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
The Israelites left Rameses to go to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children.
The Israelites left Rameses to go to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children. Many other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle.
The Israelites left Sukkoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.
Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the Red Sea, near Baal Zephon.
Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea into the desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water because it tasted bitter. That is why the place was called Marah (Bitter Place).
Then they went to Elim. There were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there by the water.
The whole congregation of Israelites moved from Elim to the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai. This was on the fifteenth day of the second month after they left Egypt.
The entire congregation of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as Jehovah commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
The Amalekites fought Israel at Rephidim.
The Israelites arrived at the desert of Sinai in the third month after they left the land of Egypt.
No man may come with you or even be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds may not graze in front of this mountain.
The cloud over the tent of Jehovah's presence lifted the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people left Egypt.
That place was called Taberah (Fire) because fire from Jehovah burned among them there. Some foreigners among the Israelites had a strong craving for other kinds of food. Even the Israelites cried again and said: If only we had meat to eat!
Jehovah sent a wind from the sea that brought quails and dropped them all around the camp. There were quails on the ground about three feet deep as far as you could walk in a day in any direction. All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered the quails. No one gathered less than sixty bushels. Then they spread the quails out all around the camp. read more. While the meat was still in their mouths, before they had even had a chance to chew it, Jehovah became angry with the people and struck them with a severe plague. That place was called Kibroth Hattaavah (Graves of Those Who Craved Meat) because they buried the people who had a strong craving for meat there.
That place was called Kibroth Hattaavah (Graves of Those Who Craved Meat) because they buried the people who had a strong craving for meat there. From Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, where they stayed.
After the smoke left the tent, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her and saw she was covered with the disease.
Your children will be shepherds in the desert for forty years. They will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies dead in the desert. You explored the land for forty days. So for forty years, one year for each day, you will suffer for your sins and know what it means for me to be against you.' read more. I, Jehovah, have spoken. I swear I will do these things to all the people in this whole wicked congregation. For they have joined forces against me. They will meet their end in this desert. Here they will die!' The men Moses sent to explore the land died in front of Jehovah from a plague. They died because they had returned and made the whole community complain about Moses. They spread lies about the land. Of all the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. Moses told these things to all the Israelites. The people mourned bitterly, as if someone had died. Early the next morning they headed into the mountains. They said: We have sinned. Now we will go to the place Jehovah promised.
Early the next morning they headed into the mountains. They said: We have sinned. Now we will go to the place Jehovah promised. Moses asked: Why are you disobeying Jehovah's command? Your plan will not work!
Moses asked: Why are you disobeying Jehovah's command? Your plan will not work! Do not go! Your enemies will defeat you because Jehovah is not with you.
Do not go! Your enemies will defeat you because Jehovah is not with you. The Amalekites and Canaanites are there. You will die in battle. Now that you have turned away from Jehovah, he will not be with you.
The Amalekites and Canaanites are there. You will die in battle. Now that you have turned away from Jehovah, he will not be with you. But they headed into the mountains anyway. The Ark of the Jehovah's promise and Moses stayed in the camp.
But they headed into the mountains anyway. The Ark of the Jehovah's promise and Moses stayed in the camp. The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived there came down from those mountains, attacked the Israelites, and defeated them at Hormah.
The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived there came down from those mountains, attacked the Israelites, and defeated them at Hormah.
In the first month the whole congregation of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. The congregation was without water. So they gathered to confront Moses and Aaron. read more. The people complained to Moses. They said: If only we had died when the other Israelites died in Jehovah's presence! Did you bring Jehovah's assembly into this desert just to have us all die and our animals? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates will not grow here. And there is no water to drink! Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. They bowed with their faces touching the ground. The glory of Jehovah appeared to them. Jehovah said to Moses: Take your staff and you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the congregation water from the rock for them and their animals to drink. Moses took his staff out of the tent in Jehovah's presence as he had been commanded. Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock and said to them: Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you? Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out! All the people and their animals drank. Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: You did not trust me! You did not show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I am giving them. This was the oasis of Meribah (Complaining), where the Israelites complained about Jehovah and where he showed them he was holy. Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said: This is what your brother Israel says: 'You know all the hardships we have had. Our ancestors went to Egypt. We lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated our ancestors and us. We cried to Jehovah for help. He heard our cry and sent an angel, who led us out of Egypt. Now we are at Kadesh, a town at the border of your territory. Please permit us to pass through your land. We, including our cattle, will not leave the road or go into your fields or vineyards. We will not drink from your wells. We will stay on the main (king's) road until we are out of your territory.' But the Edomites answered: We refuse to let you pass through our country! If you try, we will march out and attack you. The people of Israel said: We will stay on the main road. If we, or our animals, drink any of your water we will pay for it. All we want is to pass through. The Edomites repeated: We refuse! Then they marched out with a powerful army to attack the people of Israel. The Edomites would not let the Israelites pass through their territory. So the Israelites turned and went another way. The whole congregation of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. There Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: Aaron is not going to enter the land I promised to give to Israel. He is going to die, because the two of you rebelled against my command at Meribah. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar to Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's priestly robes and put them on Eleazar. Aaron is going to die there. Moses did what Jehovah commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the entire congregation. Moses removed Aaron's priestly robes and put them on Eleazar. There on the top of the mountain Aaron died, and Moses and Eleazar came back down. The entire congregation learned that Aaron had died. They all mourned for him for thirty days.
The Canaanite king of Arad in the southern part of Canaan heard that the Israelites were coming by way of Atharim. So he attacked them and captured some of them. Then the Israelites made a vow to Jehovah: If you will let us conquer these people, we will unconditionally dedicate them and their cities to you and will destroy them. read more. Jehovah heard them and helped them conquer the Canaanites. The Israelites completely destroyed them and their cities, and named the place Hormah. They moved from Mount Hor following the road that goes to the Red Sea. That way they could go around Edom. The people became impatient on the trip
They moved from Mount Hor following the road that goes to the Red Sea. That way they could go around Edom. The people became impatient on the trip
The Israelites moved and set up camp at Oboth. After leaving that place, they camped at the ruins of Abarim in the wilderness east of Moabite territory. read more. Then they camped in Zered Valley. They moved again and camped on the north side of the Arnon River, in the desert that extends into Amorite territory. The Arnon was the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.
From there they went on to a place called Wells, where Jehovah said to Moses: Bring the people together, and I will give them water.
The well dug by princes and by leaders of the people, dug with a royal scepter and with their walking sticks. They moved from the wilderness to Mattanah,
The well dug by princes and by leaders of the people, dug with a royal scepter and with their walking sticks. They moved from the wilderness to Mattanah, and from there they went on to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
and from there they went on to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley in the territory of the Moabites, below the top of Mount Pisgah, looking out over the desert.
The Israelites moved and set up camp across from Jericho. They were on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River.
Jehovah's anger blazed against the Israelites. Therefore he made them wander in the desert for forty years until the whole generation of those who had done evil in Jehovah's presence was gone.
They moved from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. The Israelites boldly left in full view of all the Egyptians.
The Israelites moved from Rameses and set up camp at Succoth. They moved from Succoth and set up camp on the edge of the desert at Etham. read more. They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon. They set up camp near Migdol. They moved from Pi Hahiroth and went through the middle of the sea into the desert. After they traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they set up camp at Marah.
They moved from Pi Hahiroth and went through the middle of the sea into the desert. After they traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they set up camp at Marah. From there they went to Elim, where they camped. There were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees there. read more. They left Elim and camped near the Gulf of Suez. Their next camp was in the desert of Zin. Then the Israelites camped at Dophkah, and after that at Alush. Next was Rephidim, where there was no water for them to drink. They moved from Rephidim and set up camp in the Desert of Sinai. They moved from the Desert of Sinai and set up camp at Kibroth Hattaavah.
They moved from the Desert of Sinai and set up camp at Kibroth Hattaavah. They moved from Kibroth Hattaavah and set up camp at Hazeroth. read more. They moved from Hazeroth and set up camp at Rithmah. They moved from Rithmah and set up camp at Rimmon Perez. They moved from Rimmon Perez and set up camp at Libnah. They moved from Libnah and set up camp at Rissah. They moved from Rissah and set up camp at Kehelathah. They moved from Kehelathah and set up camp at Mount Shepher. They moved from Mount Shepher and set up camp at Haradah. They moved from Haradah and set up camp at Makheloth. They moved from Makheloth and set up camp at Tahath. They moved from Tahath and set up camp at Terah. They moved from Terah and set up camp at Mithcah. They moved from Mithcah and set up camp at Hashmonah. They moved from Hashmonah and set up camp at Moseroth. They moved from Moseroth and set up camp at Bene Jaakan. They moved from Bene Jaakan and set up camp at Hor Haggidgad. They moved from Hor Haggidgad and set up camp at Jotbathah. They moved from Jotbathah and set up camp at Abronah. They moved from Abronah and set up camp at Ezion Geber.
They moved from Kadesh and set up camp at Mount Hor on the border of Edom. Jehovah commanded Aaron the priest to go up on Mount Hor. He died there on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after the Israelites left Egypt.
They moved from Mount Hor and set up camp at Zalmonah. They moved from Zalmonah and set up camp at Punon. read more. The Israelites moved from Punon and set up camp at Oboth. Then they moved from Oboth and set up camp at Iye Abarim on the border of Moab. They moved from Iyim and set up camp at Dibongad.
They moved from Iyim and set up camp at Dibongad. Thaey moved fromDibongad and set up camp at Almon Diblathaim. read more. They moved from Almon Diblathaim and set up camp in the Abarim Mountains east of Nebo. They moved from the Abarim Mountains and set up camp on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho.
We moved on and left the road that goes from the towns of Elath and Eziongeber to the Dead Sea. We turned northeast toward Moab.
Then we crossed the Zered River Valley just as Jehovah told us to do. This was thirty-eight years after we left Kadesh-Barnea. By that time all the men who had been in the army at Kadesh-Barnea had died, just as Jehovah said they would.
Moses continued: Cross over the Arnon River. I will help you defeat Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon and his country. Possess his land and engage him in battle.
The sons of Israel set out from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died. He was buried there. Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.
The sons of Israel set out from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died. He was buried there. Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place. From there they set out to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water.
Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant about how all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. read more. They all ate the same spiritual meal. They all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them. That Rock was (represented) (symbolic of) Christ! (Exodus 7:6) (Numbers 20:11) God was not pleased with most of them. And their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things were examples for us. They teach us not to lust after evil things like they did. Do not be idolaters like some of them. It is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play. Do not commit fornication like some of them committed. Twenty three thousand of them died in one day. Do not test Jehovah like some of them also did and were destroyed by serpents. Do not grumble like some of them grumbled. Venomous snakes killed them. These things happened for examples, and they are written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your limits. He will make a way out, that you will be able to endure it. My dearly beloved, flee (run away) from idolatry.