Reference: WANDERINGS OF THE ISRAELITES
American
See EXODUS. The following tabular view of their various encampments, so far as they are recorded in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, is from Dr. Robinson's Biblical Researches. The "great and terrible wilderness" between mount Sinai and Palestine is still known by the Arabs as Et-Tyh, or the Wanderings.
Morish
The Israelites were always directed by God as to their journeyings and when and where to pitch their tents. It was God who caused them to 'wander' because of their sin. Nu 32:13.
The accounts of the journeys of the children of Israel have not escaped the unwarrantable attacks to which many parts of scripture have been subjected. Though many of the places mentioned cannot now be identified, and therefore the actual path trodden cannot be traced, yet enough is recorded to show in the main what their route was, and to prove that the several records do not clash one with another. The passage quoted above speaks of the wanderings occupying forty years, yet it was after their first visit to Kadesh-barnea in the 2nd year that their real 'wanderings' began.
Travellers have visited the districts along which the Israelites are supposed to have travelled, and have not hesitated to say that the cattle and sheep of the Israelites could not possibly have found pasture or fodder on which to have lived.
We read that they brought out of Egypt 'flocks and herds,' and in Ex 12:38 "very much cattle" is mentioned. Before crossing the Jordan the two and a half tribes are described as having "a great multitude of cattle," but this was after the Midianites had been destroyed, and most of the cattle and sheep may have fallen to these tribes, the other tribes taking "the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead" with other spoils.
The Israelites were forbidden to graze their flocks and herds "before the mount." And this implies that there was pasture there for them; the Amalekites also dwelt there, and doubtless had cattle. Ex 17:8; 34:3. The actual state of the desert now is no proof of what it was then. It is well known that the Bedouins do not encourage cultivation, and they have destroyed the trees extensively in order to make charcoal, which they can always sell, and this decreases the fertility. A traveller records that "the gardens at the Wells of Moses, under the French and English agents from Suez, and the gardens in the valleys of Jebel Musa, under the care of the Greek monks of the Convent of St. Catherine" are proofs of the fertility of the ground under culture.
The barren state of the desert in general does not preclude the fact that parts of it are fertile. There are few parts of the Sinai Peninsula that do not show signs of vegetation. The numerous valleys of the Sinaitic group of mountains are full of shrubs and grass.
Much farther north, near Kadesh, the Amalekites and Canaanites were able to live in the mountain. Nu 14:40-45.
It is therefore useless and unbelieving to draw conclusions from the present aspect of the land through which the Israelites travelled. If they continued to have much cattle, God could as easily have provided for their cattle as have given them manna from heaven for themselves.
The first part of their journey from Egypt was from Rameses to the Red Sea. Rameses was on the east of the Nile, but some place it farther north than others. The western branch of the Red Sea doubtless then extended farther north than it does at present, and it cannot be ascertained at what point the sea was crossed. The stations are
Ex. 12. Num. 33.
Rameses, Ex 12:37. | Rameses, Nu 33:3.
Succoth, Ex 12:37. | Succoth, Nu 33:5.
Etham, Ex 13:20. | Etham, Nu 33:6.
Pi-hahiroth, Ex 14:2. | Pi-hahiroth, Nu 33:7.
Passage through the Red Sea, | Passage through the Red Sea
Ex 14:22, and three days' march | and three days' march in the
into the desert of Shur, Ex 15:22 | desert of Etham, Nu 33:8.
It will be noticed that in Numbers, Etham is mentioned on both sides of the Red Sea. The word has been interpreted 'boundary of the sea' (a meaning which F?rst thinks doubtful, but gives no other): if so, it might apply to either side. The desert of Etham may have swept round the end of the Gulf of Suez, as in some maps.
The second part of their journey was from the Red Sea to Mount Sinai, on the east side of the Gulf of Suez. The wilderness of Sin, Mount Sinai, and Horeb are in the main identified. The stations are
Marah Ex 15:23. | Marah, Nu 33:8.
Elim, Ex 15:27. | Elim, Nu 33:9.
| Encampment by the Red Sea,
| Nu 33:10.
Desert of Sin, Ex 16:1. | Desert of Sin, Nu 33:11.
| Dophkah, Nu 33:12.
| Alush. Nu 33:13.
Rephidim, Ex 17:1. | Rephidim, Nu 33:14.
Desert of Sinai, Ex 19:1, in the | Desert of Sinai, Nu 33:15.
third month of the first year. |
In the wilderness of Sinai the Israelites remained until the second month of the second year, during which period the law was given. Nu 10:11; 33:16.
The third part of their journey was from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, some eighty miles farther north. In this journey only three intermediate stations are mentioned.
Taberah, Nu 11:3; De 9:22 |
Kibroth-hattaavah, Nu 11:34. | Kibroth-hattaavah, Nu 33:16.
Hazeroth, Nu 11:35. | Hazeroth, Nu 33:17.
Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran | Rithmah, Nu 33:18.
Num., 12:16; Num.13:1-26. |
At Taberah the fire of the Lord burnt among them. At Kibroth-hattaavah the people lusted for flesh: quails were given them, and then God sent upon them a very great plague. Nu 11:4,31-34. At Hazeroth Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, and Miriam was smitten with leprosy. Nu 12:10. The above shows that Kadesh is in the same locality as Rithmah, from whence the spies were despatched. The spies are not mentioned in Num. 33.
There was a prolonged stay at Kadesh or Rithmah in the wilderness of Paran. The return of the spies was waited for. The rebellion broke out on the report of the faithless spies, and God sware they should not enter the land, but should wander in the wilderness that all the men who came out of Egypt might die except Caleb and Joshua. In defiance of this they invaded the land, and were attacked by the Amalekites. Nu 14:33-45. Then followed the rebellion of Korah. Num. 16.
Apparently the Israelites spent about thirty-seven years in travelling three times between Kadesh and Ezion-gaber, at the corner of the Gulf of Akaba, but many of the stations cannot be identified; some may have been situated farther to the west. It is not, however, recorded how long they remained at the various places, and it is possible that some of them are not included in the lists.
By comparing Nu 20:22-29 with De 10:6 it will be seen that Mosera and Mount Hor are regarded as the same place, Mosera, or Moseroth, being situated at the foot of Mount Hor. Mosera is therefore a recognised place to which they travelled when the real 'wanderings' began. They removed from Kadesh, or Rithmah, to Rimmon-parez, and then to other stations till they arrived at Mosera, or Mount Hor, the first time, though it seems but a short distance. Nu 33:19-30.
From Mosera they travelled southward to Ezion-gaber, there being four stations between. Nu 33:31-35.
From Ezion-gaber they turned and travelled northward again and arrived at Kadesh or Kadesh-barnea a second time, no stations being mentioned between those two distant places. At Kadesh Miriam died. The people murmured, and the rock was smitten, on which occasion Moses and Aaron offended. Nu 20:1-13.
From Kadesh they travelled to Mount Hor, without any station being mentioned between them, unless Beeroth in De 10:6 comes in here. At Mount Hor Aaron died and was buried. Nu 33:37-38. They were attacked by King Arad the Canaanite, who was defeated and his cities destroyed. Nu 21:1-3.
The King of Edom having refused to let the Israelites pass through his land necessitated their journeying again to the Red Sea in order to compass the land of Edom (perhaps passing Gudgodah and Jotbath, De 10:7, in the route). Nu 20:14-21; 21:4. From the Red Sea their route is plainly on the east of Edom and the Salt Sea until they arrived opposite Jericho, where their wanderings ended.
From Mount Hor by the way of the | By Elath and Ezion-gaber, De 2:8.
Red Sea, Nu 21:4. |
| Zalmonah, Nu 33:41.
| Punon, Nu 33:42.
Oboth. Nu 21:10. | Oboth, Nu 33:43.
Ije-abarim, Nu 21:11. | Ije-abarim, or Iim, Nu 33:44-45.
De 2:13-14. |
De 2:24. |
| Dibon-gad, Nu 33:45,
Beer, in the desert, Nu 21:1
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Thus took the children of Israel their journey from Rameses to Succoth; six hundred thousand men of foot, beside children.
Thus took the children of Israel their journey from Rameses to Succoth; six hundred thousand men of foot, beside children. And much common people went also with them, and sheep, and oxen, and cattle exceeding much.
And they took their journey from Succoth: and pitched their tents in Etham in the edge of the wilderness.
"Bid the children of Israel that they turn and pitch their tents before the entering of Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea toward Baalzephon: even before that shall ye pitch upon the sea.
Moses brought Israel from the reed sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur. And they went three days long in the wilderness, and could find no water. At the last they came to Marah: but they could not drink of the waters for bitterness, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of the place was called Marah.
And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water and seventy date trees, and they pitched there by the water.
And they took their journey from Elim, and all the whole company of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which lieth between Elim and Sinai, the fifteenth day of the second month after that they were come out of the land of Egypt.
And all the company of the children of Israel went on their journeys from the wilderness of Sin at the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: where was no water for the people to drink.
Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
The third month after the children of Israel were gone out of Egypt: the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
But let no man come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount, neither let sheep nor oxen feed before the hill."
And it came to pass the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the habitation of witness.
And they called the name of the place Taberah because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. And the rascal people that was among them fell a lusting. And the children of Israel also went to, and wept, and said, "Who shall give us flesh to eat?
And there went forth a wind from the LORD and brought quails from the sea and let them fall about the host, even a day's journey round about on every side of the host, and two cubits high upon the earth. And the people stood up all that night and on the morrow, and gathered quails. And he that gathered the least, gathered ten homers full. And they killed them round about the host. read more. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, yer it was chewed up, the wrath of the LORD waxed hot upon the people, and the LORD slew of the people an exceeding mighty slaughter. And they called the name of the place, the graves of lust: because they buried the people that lusted there.
And they called the name of the place, the graves of lust: because they buried the people that lusted there. And the people took their journey from the graves of lust unto Hazeroth, and bode at Hazeroth.
and the cloud departed from the tabernacle. And behold, Miriam was become leprous, as it were snow. And when Aaron looked upon Miriam and saw that she was leprous,
And your children shall wander in this wilderness forty years and suffer for your whoredom until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness, after the number of the days in which ye searched out the land forty days, and every day a year: so that they shall bear your unrighteousness forty years, and ye shall feel my vengeance. read more. I, the LORD, have said that I will do it unto all this evil congregation that are gathered together against me: even in this wilderness ye shall be consumed, and here ye shall die." And the men which Moses sent to search the land, and which - when they came again - made all the people to murmur against it, in that they brought up a slander upon the land; died for their bringing up that evil slander upon it, and were plagued before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still. And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel, and the people took great sorrow. And they rose up early in the morning and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, "Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place of which the LORD said, for we have sinned."
And they rose up early in the morning and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, "Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place of which the LORD said, for we have sinned." And Moses said, "Wherefore will ye go on this manner beyond the word of the LORD? It will not come well to pass:
And Moses said, "Wherefore will ye go on this manner beyond the word of the LORD? It will not come well to pass: go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not slain before your enemies.
go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not slain before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye will fall upon the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, and therefore the LORD will not be with you."
For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye will fall upon the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, and therefore the LORD will not be with you." But they were blinded to go up into the hilltop: Neverthelater, the ark of the covenant of the LORD and Moses departed not out of the host.
But they were blinded to go up into the hilltop: Neverthelater, the ark of the covenant of the LORD and Moses departed not out of the host. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, came down and smote them and hewed them: even unto Hormah.
Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, came down and smote them and hewed them: even unto Hormah.
And the whole multitude of the children of Israel, came into the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people dwelt at Kadesh. And there died Miriam, and was buried there. Moreover, there was no water for the multitude, wherefore they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. read more. And the people chode with Moses and spake, saying, "Would God that we had perished when our brethren perished before the LORD. Why have ye brought the congregation of the LORD unto this wilderness, that both we and our cattle should die here? Wherefore brought ye us out of Egypt, to bring us into this ungracious place, which is no place of seed nor of figs nor vines nor of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink?" And Moses and Aaron went from the congregation unto the door of the tabernacle of witness, and fell upon their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Take the staff and gather, thou and thy brother Aaron, the congregation together; and say unto the rock, before their eyes, that he give forth his water. And thou shalt bring them water out of the rock and shalt give the company drink, and their beasts also." And Moses took the staff 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, ye rebellious, must we fetch you water out of this rock?" And Moses lift up his hand with his staff and smote the rock two times, and the water came out abundantly, and the multitude drank and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, "Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." This is the water of strife, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified upon them. And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, "Thus sayeth thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath happened us, how our fathers went down into Egypt, and how we have dwelt in Egypt a long time, and, how the Egyptians vexed both us and our fathers. Then we cried unto the LORD and he heard our voices, and sent an angel and hath fetched us out of Egypt. And behold, we are in Kadesh, a city hard by the borders of thy country: let us go a good fellowship through thy country: we will not go through the fields nor through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the fountains: but we will go by the highway and neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left, until we be past thy country." And Edom answered him, "See thou come not by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword." And the children of Israel said unto him, "We will go by the beaten way: and if either we or our cattle drink of thy water, we will pay for it, we will do no more but pass through by foot only." And he said, "Ye shall not go through." And Edom came out against him with much people and with a mighty power. And thus Edom denied to give Israel passage through his country; And Israel turned away from him. And the children of Israel removed from Kadesh and went unto mount Hor with all the congregation. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, hard upon the coasts of the land of Edom, saying, "Let Aaron be put unto his people, for he shall not come into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel: because ye disobeyed my mouth at the water of strife. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up into mount Hor, and strip Aaron out of his vestments and put them upon Eleazar his son, and let Aaron be put unto his people and die there." And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the multitude. And Moses took off Aaron's clothes and put them upon Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there in the top of the mount. And Moses and Eleazar came down out of the mount. And all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
And when king Arad the Cananite, which dwelt in the south parts, heard tell that Israel came by the way that the spies had found out: he came and fought with Israel and took some of them prisoners. Then Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD and said, "If thou wilt give this people into our hands, we will destroy their cities." read more. And the LORD heard the voice of Israel, and delivered them the Canaanites. And they destroyed both them and their cities, and called the place Hormah. Then they departed from mount Hor toward the reed sea: to compass the land of Edom. And the souls of the people fainted by the way.
Then they departed from mount Hor toward the reed sea: to compass the land of Edom. And the souls of the people fainted by the way.
And the children of Israel removed and pitched in Oboth. And they departed from Oboth and lay at Iyeabarim in the wilderness, which is before Moab on the east side. read more. And they removed thence, and pitched upon the river of Zered. And they departed thence and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which river is in the wilderness, and cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
And from thence they came to Bear, which is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, "Gather the people together, that I may give them water."
And from this wilderness they went to Mattanah, and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab in the top of Pisgah which boweth toward the wilderness.
And the children of Israel removed, and pitched in the fields of Moab, on the other side of Jordan, by Jericho.
And the LORD was angry with Israel, and made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD were consumed.
The children of Israel departed from Rameses the fifteenth day of the first month, on the morrow after Passover and went out with a high hand in the sight of all Egypt,
And the children of Israel removed from Rameses and pitched in Succoth. And they departed from Succoth and pitched their tents in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. read more. And they removed from Etham and turned unto the entering of Hiroth which is before Baalzephon, and pitched before Migdol. And they departed from before Hiroth and went through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.
And they departed from before Hiroth and went through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. And they removed from Marah and went unto Elim where were twelve fountains and seventy palm trees and they pitched there. read more. And they removed from Elim and lay fast by the reed sea. And they removed from the reed sea and lay in the wilderness of Zin. And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Zin, and set up their tents in Dophkah. And they departed from Dophkah, and lay in Alush. And they removed from Alush, and lay at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink. And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai. And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and lodged at the graves of lust.
And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and lodged at the graves of lust. And they departed from the sepulchres of lust, and lay at Hazeroth. read more. And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. And departed from Rithmah and pitched at Rimmonperez. And they departed from Rimmonperez, and pitched in Libnah. And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah. And they journeyed from Rissah and pitched at Kehelathah. And they went from Kehelatha, and pitched in mount Shepher. And they removed from mount Shepher, and lay in Harada. And they removed from Harada, and pitched in Makheloth. And they removed from Makheloth, and lay at Tahath, and they departed from Tahath and pitched at Tarah. And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithkah. And they went from Mithkah, and lodged in Hashmonah. And they departed from Hashmonah, and lay at Moseroth. And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched among the children of Jaakan. And they removed from the children of Jaakan, and lay at Horhaggidgad. And they went from Horhaggidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah. And they removed from Jotbathah, and lay at Abronah. And they departed from Abronah, and lay at Eziongeber.
And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in 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, even in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, and in the first day of the fifth month.
And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah. And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon, read more. and they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Iyeabarim in the borders of Moab. And they departed from Iyeabarim and pitched in Dibongad.
And they departed from Iyeabarim and pitched in Dibongad. And they removed from Dibongad, and lay in Almondiblathaim. read more. And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim before Nebo. And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the fields of Moab fast by Jordan nigh to Jericho.
And when we were departed from our brethren, the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir by the field way from Elath and Eziongeber, we turned and went the way to the wilderness of Moab.
'Now rise up,' said I, 'and get you over the river Zered.' And we went over the river Zered. The space in which we came from Kadesh Barnea until we were come over the river Zered was thirty eight years: until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out of the host, as the LORD sware unto them.
'Rise up, take your journey and go over the river Arnon. Behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon, and his land. Go to, and conquer and provoke him to battle.
And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died and where he was buried; and Eleazar his son became priest in his stead.
And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died and where he was buried; and Eleazar his son became priest in his stead. And from thence they departed unto Gudgodah: and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of rivers of water.
Brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant of this, how that our fathers were all under a cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptised under Moses in the cloud and in the sea: read more. and did all eat of one spiritual meat, and did all drink of one manner of spiritual drink. And they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, Which rock was Christ. But in many of them had God no delight. For they were overthrown in the wilderness. These are examples to us that we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted. Neither be ye worshippers of images as were some of them according as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up again to play." Neither let us commit fornication as some of them committed fornication, and were destroyed - in one day, twenty three thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye as some of them murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. All these things happened upon them for examples, and were written to put us in remembrance, whom the ends of the world are come upon. Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath none other temptation taken you, such as followeth the nature of man. God is faithful, which shall not suffer you to be tempted above your strength: but shall in the midst of the temptation make a way to escape out. Wherefore my dear beloved, flee from worshipping of idols.