or lean; whether there is wood in it or not; and ye have strengthened yourselves, and have taken of the fruit of the land;' and the days are days of the first-fruits of grapes. And they go up and spy the land, from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob at the going in to Hamath;
And they turn back from spying the land at the end of forty days. And they go and come in unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto all the company of the sons of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and they bring them and all the company back word, and shew them the fruit of the land.
And they presume to go up unto the top of the mountain, and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and Moses have not departed out of the midst of the camp.
And the sons of Israel come in, -- all the company -- to the wilderness of Zin, in the first month, and the people abide in Kadesh, and Miriam dieth there, and is buried there.
And the sons of Israel come in, -- all the company -- to the wilderness of Zin, in the first month, and the people abide in Kadesh, and Miriam dieth there, and is buried there. And there hath been no water for the company, and they are assembled against Moses, and against Aaron, read more. and the people strive with Moses, and speak, saying, 'And oh that we had expired when our brethren expired before Jehovah! and why have ye brought in the assembly of Jehovah unto this wilderness to die there, we and our beasts? and why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to bring us in unto this evil place? no place of seed, and fig, and vine, and pomegranate; and water there is none to drink. And Moses and Aaron go in from the presence of the assembly unto the opening of the tent of meeting, and fall on their faces, and the honour of Jehovah is seen by them. And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 'Take the rod, and assemble the company, thou and Aaron thy brother; and ye have spoken unto the rock before their eyes, and it hath given its water, and thou hast brought out to them water from the rock, and hast watered the company, and their beasts.' read more. And Moses taketh the rod from before Jehovah, as He hath commanded him, and Moses and Aaron assemble the assembly unto the front of the rock, and he saith to them, 'Hear, I pray you, O rebels, from this rock do we bring out to you water?' and Moses lifteth up his hand, and smiteth the rock with his rod twice; and much water cometh out, and the company drink, also their beasts. And Jehovah saith unto Moses, and unto Aaron, 'Because ye have not believed in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore ye do not bring in this assembly unto the land which I have given to them.'
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, and unto Aaron, 'Because ye have not believed in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore ye do not bring in this assembly unto the land which I have given to them.' These are waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel have 'striven' with Jehovah, and He is sanctified upon them.
These are waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel have 'striven' with Jehovah, and He is sanctified upon them. And Moses sendeth messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, 'Thus said thy brother Israel, Thou -- thou hast known all the travail which hath found us;
And Moses sendeth messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, 'Thus said thy brother Israel, Thou -- thou hast known all the travail which hath found us; that our fathers go down to Egypt, and we dwell in Egypt many days, and the Egyptians do evil to us and to our fathers; read more. and we cry unto Jehovah, and He heareth our voice, and sendeth a messenger, and is bringing us out of Egypt; and lo, we are in Kadesh, a city in the extremity of thy border.
and we cry unto Jehovah, and He heareth our voice, and sendeth a messenger, and is bringing us out of Egypt; and lo, we are in Kadesh, a city in the extremity of thy border. Let us pass over, we pray thee, through thy land; we pass not over through a field, or through a vineyard, nor do we drink waters of a well; the way of the king we go, we turn not aside -- right or left -- till that we pass over thy border.' read more. And Edom saith unto him, 'Thou dost not pass over through me, lest with sword I come out to meet thee.' And the sons of Israel say unto him, 'In the highway we go, and if of thy waters we drink -- I and my cattle -- then I have given their price; only (it is nothing) on my feet I pass over.' And he saith, 'Thou dost not pass over;' and Edom cometh out to meet him with much people, and with a strong hand; and Edom refuseth to suffer Israel to pass over through his border, and Israel turneth aside from off him. And the sons of Israel, the whole company, journey from Kadesh, and come in unto mount Hor,
And the sons of Israel, the whole company, journey from Kadesh, and come in unto mount Hor, and Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron in mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying, read more. 'Aaron is gathered unto his people, for he doth not go in unto the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because that ye provoked My mouth at the waters of Meribah. 'Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and cause them to go up mount Hor, and strip Aaron of his garments, and thou hast clothed with them Eleazar his son, and Aaron is gathered, and doth die there.' And Moses doth as Jehovah hath commanded, and they go up unto mount Hor before the eyes of all the company, and Moses strippeth Aaron of his garments, and clotheth with them Eleazar his son, and Aaron dieth there on the top of the mount; and Moses cometh down -- Eleazar also -- from the mount,
'Thus did your fathers in my sending them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land;
and they journey from Hazeroth, and encamp in Rithmah. And they journey from Rithmah, and encamp in Rimmon-Parez;
And they journey from Rithmah, and encamp in Rimmon-Parez; and they journey from Rimmon-Parez, and encamp in Libnah. read more. And they journey from Libnah, and encamp in Rissah; and they journey from Rissah, and encamp in Kehelathah. And they journey from Kehelathah, and encamp in mount Shapher; and they journey from mount Shapher, and encamp in Haradah. And they journey from Haradah, and encamp in Makheloth; and they journey from Makheloth, and encamp in Tahath. And they journey from Tahath, and encamp in Tarah; and they journey from Tarah, and encamp in Mithcah. And they journey from Mithcah, and encamp in Hashmonah; and they journey from Hashmonah, and encamp in Moseroth. And they journey from Moseroth, and encamp in Bene-Jaakan; and they journey from Bene-Jaakan, and encamp at Hor-Hagidgad. And they journey from Hor-Hagidgad, and encamp in Jotbathah; and they journey from Jotbathah, and encamp in Ebronah. And they journey from Ebronah, and encamp in Ezion-Gaber; and they journey from Ezion-Gaber, and encamp in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. And they journey from Kadesh, and encamp in mount Hor, in the extremity of the land of Edom. And Aaron the priest goeth up unto mount Hor, by the command of Jehovah, and dieth there, in the fortieth year of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first of the month;
And they journey from mount Hor, and encamp in Zalmonah; and they journey from Zalmonah, and encamp in Punon. read more. And they journey from Punon, and encamp in Oboth; and they journey from Oboth, and encamp in Ije-Abarim, in the border of Moab. And they journey from Iim, and encamp in Dibon-Gad; and they journey from Dibon-Gad, and encamp in Almon-Diblathaim. And they journey from Almon-Diblathaim, and encamp in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo; and they journey from the mountains of Abarim, and encamp in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, near Jericho. And they encamp by the Jordan from Beth-Jeshimoth, unto Abel-Shittim, in the plains of Moab.
'And Jehovah heareth the voice of your words, and is wroth, and sweareth, saying, Not one of these men of this evil generation doth see the good land which I have sworn to give to your fathers, read more. save Caleb son of Jephunneh -- he doth see it, and to him I give the land on which he hath trodden, and to his sons, because that he hath been fully after Jehovah. 'Also with me hath Jehovah been angry for your sake, saying, Also, thou dost not go in thither; Joshua son of Nun, who is standing before thee, he goeth in thither; him strengthen thou; for he doth cause Israel to inherit. 'And your infants, of whom ye have said, For a prey they are, and your sons who have not known to-day good and evil, they go in thither, and to them I give it, and they possess it; and ye, turn for yourselves, and journey toward the wilderness, the way of the Red Sea. And ye answer and say unto me, We have sinned against Jehovah; we -- we go up, and we have fought, according to all that which Jehovah our God hath commanded us; and ye gird on each his weapons of war, and ye are ready to go up into the hill-country; and Jehovah saith unto me, Say to them, Ye do not go up, nor fight, for I am not in your midst, and ye are not smitten before your enemies. 'And I speak unto you, and ye have not hearkened, and provoke the mouth of Jehovah, and act proudly, and go up into the hill-country; and the Amorite who is dwelling in that hill-country cometh out to meet you, and they pursue you as the bees do, and smite you in Seir -- unto Hormah. 'And ye turn back and weep before Jehovah, and Jehovah hath not hearkened to your voice, nor hath he given ear unto you; and ye dwell in Kadesh many days, according to the days which ye had dwelt.
'And we turn, and journey into the wilderness, the way of the Red Sea, as Jehovah hath spoken unto me, and we go round the mount of Seir many days.
and it hath gone out unto the south to Maaleh-Akrabbim, and passed over to Zin, and gone up on the south to Kadesh-Barnea, and passed over to Hezron, and gone up to Adar, and turned round to Karkaa,
And the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah are unto the border of Edom in the south, 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, Hezron, (it is Hazor,) Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, and Hazar-Gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-Palet,
The voice of Jehovah paineth a wilderness, Jehovah paineth the wilderness of Kadesh.
And they cause wrath by the waters of Meribah, And it is evil to Moses for their sakes, For they have provoked his spirit, And he speaketh wrongfully with his lips.
And the south quarter southward is from Tamar unto the waters of Meriboth-Kadesh, the stream unto the great sea: and this is the south quarter southward.
and by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border hath been from Tamar to the waters of Meriboth-Kadesh, the stream by the great sea.