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Kadesh-barnea

Wilderness of Zin

Oasis in Wilderness of Zin · today Ain el-Qudeirat, Sinai (probable)

Meaning: “Kadesh = "holy, sanctuary"

The great wilderness oasis where Israel sent the twelve spies, refused to enter Canaan, and wandered for a generation.

Location

Overview

Kadesh-barnea, a watered oasis on the southern edge of Canaan in the wilderness of Zin, was the turning point of the wilderness years — the place of decision, rebellion, and long delay.

The twelve spies

From Kadesh, Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land. Ten brought back a fearful report, and the people refused to enter, longing to return to Egypt (Numbers 13:26; 14:1–4). For that unbelief the whole generation was condemned to wander forty years until they died in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33–34).

Miriam's death and the waters of Meribah

Years later Israel returned to Kadesh; there Miriam died and was buried (Numbers 20:1). When the people again contended for water, Moses struck the rock in anger instead of speaking to it — and for that he was told he would not bring Israel into the land (Numbers 20:11–12). The place was called Meribah, "strife."

The gateway refused

From Kadesh, Moses also sent messengers asking Edom for passage, which was refused (Numbers 20:14–21), turning Israel's long way around.

Events Here

1445 BC

The twelve spies are sent from Kadesh; Israel refuses to enter

Numbers 13:26
1407 BC

Miriam dies; Moses strikes the rock at the waters of Meribah

Numbers 20:11

Scripture References

28 verses
Genesis3 verses

Genesis 14:7

And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.

Genesis 16:14

Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. Beerlahairoi: that is, The well of him that liveth and seeth me

Genesis 20:1

And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

Numbers10 verses

Numbers 13:26

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; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

Numbers 20:1

Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Numbers 20:14

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: befallen: Heb. found us

Numbers 20:16

And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Numbers 20:22

And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.

Numbers 27:14

For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

Numbers 32:8

Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.

Numbers 33:36

And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.

Numbers 33:37

And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

Numbers 34:4

And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:

Deuteronomy6 verses

Deuteronomy 1:2

(There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)

Deuteronomy 1:19

And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.

Deuteronomy 1:46

So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.

Deuteronomy 2:14

And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them. brook: or, valley

Deuteronomy 9:23

Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.

Deuteronomy 32:51

Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Meribah-Kadesh: or, strife at Kadesh

Joshua4 verses

Joshua 10:41

And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

Joshua 14:6

Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

Joshua 14:7

Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

Joshua 15:3

And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa: Maalehacrebbim: or, the going up to Acrabbim

Judges2 verses

Judges 11:16

But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

Judges 11:17

Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

Psalms1 verse

Psalms 29:8

The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

Ezekiel2 verses

Ezekiel 47:19

And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward. strife: or, Meribah river: or, valley is the south side southward: or, is the south side toward Teman

Ezekiel 48:28

And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea. strife: or, Meribahkadesh

Archaeology & History

Kadesh-barnea is most often identified with the spring of Ain el-Qudeirat in the northern Sinai, the largest oasis in the region — a natural gathering place fitting a long encampment. Iron Age fortress remains nearby attest to the strategic value of its waters on the desert frontier of Canaan.

People who appear here

Moses4×
Joshua2×
Abraham1×
Aaron1×
Miriam1×
Caleb1×

Frequently asked about Kadesh-barnea

Where is Kadesh-barnea today?

Today, Kadesh-barnea corresponds to Ain el-Qudeirat, Sinai (probable).

What does the name Kadesh-barnea mean?

The name Kadesh-barnea means “Kadesh = "holy, sanctuary"”.

What happened at Kadesh-barnea in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Kadesh-barnea include the twelve spies are sent from kadesh; israel refuses to enter; miriam dies; moses strikes the rock at the waters of meribah.

Where is Kadesh-barnea first mentioned in the Bible?

Kadesh-barnea is first mentioned in Genesis 14:7.

How often is Kadesh-barnea mentioned in the Bible?

Kadesh-barnea is mentioned in 28 verses across 7 books: Genesis, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Psalms, Ezekiel.

What happened at Kadesh-barnea?

Israel sent the twelve spies from there and then refused to enter the Promised Land, earning forty years of wandering. Miriam later died there, and Moses struck the rock at the waters of Meribah.

Where was Kadesh-barnea?

A major oasis on the southern border of Canaan in the wilderness of Zin, generally identified with Ain el-Qudeirat in the Sinai/Negev.