Números 20

Números 20

Constable has an excellent summary of the travel of Israel... Here begins the fourth and last leg of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. 1. From Egypt to Sinai (Ex 12–19) 2. From Sinai to Kadesh (Nu 11–12) 3. From Kadesh back to Kadesh—38 years of wilderness wandering (Nu 15–19) 4. From Kadesh to Transjordan (Moab) (Nu 20:1–22:1) The first two of these journeys each began with triumph but ended in tragedy. The third and fourth each began with tragedy but ended in triumph. Gilbrant on the journeys of Israel - Israel (again) at Kadesh. Israel left Sinai on the 20th day of the second month of the second year (Nu 10:11). They arrived at Hazeroth (Nu 12:16), then at Kadesh fairly soon thereafter (Nu 13:26). After the aborted invasion from the South, they left Kadesh and wandered in the Sinai Peninsula. Their journeys are summarized in the travelog in Numbers 33:1-56. After the mention of Hazeroth (Nu 33:17), none of the other stations can be identified until Nu 33:30. (Complete Biblical Library – Leviticus-Numbers) Merrill - Here begins the last of the three travel narratives of Exodus—Numbers: Red Sea to Sinai (Exod 13–19), Sinai to Kadesh (Num 10:11–12:16), and Kadesh to the Transjordan (Nu 20–21). G. J. Wenham (TOTC-Nu) notes that all three narratives share certain motifs (1981:148): (1) battles with enemies (Nu 14:45; 21:1–35; Exod 14; 17:8–16), (2) complaints about lack of food and water and divine provision (Nu 11; Nu 20:2–13; Exod 16–17), (3) the need for faith (Nu 14:11; 20:12; Exod 14:31), and (4) the role of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (Nu 12; 20:1; Exod 15:20).(CBC-Nu) UBS Handbook says "Numbers 10:11–21:35 deals with the middle part of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, from the desert of Sinai to Moab, east of the Dead Sea. Coming after the rebellions and the purity concerns of Numbers 16–19, Numbers 20–21 narrate a number of events on the journey from Kadesh to the plains of Moab (the southern part of the area east of the Jordan River), where Numbers 22–36 take place. From Numbers 20 onward the narrative of the book takes place in the fortieth and last year of the Israelites’ journey through the desert. The old generation was dying out. A new generation had grown up. The end of the wandering now comes into view. Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh - There is an old saying what goes around comes around and it came to pass in two senses in this section. First as stated here they are now back at Kadesh where they had rebelled as a nation and were cursed to wander 40 years. Second, now not only does the nation rebel again, but now Moses and Aaron rebel and as a result they too were prohibited from entering the promised land. Note the phrase the whole congregation would be the first generation of Israelites that left Egypt (at least what was remaining of them after 40 years) and the second generation that would be allowed to enter into the promised land. Timothy Ashley (NICOT-Nu) has a note on the time phrase in the first month - The day and year are missing. If the conclusions drawn above about the structure of the chapter are correct, then arrival at Kadesh comes after many years of wilderness wanderings. As the people had begun their wilderness wanderings at Kadesh (Nu 14:25), so they ended them there. According to Nu 33:36–38, the Israelites came from Kadesh to Mt. Hor, where Aaron died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year. According to Deut. 1:3, it was on the first day of the eleventh month of that same year that Moses began speaking to the people on the plains of Moab. The year in the current verse should probably also be the fortieth year after the exodus from Egypt. Support for this conjecture may be drawn from the fact that the people were soon to be allowed to make progress toward Canaan again (beginning in 20:14), which would only happen at the close of the wilderness wandering (cf. 14:22–35). Also, as was pointed out above, ch. 20 gives the rationale for Moses’ and Aaron’s deaths outside Canaan, and this story would be most relevant close to the events narrated. NET Note on in the first month - The text does not indicate here what year this was, but from comparing the other passages about the itinerary, this is probably the end of the wanderings, the fortieth year, for Aaron died some forty years after the exodus. So in that year the people come through the wilderness of Zin and prepare for a journey through the Moabite plains. Merrill on first month - In the anniversary month of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Nu 20:1; see Exod 12:1–2), the people arrived back at Kadesh, where the unbelieving scouts had misled a rebellious people into rejecting their Promised Land (Nu 13:26). (CBC-Nu) Rod Mattoon - Moses is around 120 years old and Miriam is around 130. A new generation is almost ready to enter Canaan land. The old generation has almost died out. They have come full circle and are back at the place where they left the will of God. Where you leave the will of God will be the place where you get back on track. Jonah fled from Nineveh. He got back on track by returning to Nineveh. The Prodigal Son left home for the wrong reasons and got back on track by returning to his father. Peter denied the Lord and came full circle when he preached at Pentecost. The area of disobedience becomes the entrance ramp to further future growth. The place where you leave God's will is the place where you get back into it. If you get out of the will of God and stop doing things like tithing, praying, church attendance, refusal to be baptized, or reading the Word, then the area of neglect is the place where you must obey to be what God wants you to be and do His will. God's people here have come full circle, but they are still failing in some areas as before. UBS Handbook on in the first month - It is probably the fortieth year that is meant, which was the last year of the Israelites’ journey through the desert (so Ashley page 380). The Jewish medieval commentator Rashbam expressed this view. In 33:38 it is mentioned that Aaron died on Mount Hor forty years after Israel’s exodus from Egypt. According to 33:36, Mount Hor was the first stop after Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, which is the same location as here in 20:1. It is also clear from 20:28 that Aaron died shortly after Miriam. So it seems most likely that from chapter 20 onward the narrative takes place in the fortieth and last year of the Israelites’ journey through the desert. UBS Handbook on Kadesh - Kadesh was an oasis area in the wilderness of Zin (see Nu 20:1; Nu 33:36), bordering the land of Canaan. However, Nu 13:26 locates Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran, which was further to the south. The fact that Kadesh is located in both these deserts may indicate that it was on the border between them. In any case, the place name “Kadesh” is an important locative marker within the structure of Numbers as a whole. It was at Kadesh (13:26) that the protest occurred in reaction to the report of the twelve spies, which led to the punishment of wandering in the wilderness for the whole Israelite community. A journey of some “forty days” (13:25) thus ended up taking almost forty years! This was due to the people’s rebellious nature. Kadesh (06946) (Qadesh) The name of two cities in the OT. The name "kadesh" means "holy" and often God showed himself holy in his judgments at this site (Nu 20:12). 1. Kadesh Barnea. An area of desert springs located fifty miles southwest of Beersheba. It is sometimes called simply Kadesh. One of the springs, Ain Qedeis, preserves the ancient name. The Masoretes made a vocalic distinction between this qadesh and the other name qedesh, but doubtless they came from the same form. The name refers to a holy spot, but of course a spot holy to the heathen pre-Israelite worship. Such "holiness" would be an abomination to Israel. Kadesh Barnea is cited several times in connection with the patriarchs. In Genesis 14:7 Kadesh occurs in what is evidently a very ancient tradition describing a full-scale military action in which Lot, Abraham's nephew, was captured. The more ancient name of Kadesh, according to this account, was ʿên mishpat ("spring of judgment"). Kadesh Barnea was in the area to which Hagar fled (Genesis 16:14) and Abraham settled there for some time (Genesis 20:1). Kadesh figured prominently in the wilderness period of Israelite history. It was the site of a prolonged stay in the wilderness (Deut. 2:14) and the place to which the spies returned from Canaan (Numbers 13:26). It is also one of the sites mentioned in the southern boundary of Canaan (Numbers 34:3-6; Joshua 15:1-4; Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28). According to Joshua 10:41 it was the southernmost boundary of the Conquest. 2. Kadesh on the Orontes. A Hittite capital situated on the Orontes River eighty miles north of Damascus. The RSV accepts a reading of the Lucianic recension of the LXX that includes Kadesh in the extension of the Davidic empire (2 Samuel 24:6). (Thomas Mccomiskey - Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Qadesh - 18x in 18v translated - Kadesh(15), Meribah-kadesh*(1), Meribath-kadesh*(2).Gen. 14:7; Gen. 16:14; Gen. 20:1; Num. 13:26; Num. 20:1; Num. 20:14; Num. 20:16; Num. 20:22; Num. 27:14; Num. 33:36; Num. 33:37; Deut. 1:46; Deut. 32:51; Jdg. 11:16; Jdg. 11:17; Ps. 29:8; Ezek. 47:19; Ezek. 48:28 Kadesh-Barnea (06947) (Qadesh Barnea) Gilbrant says this is "An alternative name for "Kadesh" (see above), "Kadesh-Barnea" is sometimes termed "Kedesh" (cf. Josh. 15:23). It is used ten times in the OT, while "Kadesh" alone is used fourteen times. Kadesh-Barnea was located 107 kilometers southwest of the Dead Sea. It was situated just inside the southern boundary of Israel. A trip from the traditional location of Mount Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea took eleven days (Deut. 1:2), by way of the eastern borders of the Sinai Peninsula. Israel spent thirty-eight years of their total forty years in the Sinai Desert in the vicinity of Kadesh-Barnea (Deut. 2:14; cf. Nu 32:13). Joshua gained control of the area from Kadesh-Barnea to Gaza on the coast, northwest from Kadesh-Barnea (Josh. 10:41).The meaning of "Barnea" is still under investigation. See "Kadesh" (HED #7229) for the probability that Kadesh-Barnea is located near one of the three springs in the area, probably Ain el-Qudeirat. Qadesh Barnea 10x in 10 v - Nu 32:8; Nu 34:4; Dt. 1:2; Dt. 1:19; Dt. 2:14; Dt. 9:23; Jos. 10:41; Jos. 14:6; Jos. 14:7; Jos. 15:3 Related Resources: American Tract Society Kadesh or Kadesh-Barnea Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Kadesh-barnea Fausset Bible Dictionary Kadesh Barnea Holman Bible Dictionary Kadesh-Barnea Kadesh-Meribah Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary Kadesh-barnea Watson's Theological Dictionary Kadesh-Barnea International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Kadesh-Barnea McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Kadesh Kadesh-Barnea Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Kadesh Easton's Bible Dictionary Kadesh Kadesh Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Meriboth-Kadesh Kadesh The Jewish Encyclopedia Kadesh H Clay Trumbull - Kadesh-Barnea, Its Importance and Probable Site (1884) Merrill on in the first month- Lit., “the first new moon” (Exod 19:1; cf. Num 1:1; 7:1; 9:1, 5; 10:11; 33:3, 38). The unstated year must be the fortieth, since the summary of Israel’s itinerary places Kadesh right before the stop where Aaron died in the fifth month of the fortieth year (33:38). Kadesh-barnea (Nu 32:8; 34:4; Deut 1:2, 19; 2:14; 9:23; Josh 10:41; 14:6; 15:3), the principal oasis in the wilderness of Zin (CBC-Nu) Now Miriam died there and was buried there - So in this chapter we see three of the leaders of the older generation who will not enter the Promised Land. While Miriam rebelled in Numbers 12, there was not notation there that her rebellion would keep her from entering the promised land. While it is not stated, it is implied that she must have expressed unbelief in the promised land, possibly siding with the 10 spies who brought a bad report, but that is speculation. Also recall that Miriam is older than Moses. While Miriam had a rebellious episode in Numbers 12:1-16+, Moses surely could not help but remember it was his sister who helped save his live in Exodus 2:1-5+ and she was also the one who led the wonderful praises after the Red Sea deliverance (Ex 15:20-21+). One incident of rebellion left a black mark on her whole life.