Kadesh-Barnea

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An oasis on the south-western edge of Palestine, and marking the southern limits of Canaan (Num 34:1), best remembered as the place from which the Israelites, arriving there from Mount Sinai, sent in the twelve spies to reconnoitre the land with a view towards conquering it. The report of the spies that the land was well protected and inhabited by giants, however, sent fear among the Israelites, and despite the encouragement of Caleb and Joshua, they refused to take the land.

"If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." (Num 14:2-3)

For their rebellion, God promised that every one of the Israelites who had left Egypt as adults would never see the Promised Land; the very children whom they feared would become plunder would, instead, see the land (Num 14:20-35). For the next forty years, one year for each day of the spies' exploration of the land, the Israelites roamed the wilderness, with Kadesh-Barnea as its epicentre, until that whole generation—Caleb and Joshua excepted—had died.

Often referred to simply as Kadesh, it seemed to have served as a convenient reference point in ancient times. This appears first in marking out the limits of Kedorlaomer's success when he marched out against his vassals who had rebelled against him (Gen 14:7). Somewhere within shadows ("between Kadesh and Bered") an angel of the Lord met with Hagar as she travailed in the desert after being sent away by Abraham (Gen 16:14). For a time Abraham lived moving "between Kadesh and Shur" (Gen 20:1). At Kadesh-Barnea, Mariam, Moses's sister, died and was buried (Num 20:1). Also always remembered, and recalled, in ancient Israel was Israel's rebellion against God when—again—they complained about not having water. In angry response to the people Moses struck the rock, bringing water, when Yahweh had commanded him to speak. For his public disobedience before the people Moses was barred from entering into the Promised Land (Num 20:1-13; Deut 32:51). For their rebellion, Kadesh (Hebrew for 'holy') became Meribah (Hebrew for 'contention').