kadesh barnea Summary and Overview

KA'DESH-BAR'NEA (sacred), or a place on the southern frontier of Canaan. It was "11 days," or about 165 miles, distant from Horeb, Deut 1:2; on the border of Edora, Num 20:1, Num 20:6; not far from Gerar, Gen 20:1; to the east of Bered, Gen 16:14; in the desert of Zin. Num 20:1; Eze 27:14; Num 33:36; Deut 32:51; and the point to which Chedorlaomer returned, having driven the Horites over the Arabah into the Et Tih region, and then going northward, Gen 14:7. In Scripture it is sometimes called Kadesh alone, and sometimes Kadesh-barnea, and is identical with Meribah-kadesh, Eze 47:19: Josh 15:3, Acts 15:23: with "En-Mishpat" - the fountain of judgment, Gen 14:7; and with "Rithmah" - the broom, Num 33:18, thus called from a shrub growing in the desert. At Rithmah the Israelites encamped in the second summer after the exodus from Egypt, Num 33:18, and they stayed there for months. Spies were sent into the land of Canaan. The people rebelled, and were condemned to 40 years' sojourn in the wilderness, Num 13-14, during which time Kadesh seems to have been their chief centre. At the end of 40 years they encamped again at Kadesh for a march to Canaan, Num 20:1. Here Miriam died and was buried, and the rock was smitten for water. Num 20:1-21. Robinson, Porter, and many others located Kadesh at 'Ain el-Weibeh, which was long accepted by English scholars. Rowlands, 1842, identified it with Ain Gadis or Qadts, 40 to 50 miles directly south of Beersheba. This was stoutly disputed by Robinson, but accepted by Wilton, Palmer, Ritter, and others, and confirmed by H. Clay Trumbull, who re-discovered the springs of 'Ain Qadts in 1881. It is described as an extensive hill-encircled region, large enough for the camping-ground of a host; land arable, and having springs of rare sweetness and abundance.

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 Psalm 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 (Numbers 10:12; Numbers 13:21). The encampment from which the spies were sent and to which they returned (Numbers 13:26; Numbers 32:8); sometimes called Kadesh alone. Meribah Kadesh is the same (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28 margin; Joshua 15:3; Joshua 15:23). The encampment at Kadesh is called Rithmah from retem , "the broom," the most conspicuous shrub of the desert (Numbers 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 (Genesis 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 (Numbers 20:16; Numbers 20:22; Numbers 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 (Joshua 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, Israel, and Syria forming an ascending scale of fertility." The encampment at Rithmah (Numbers 33:18-19) was in summer the second year after the Exodus (Numbers 13:20), that at Kadesh in the same district the first month of the 40th year (Numbers 20:1). At the first encampment Israel stayed probably for months; they waited for the spies 40 days (Numbers 13:25); Moses and the tabernacle remained (Numbers 14:44), while the people vainly tried to reverse God's sentence and to occupy Canaan (Deuteronomy 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 (Deuteronomy 2:1). In this period were the 17 stages, Numbers 33:19-36. Lastly, Israel again was at Kadesh in the first month of the 40th year, and stayed for three or four months (Numbers 20:1-22-28; Numbers 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 (Numbers 20:12-13; compare Psalm 106:32-33). From hence Moses sent to the king of Edom (Numbers 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 (Numbers 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 ) (Numbers 20:7 ff). Merely certain occurrences and enactments are recorded of the 38 years' wandering, in Numbers 15:1-19:22.