Reference: Wilderness of the Wanderings
Fausets
(On Israel's route from Rameses to Sinai. (See EXODUS; EGYPT.) Kadesh or Kadesh Burned ("son of wandering" (Bedouin), or "land of earthquake," as Ps 29:8, "the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Cades") was the encampment from which the spies were sent and to which they returned (Nu 13:26; 32:8), on the W. of the wilderness of Zin, which was N.E. of the wilderness of Paran; S. of the wilderness of Paran was the wilderness of Sinai between the gulfs of Akabah and Suez. Comparing Nu 12:16 with Nu 33:18, and Nu 13:3,21-26, we see that the Kadesh of Numbers 13 is the Rithmah of Numbers 33. The stages catalogued in this last chapter are those visited during the years of penal wandering.
Rithmah (from retem the "broom" abounding there) designates the encampment during the first march toward Canaan (Nu 33:18); Kadesh the second encampment, in the same district though not on the same spot, in the 40th year (Nu 33:36-38); N. of Mount Her where Aaron died, and to which Israel marched as the first stage in their journey when denied a passage through Mount Seir (Nu 20:21-22). From the low ground of Kadesh the spies "went up" to search the land, which is called the mountain (Nu 13:17,21-22). The early encampment at Rithmah (Nu 33:18-19) took place in midsummer in the second year after the Exodus (for Israel left Sinai the 20th day of the second month, Nu 10:11, i.e. the middle of May; next the month at Kibroth Hattaavah would bring them to July); the later at Kadesh the first month of the 40th year (Nu 20:1).
At the first encampment they were at Kadesh for at least the 40 days of the spies' search (Nu 13:25); here Moses and the tabernacle remained (Nu 14:44) when the people presumptuously tried to occupy the land in spite of Jehovah's sentence dooming all above 20 to die in the wilderness (the name Kadesh, "holy," may be due to the long continuance of the holy tabernacle there). After their repulse they lingered for long ("many days," De 1:45-46) hoping for a reversal of their punishment. At last they broke up their prolonged encampment at Kadesh and compassed Mount Seir many days (De 2:1), i.e. wandered in the wilderness of Paran until the whole generation of murmurers had died. The wilderness is called Et Tih, i.e. "of wandering," or "Paran," being surrounded W. and S. by the Paran mountains (Nu 13:26; the limestone of the pyramids is thought to have been brought from Et Tih).
To this period belong the 17 stages of Nu 33:19-36. Early in the 40th year (Nu 20:1) Israel reassembled at Kadesh and stayed for three or four months (compare Nu 20:1 with Nu 20:22-28; 33:38). Miriam died here. Soon the people gathered here in full number, exhausted the water supply, and were given water miraculously from the rock. Thence proceeding, they were at Mount Hor refused a passage through Edom; then by the marches of Nu 33:41-49 they went round Edom's borders to Moab's plains. At Mount Hor Arad attacked them and brought destruction on his cities (Nu 21:3). In Nu 20:1 the words "Israel even the whole congregation" mark the reassembling of the people at the close of the 40 years, as the same words in Nu 13:26; 14:1, mark the commencement of the penal wandering.
The 38 intervening years are a blank, during which the covenant was in abeyance and the "congregation" broken up. The tabernacle and its attendant Levites, priests, and chiefs, formed the rallying point, moving from time to time to the different stations specified up and down the country as the people's head quarters. Qehelathah and Makhelot ("assembling," "assemblies") were probably places of extraordinary gatherings. At other times the Israelites were scattered over the wilderness of Paran as nomads feeding their flocks wherever they found pasture. This dispersion for foraging meets the objections raised on the ground of subsistence for such a multitude for so long. The plain er Rahah, W. of Sinai, now bare, is described by a traveler in the 16th century as a "vast green plain." The forests then existing tended to produce a greater rainfall and therefore better pasture than at present, when scarcely any wood is left (the Bedouins burning the acacias for charcoal).
Various events and enactments belonging to the 38 years' wandering (the law of the meat offering, the stoning of the Sabbath breaker, etc., Numbers 15; Korah's rebellion, etc., Numbers 16; Aaron's rod budding, Numbers 17; the Levites' and priests' charge and portion, Numbers 18; the red heifer water of separation, Numbers 19) are recorded in Nu 15-19. The last year in the wilderness, the 40th, is referred to in Nu 20-36. During the 38 years Israel trafficked in provisions with surrounding tribes (De 2:26-29). The desert of wandering was the highway of caravans between Egypt and the East. Fish was obtainable from the Red Sea. They were encamped close to it at Ezion Geber (Nu 33:35). Traces of a population and resources are found in parts of the wilderness where now there are neither.
The hardships alluded to (De 1:19; 2:3; 8:15) refer to the 4Oth year marches through the Arabah, which seemed the worse by contrast with the fertile plains of Moab which they next reached. Nu 21:4, "the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." Down the Arabah between the limestone cliffs of the Tih on the W. and the granite of Mount Seir on the E. they were for some days in a mountain plain of loose sand, gravel, and granite detritus, with little food or water, and exposed to sandstorms from the shore of the gulf. This continued until a few hours N. of Akaba (Ezion Geber), where the wady Ithm opened to their left a passage in the mountains northward to fertile Moab. The mauna, the quails, and the water, are but samples of God's continuous care (De 8:4 ff, De 29:5).
The non waxing old of their raiment means God so supplied their wants, partly by ordinary and occasionally by miraculous means, that they never lacked new and untattered garments and shoes to prevent the foot swelling. Sheep, oxen, and traffic with tribes of the desert, ordinarily (under God's providence) supplied their need (Isa 63:11-14; Ne 9:21; Am 2:10). God often besides at Rephidim and Kadesh (Ex 17:1, etc., Numbers 20) interposed to supply water (Jg 5:4; Ps 68:7, etc.; Isa 35:1, etc., Isa 41:17; 49:9-10; Ho 2:14), and the Israelites from their stay in Egypt knew how to turn to best account all such supplies.
It was a period of apostasy (compare Eze 20:15 ff; Am 5:25, etc.; Ho 9:10). The Israelites probably made somewhat comfortable booths (as the booths erected in commemoration at the feast of tabernacles prove) and dwellings for themselves in their 38 years' stay (compare Ps 107:4,35-36). According to some they were the writers of the Sinaitic inscriptions in the wady Mokatteb, deciphered by Forster as recording events in their history at that time. Their stays in the several stations varied according to the guidance of the divine cloud from two days to a month or a year (Nu 9:22). The date palm (generally dwarf but abounding in sustenance), acacia, and tamarisk are often found in the desert. From the acacia (Mimosa Nilotica) came the shittim wood of the tabernacle and gum arabic.
The retem (KJV "juniper") or broom yields excellent charcoal, which is the staple of the desert. Ras Sufsafeh, the scene of the giving of the law, means willow head, willows abounding there, also hollyhocks and hawthorns, hyssop and thyme. The ghurkud is thought to be the tree cast by Moses into the Marah bitter waters; growing in hot and salt regions, and bearing a red juicy acidulous berry, but the fruit ripens in June, later than Israel's arrival at Marah. Mount Serbal may be named from its abounding in myrrh (ser). Spiritually, Rameses (dissolution of evil), Israel's starting point, answers to the penitent soul's first conviction of sin, haste to flee from wrath, and renunciation of evil. Israel's course first was straight for Canaan; so the believer's, under first impressions, is direct toward heaven. Succoth next, the place of booths, answers to the believer's pilgrim spirit (Heb 11:13-16).
Next Etham, their strength, the believer's confidence of never being moved (Ps 30:6-7). At Pihahiroth Israel, shut in between the wil
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the coasts of the Canaanites were from Sidon till thou come to Gerar and to Gaza, and till thou come to Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, Zeboiim: even unto Lasha.
And Abraham departed thence toward the south country and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur and sojourned in Gerar.
And Moses answered, "We must go with young and old: yea and with our sons and with our daughters, and with our sheep and oxen must we go. For we must hold a feast unto the LORD."
And Moses cried unto the LORD, and he showed him a tree: and he cast it into the water, and they waxed sweet. There he made them an ordinance and a law, and there he tempted them,
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.
But when the cloud tarried two days or a month or a long season upon the habitation, as long as it tarried thereon, the children of Israel kept their tents and journeyed not. And as soon as the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
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 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. read more. And the people took their journey from the graves of lust unto Hazeroth, and bode at Hazeroth.
And afterward they removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
And Moses, at the commandment of the LORD, sent forth out of the wilderness of Paran such men as were all heads among the children of Israel, whose names are these:
And Moses sent them forth to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, "Get you southward and go up into the high country:
And Moses sent them forth to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, "Get you southward and go up into the high country:
And they went up and searched out the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men go to Hamath,
And they went up and searched out the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men go to Hamath, and they ascended unto the south and came unto Hebron: where Ahiman was, and Sheshai and Talmai; the sons of Anak. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
and they ascended unto the south and came unto Hebron: where Ahiman was, and Sheshai and Talmai; the sons of Anak. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
and they ascended unto the south and came unto Hebron: where Ahiman was, and Sheshai and Talmai; the sons of Anak. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. And they came unto the river of Eshcol and they cut down there a branch with one cluster of grapes and bare it upon a staff between twain, and also of the pomegranates and of the figs of the place. read more. The river was called Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down there. And they turned back again from searching the land, at forty days' end.
And they turned back again from searching the land, at forty days' end. And they went and came to Moses and Aaron and unto all the multitude of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran: even unto Kadesh, and brought them word and also unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
And they went and came to Moses and Aaron and unto all the multitude of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran: even unto Kadesh, and brought them word and also unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
And they went and came to Moses and Aaron and unto all the multitude of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran: even unto Kadesh, and brought them word and also unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
And they went and came to Moses and Aaron and unto all the multitude of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran: even unto Kadesh, and brought them word and also unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
And the multitude cried out, and the people wept throughout that night,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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, read more. "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 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.
And Israel dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab,
This did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.
And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. And departed from Rithmah and pitched at Rimmonperez.
And departed from Rithmah and pitched at Rimmonperez. And they departed from Rimmonperez, and pitched in Libnah. read more. 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 departed from Abronah, and lay at Eziongeber. And they removed from Eziongeber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
And they removed from Eziongeber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. read more. 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 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 removed from Dibongad, and lay in Almondiblathaim. 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 they pitched upon Jordan, from Bethjeshimoth unto the plain of Shittim in the fields of Moab.
And then we departed from Horeb and walked through all that great and terrible wilderness, as ye have seen along by the way that leadeth unto the hills of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us, and came to Kadesh Barnea.
And ye came again and wept before the LORD: but the LORD would not hear your voice nor give you audience.
And ye came again and wept before the LORD: but the LORD would not hear your voice nor give you audience. And so ye abode in Kadesh a long season, according unto the time that ye there dwelt.
Then we turned and took our journey into the wilderness, even the way to the reed sea as the LORD commanded me. And we compassed the mountains of Seir a long time.
'Ye have compassed these mountains long enough; turn you northward.
Then I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, 'Let me go through thy land. I will go always along by the high way and will neither turn unto the right hand, nor to the left. read more. Sell me meat, for money, for to eat; and give me drink, for money, for to drink: I will go through by foot only - as the children of Esau did unto me, which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar - until I be come over Jordan, into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.'
Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy feet swell this forty year.
and which led thee in the wilderness both great and terrible with fiery serpents and scorpions and thirst where was no water, which brought the water out of the rock of flint:
he met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of you, all that were over laboured and dragged behind, when thou wast fainted and weary, and he feared not God.
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: and your clothes are not waxed old upon you, nor are thy shoes waxed old upon thy feet.
LORD, when thou departedest out of Seir and camest from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heaven rained, and the clouds dropped water:
But she said unto them, "Call me not Naomi: call me Mara, for the Almighty hath made me very bitter.
Forty years long madest thou provision for them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing: their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
the voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; yea, the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
And in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be removed." And why? Thou, LORD, of thy goodness, hast made my hill so strong. But as soon as thou didst turn thy face from me, I was troubled.
{To the chanter, a Psalm of David} I waited patiently for the LORD, and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling. He brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay; he set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings. read more. He hath put a new song in my mouth, even a thanksgiving unto our God. Many men seeing this, shall fear the LORD, and put their trust in him.
O God, when thou wentest forth before the people, when thou wentest through the wilderness, Selah,
They joined themselves unto Baal-Peor, and ate the offerings of the dead.
They went astray in the wilderness in an untrodden way, and found no city to dwell in.
Again, he maketh the wilderness a standing water, and watersprings of a dry ground. There he setteth the hungry, that they may build them a city to dwell in,
So that then thou shalt say, "I will praise thee O LORD, that though thou were angry with me, yet thine anger is turned, and thou hast comforted me. Behold, God is my salvation: I will be bold therefore and not fear. For the LORD God is my strength and my praise whereof I sing: and is become my saviour. read more. And ye shall draw water in gladness out of the wells of salvation.
In that time shall the LORD shoot from the swift water of Euphrates, unto the river of Egypt. And there shall the children be chosen out one by one.
But the desert and wilderness shall rejoice, the waste ground shall be glad, and flourish as the lily.
When the thirsty and poor seek water, and find none, and when their tongue is dry of thirst: I give it them, sayeth the LORD. I, the God of Israel, forsake them not.
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, "Go forth," and to them that are in darkness, "Come into the light." That they may feed in the high ways, and get their living in all places. There shall neither hunger nor thirst, heat nor Sun hurt them. For he that favoureth them shall lead them, and give them drink of the spring wells.
Yet remembered he the old time of Moses and his people: How he brought them from the water of the sea, as a shepherd doth with his sheep; how he had given his holy spirit among them; how he had led Moses by the righthand with his glorious arm; how he had divided the water before them, whereby he gat himself an everlasting name; read more. how he led them in the deep, as a horse is led in the plain, that they should not stumble. The spirit of the LORD led them as a tame beast goeth in the field. Thus, O God, hast thou led thy people, to make thyself a glorious name withal.
But I swore unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land, which I gave them: a land that floweth with milk and honey, and is a pleasure of all lands.
"Wherefore behold: I will call her again, bring her into a wilderness, and speak friendly unto her.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness, and saw their fathers as the first figs in the top of the fig tree. But they are gone to Baalpeor, and run away from me to that shameful Idol, and are become as abominable as their lovers.
Again: I brought you out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, that ye might have the Amorites' land in possession.
O ye house of Israel, gave ye me offerings and sacrifices those forty years long in the wilderness?
But whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall never be more a thirst: But the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as sayeth the scripture, 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life.'" read more. This spake he of the spirit, which they that believed on him should receive. For the holy ghost was not yet there, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
Jesus answered, and said unto him, "If a man love me and will keep my sayings, my father also will love him, and we will come unto him, and will dwell with him.
He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show unto you.
Remember ye not, that all we which are baptised in the name of Christ Jesus, are baptised to die with him? We are buried with him by baptism for to die: That likewise as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the father: even so we also should walk in a new life. read more. For if we be graft in death like unto him: even so must we be in the resurrection. This we must remember, that our old man is crucified with him also, that the body of sin might utterly be destroyed; that henceforth we should not be servants of sin. For he that is dead, is justified from sin.
and were all baptised under Moses in the cloud and in the sea:
Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is understood and read of all men; in that ye are known, how that ye are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. read more. Such trust have we through Christ to Godward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as it were of ourselves; but our ableness cometh of God; which hath made us able to minister the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. If the ministration of death through the letters figured in stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of countenance - which glory nevertheless is done away -
In whom also ye - after that ye heard the word of truth, I mean the gospel of your salvation wherein ye believed - were sealed with the holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, to redeem the possession purchased, and that unto the laud of his glory.
Seeing, brethren, that by the means of the blood of Jesus, we may be bold to enter into that holy place, by the new and living way, which he hath prepared for us, through the veil, that is to say by his flesh.
And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They that say such things, declare that they seek a country. read more. Also, if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned again. But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Be sober, and watch. For your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
For all that is born of God, overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the lamb, saying,
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river was there wood of life; which bare twelve manner of fruits, and gave fruit every month: and the leaves of the wood served to heal the people withal.