The Exodus:
Journey One
Journey Two
Journey Three
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Journey 2 - Mount Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea
1-2 Unnamed camps
3 Taberah - Means "Burning"
The Israelites traveled north from Mount Sinai for three days and called their
third encampment "Taberah" because of what happened there. Once again the
Israelites started complaining and God's anger was kindled. He sent a burning
fire among them and destroyed many all through the camp. When Moses prayed the
fire was quenched.
"And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it;
and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and
consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people
cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched."
Num. 11:1-2
Somewhere between Taberah and Haveroth the Israelites passed by the bottom of
Mount Seir (Mount Seir was actually a mountain range, not just a single
mountain). This fulfilled the scripture that said,
"(There are eleven days' journey from Horeb (
Mt. Sinai
)
by way of mount Seir
unto Kadesh-barnea.)" Deut. 1:2
This is another fact that in my opinion puts the traditional route in error.
They do not pass mount Seir on the way to Kadesh-Barnea.
From Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia to Kadesh-Barnea is around 110 miles, an
average of about eleven miles per day. This is a feasible amount of time to
cover the distance. They would have been slower through the mountainous areas
and faster through the open plains areas.
4 Kibrothhattaavah - Means "Graves of Lust"
Not having learned their lesson, the Israelites started complaining again. They
were tired of eating manna and wanted fresh meat to eat. Once again the anger
of the Lord was kindled. Moses also was displeased. Finally, the Lord summoned
Moses with a message for the people.
"Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept
in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was
well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall
eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days,
nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils,
and it be loathsome to you; because that ye have despised the Lord which is
among you..." Number 11:18-20
God sent them quails from the sea...
"...and brought them quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it
were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other
side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the
earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the
next day, and they gathered the quails...and while the flesh was yet between
their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the
people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague." Nu. 11:31-33
Many Israelites died and were buried there because of their lust. They did not
travel again until the month was up.
5 Hazeroth - Means "spring of the inclosure"
While here Aaron and Miriam spake against Moses because he had married an
Ethiopian woman. The anger of the Lord was kindled against them...
"Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of
the earth..."
"...And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And the
cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous,
white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous."
"...Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee..."
And God said,
"...let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be
received again." Numbers 12
The people did not travel for seven days until Miriam was healed and brought
back into the camp.
6 Wilderness of Paran - Unnamed camp
The first business they did after arriving here was to send out twelve spies,
one from every tribe, to go into Canaan and spy out the land and figure the
best way to capture it. The spies left and were gone for 40 days. They went as
far north as Rehob on the road to Hamath, which was also part of the promised
land.
On the way back, at the brook of Eshcol, they cut down one very large custer of
grapes to bring back to show Moses and the people. They also brought back other
fruits to show the bountifulness of the land.
"...the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran...so they went up and searched
the land...and they returned from searching the land after forty days." Nu.
14:3-25
"So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob,
as men come to Hamath." Ex.13:21
7-10 Unnamed camps between the "Wilderness of Paran" camp and Kadesh-Barnea
After the spies left for Canaan the Israelites continued on their journey until
they came to Kadesh-Barnea. When the spies returned forty days later from their
journey, they found the Israelites encamped at Kadesh-Barnea.
"And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of
the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran,
to Kadesh
(Kadesh-Barnea)
...and brought back word unto them..." Num. 13:26
11 Kadesh-Barnea - Means "Holy place of the desert wandering"
The trip to Kadesh-Barnea was eleven days. However, only four of their
encampments are mentioned by name. Obviously, the other days were uneventful
for camps were usually named according to current events on the day of travel
or after their arrival at the camp.
According to many known scholars Kadesh was a region rather than an exact spot,
so I have placed both a region and a city on my map. Kadesh-Barnea was a
"city." Part of Kadesh, near mount Hor, at Moseroth, was very close to the
border of Edom. Kadesh-Barnea itself was on the western side of Kadesh, not
even close to the border of Edom. In turn Kadesh was part of the Wilderness of
Zin and it seems they, in turn, were also part of the Wilderness of Paran in
some instances.
Kadesh-Barnea possibly became their main headquarters for the next 38 years.
They would have wandered all over the region, including the Aqaba, taking care
of their flocks.
Upon the return of the spies they reported seeing Amalekites dwelling in the
land of the south (in Canaan) and the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites dwelling
in the mountains. By the coast were the Canaanites. Also, they saw children
of Anak there who were men of great stature—giants. They also showed them the
grapes that they had found there at the brook of Eschol.
"And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and unto all the congregation
of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought
back word unto them...nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land,
and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of
Anak there." Num. 13:26-28
The reports filled the people with fear. Ten of the spies advised against going
in and taking the land. Joshua and Caleb recommended going for it. The people
refused to fight and God's anger kindled against them.
...Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red
Sea...and your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your
whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness." Num. 14:25
Joseph and Caleb would be the only adults allowed to go into Canaan when the
time came. Everyone else twenty years or older would perish in the wilderness
before the Israelites would be allowed into Canaan. In forty years the
children would be old enough to defeat the enemies.
Hoping to change God's mind the in matter, the Hebrews decided to go up into
the land and fight the Amalekites and the Canaanites as God had originally
asked them to do. However, God told them it was too late, that they were not to
go into battle and, if they did, He would not go with them. They went anyway
and suffered a terrible defeat "...even unto Hormah." Hormah was 45 miles NW of
Mount Hor on the main road between Petra and Hebron. Moses and the Ark of the
Covenant had stayed in camp.
Once they were back in camp the Lord spake unto Moses and gave him various
instructions to give to the people regarding offerings.
Korah, Dathan and Abiram
Two hundred and fifty of the Levite priests, headed by Korah, Dathan and
Abiram, were jealous of Moses and decided to do things their own way. They
gathered themselves together against Moses. Moses asked God what to do.
Following his instructions, Moses did as God commanded.
"...and they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense
thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses
and Aaron." Num. 16:17
God's anger was greatly kindled against them and wanted to destroy all the
congregation. God told Moses and Aaron to step aside so he could destroy them
all. Moses and Aaron pleaded for the life of the congregation and God heeded
them.
God ordered Korah, Dathan and Abiram to go stand in front of their tents with
all their family members, which they did. Then God meted out judgment.
"...the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth
and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto
Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down
alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from
among the congregation... And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed
the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense."
Read Num. 16 for the full story.
All the people fled away from the area in terror. However, the very next day
the people murmured against Moses and Aaron again, saying
"...Ye have killed the people of the Lord." Num. 16:41
Again God ordered Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people so he
could destroy them. Once more Moses and Aaron pled for their lives and God
heeded. However, God sent a plague amongst them.
Moses and Aaron put on incense and made an atonement for the people and the
plague was stayed. Fourteen thousand and seven hundred died, beside them that
died about the matter of Korah.
God decided it was time to show the people once and for all that Aaron was the
chosen one to act as mediator between himself and the people.
God ordered one lead man from every tribe to bring their rod, with their name
written upon it, and give them to Moses. Aaron also gave him his rod.
"And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. And
it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness;
and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought
forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." Num. 17:7-8
None of the other rods had budded. God put the Levites in charge of all the
affairs related to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness with Aaron as High Priest.
At this time God gives many rules and ordinances relating to sacrifices and
offerings. For the full story read Numbers 17-19.
12 Rithmah - Means "Broomy," referring to the white desert broom
Finally, the Israelites realized God meant what he had said and they headed
into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. Rithmah was the first encampment.
13 Rimmon Perez - Means "Cloven height"
14 Libnah - Means "A white chalky place"
15 Rissah - Means "Dewey"
16 Kehelathah - Means "Gathering"
17 Mt. Shapher - Means "The shining hill"
Mt. Shapher is 60 miles from Hazeroth and is 55 miles SW from Mt. Hor. Many of
the encampments were just that and we do not know exactly where they are to be
located. However, the meaning of their names sometimes gives a clue to the type
of area where they were. By knowing the location of a few of them, we know
approximately where the rest of them are by averaging the distance between the
known stations and the number of encampments listed in between.
18 Haradah - Means "Fearful," referring to a mountain
19 Makheloth - Means "Gatherings"
20 Tahath - Possibly means "Below," marking the descent into a wadi.
21 Tarah - Means "Delay," referring to rest in better pastures
22 Mithcah - Means "Sweetness" of pasture or of water
23 Hashmonah - Means "Fatness"
24 Moseroth - Probably means "The boundaries," near Mt. Hor
The mountain where Aaron dies is near Mt. Hor. These last seven camps agree
well with a journey through a rugged region of white limestone and yellow
sandstone, followed by a descent into the pastoral valley of a furtile wadi.
There was a well here at Moseroth and at the next three encampments as well. It
is possible that the Israelites wandered between these four wells many times
over their 38 years in the region and not necessarily in the same order.
25 Benejaakan - Means "Children of Jaakan"
26 Horhagidgad - Means "Hills of Thunder"
27 Jobathah - Means "Land of brooks and water"
28 Ebronah - Means "The crossing"
They probably crossed to the slopes on the west side and then turned south at
this point to Ezion-gaber.
29 Ezion-gaber
Ezion-gaber is located at Ain-Ghudian at the top of the Gulf of Aqaba. From
Ezion-gaber they gradually returned to Kadesh-Barnea.
30 Kadesh- Barnea - Means "Holy place of the desert wandering"
The people were abiding in Kadesh-Barnea at this time. Miriam died and was
buried here.
The Israelites ran out of water and, as usual, complained to Moses and Aaron.
God told Moses to take his rod and speak unto the rock before the children of
Israel. Moses was angry with the people. Moses took his rod but, instead of
speaking to the rock as God had commanded him to, he hit it with his rod twice,
thus disobeying God's command. Water came forth for the people, but God was
displeased with Moses.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to
sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring
this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of
Meribah..." Numbers 20:12-13
The time for wandering in the wilderness was over and God was ready to move the
people on to Canaan.
Kadesh (the region) was near the border of Edom and the easiest route to Canaan
was north through the lands belonging to Edom. God had forbidden Moses to harm
either Edom or Moab, so Moses sent messengers to the King of Edom, requesting
permission for the Israelites to pass through his land on the way to Canaan. He
promised to stay on the king's highway and would not allow his people to
disturb the crops and homes of the Edomites.
However, Edom's king refused them passage through Edom.
"And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I
and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without
doing anything else, go through on my feet. And he said, Thou shalt not go
through. And Edom came out against him with much people and a strong hand. Thus
Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned
away from him." Numbers 20:19-21
Kadesh-Barnea seemed to be a very important spot to the Israelites. The
Israelites needed many miles of land to rotate the grazing grounds for their
flocks as they were now a nomadic tribe. This second journey may have been
repeated many times during the 38 years they remained in this area and not
necessarily in the same order. It is also possible that only the shepherds and
their flocks wandered around for thirty-eight years while the rest stayed at
Kadesh-Barnea.
This ends the second journey.
Journey 3
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