Kadesh Barnea

A key encampment of the wilderness years; the twelve spies went out from here.

Kadesh-barnea was located at the edge of the land of Edom, near the way to Shur, likely in the area of Ain el-Qudeirat, about 80 km (50 mi) south-southwest of Beer-sheba, with two other springs nearby: Ain el-Quteirah and Ain el-Qeseimeh. The Bible places Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran and also in the wilderness of Zin, suggesting that the two wildernesses met there (Num 13:26; 20:1). In Abraham's day, the place was called En-mishpat (Gen 14:7). From Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea was an eleven-day journey (Deut 1:2). In the second year after the Exodus, the Israelites came from Hazeroth and camped here (Num 13:26). Moses sent twelve men to spy out the Promised Land. When ten of the spies brought back a bad report, the people murmured bitterly and rebelled against Jehovah. Jehovah therefore sentenced them to wander in the wilderness. The Israelites disobeyed and presumptuously attacked Canaan, but were soundly defeated (Num 13:1-16, 25-29; 14:1-9, 26-34, 44, 45; Deut 1:41-45). They stayed at Kadesh-barnea for some time afterward (Deut 1:46), until Jehovah told them to turn back by way of the Red Sea into the wilderness (Num 14:25). After leaving Kadesh-barnea, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 38 years (Deut 2:1, 14). In the first month of the fortieth year after leaving Egypt, the people appear to have returned to Kadesh (Num 20:1). Miriam, Moses' sister, died there. When the people quarreled over water, Jehovah miraculously provided water from a rock. However, Moses and Aaron failed to sanctify Jehovah on that occasion, so they lost the privilege of entering the Promised Land (Num 20:1-13). Later, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, asking permission to pass through his territory, but the request was refused (Num 20:14-21; Judg 11:16, 17). Jehovah later designated Kadesh-barnea as part of the southern boundary of the Promised Land (Num 34:4). Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the region from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza (Josh 10:41), and Kadesh-barnea became part of the southern boundary of Judah (Josh 15:1-4). Psalm 29:8 says that Jehovah's voice made the wilderness of Kadesh "whirl with wind and sand," perhaps a figurative reference to a storm sweeping down from the north (Ps 29:8).