Kadesh
“Holy, or sanctuary”
Summary
A significant site on the southern border of Canaan, also called Kadesh-barnea, where the Israelites encamped twice during the wilderness wanderings and from which the spies were sent to explore the Promised Land.
☩Location and Names
Kadesh, more fully called Kadesh-barnea, was located on the southeastern border of the Promised Land toward Edom. The site was also anciently known as En-mishpat, meaning "fountain of judgment," perhaps indicating an ancient oracle or judicial gathering place. The name Kadesh itself means "holy" or "sanctuary," suggesting the site may have had religious significance even before Israel's arrival. It was situated in the wilderness of Zin, about eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir.
☩Early Biblical History
Kadesh appears in Scripture as early as Abraham's time. Chedorlaomer and his allied kings smote the Amalekites in the region around Kadesh during their campaign. Abraham later dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and it was in this region that Hagar encountered the angel of the Lord at the well called Beer-lahai-roi, located between Kadesh and Bered. These early associations establish Kadesh as an important oasis in the Negev wilderness long before the Exodus.
☩The Spies and Israel's Rebellion
Kadesh was Israel's nineteenth station in the wilderness, where they encamped after receiving the law at Sinai and traveling through the wilderness of Paran. From here, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land of Canaan. When the spies returned after forty days with a discouraging report, the people rebelled against God and refused to enter the land. As punishment for their unbelief, God sentenced them to wander forty years in the wilderness—one year for each day the spies had explored—until that entire generation died. When the people then presumptuously tried to enter Canaan without God's blessing, they were driven back by the Amalekites and Canaanites as far as Hormah.
☩Second Encampment and Moses' Sin
After thirty-eight years of wandering, Israel returned to Kadesh in the first month of the fortieth year. Here Miriam died and was buried. The people again complained about the lack of water, and God commanded Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. Instead, Moses struck the rock twice, saying "Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" For this act of unbelief and failure to honor God's holiness, both Moses and Aaron were forbidden to enter the Promised Land. This incident gave the place another name: Meribah-kadesh, meaning "waters of strife at Kadesh."
Related Verses28 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Kadesh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Edwin W. Rice, "Kadesh," in The People's Dictionary of the Bible (American Sunday-School Union, 1893).
- 3.John Kitto, "Kadesh," in A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. II (Mark H. Newman, 1845).
- 4.James Orr (ed.), "Kadesh," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).