Dictionary Article

Home of the wandering Israelites for nearly 38 years. In the vast area of the Sinai there are two main oases: in the south is Wadi Feiran, near the mountain of Moses (Mt Sinai or Horeb); in the north is Kadesh, or Kadesh-barnea. The former was the place where the law was given; the latter, the main campsite of the 12 tribes during their exodus from Egypt (Dt 1:46).

Show passage in OET: DEU 1:46

OET-RV DEU 1:46

46 So that’s why we stayed at Kadesh-Barnea for as long as we all did.

OET-LV DEU 1:46

46 And_you(pl)_remained at_Qādēsh days many like_days which you(pl)_remained.

Jump to OET DEU 1:46 section.

Kadesh-barnea (Gn 14:7, “En-mishpat”) was raided by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, during the time of Abraham. In this area Hagar was driven from the tent of Sarah, her mistress (16:14), and here Miriam died and was buried (Nm 20:1). The great contention over water took place here, giving rise to the name Meribah or Meribath-kadesh (Nm 20:2-24; Dt 32:51; Ez 47:19; 48:28). This was also the scene of Korah’s rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron (Nm 16–17 OET NUM 16:1–50 · OET NUM 17:1–13). This area would long remain in the memory of the Israelite tribes as the place of their unbelief following the report of the 10 spies and a delay of 38 years before their occupancy of the Promised Land (Ps 95:8-11; cf. Heb 3:7-19).

Show passage in OET: GEN 14:7

OET-RV GEN 14:7

7 Then those four kings turned back and went to Eyn Mishpat (also called Kadesh) and they attacked the entire territories of the Amalekim and also the Amorim, who were living in Hazezon Tamar.

OET-LV GEN 14:7

7 And_they _turned _back and_they _came to En Mishpat that is_Qādēsh and_they _defeated DOM all _of the _region _of the _ˊAmālēqite[s] and_also DOM the_ʼAmorī who_was_dwelling in_ Ḩaʦʦōn tāmār.

Show passage in OET: GEN 16:14

OET-RV GEN 16:14

14 So that’s why that well between Kadesh and Bered is now called ‘The well of the living one who sees me’.

OET-LV GEN 16:14

14 Therefore yes/correct/thus/so someone _called (to)_well Bəʼēr Lahai Roi THERE it_is_between Qādēsh and_between Bered.

Show passage in OET: NUM 20:1

OET-RV NUM 20:1

20 Then in the first month of the next year, all the Israelis entered the Tsin (Zin) (‘Thorny’ or ‘Thirsty’) wilderness and the people camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miryam (Miriam) died, and was buried there.

OET-LV NUM 20:1

20 And_ the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) all _of the_congregation _they _came the _wilderness _of Tsin/(Zin) in_month (the)_first and_ the_people _he/it _sat _down//remained//lived in_Qādēsh and_she _died there Miryām and_she _was _buried there.

Show passage in OET: DEU 32:51

OET-RV DEU 32:51

51 That’s because you were unfaithful to me among the Israelis at the Merivah springs in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Tsin (Zin), because you didn’t regard me as holy in front of the Israelis.

OET-LV DEU 32:51

51 On that you(pl)_acted _unfaithfully against_me in _the_middle the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) at_the _waters _of Mərīⱱāh _of Qādēsh the _wilderness _of Tsin/(Zin) on that not you(pl)_honoured _as _holy me in _the_middle the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: EZE 47:19

OET-RV EZE 47:19

19 On the southern side, the boundary will extend from Tamar to the springs near Merivah -Kadesh. Then it’ll extend west along the brook of Mitsrayim (Egypt) to the Mediterranean Sea. That’ll be the southern boundary.

OET-LV EZE 47:19

19 And_the_side _of the_south southward_on will_be_from _Tāmār to the _waters _of Mərīⱱāh Qādēsh the_wadi to the_sea (the)_great and_DOM the_side _of southward_of southward_toward.

Show passage in OET: EZE 48:28

OET-RV EZE 48:28

28 Gad’s southern boundary will extend from Tamar south to the waters of Merivah -Kadesh, and farther west to the brook of Mitsrayim (Egypt), and then on to the Mediterranean Sea.

OET-LV EZE 48:28

28 And_at the _border _of Gād to the_side _of the_south southward_toward and_ the_border _it _was from_Tāmār the _waters _of Mərīⱱāh _of Qādēsh the_wadi on the_sea (the)_great.

Show passage in OET: PSA 95:8–11

OET-RV PSA 95:8

8 Don’t become stubborn like your ancestors did at Merivah,
⇔ ≈ and like they did in the wilderness at Masah.

OET-RV PSA 95:9

9 Your ancestors tried my patience
⇔ even though they’d seen me perform miracles.

OET-RV PSA 95:10

10 I was angry with that generation and said,
⇔ ‘These people are very happy to do their own thing.
⇔ They’re not really interested in following my instructions.’

OET-RV PSA 95:11

11 So I got angry at them and made a decision
⇔ that they would never be allowed to enter the region where I would have given them peace.

OET-LV PSA 95:8

8 Do _not harden heart _of_your(pl) like_Mərīⱱāh like_the _day _of Massah in_wilderness.

OET-LV PSA 95:9

9 When they_put _me _to _the _test ancestors _of_your(pl) they_tested _me also they _had _seen work _of_my.

OET-LV PSA 95:10

10 Forty year[s] I _felt _loathing at_a _generation and_I _said are_a _people who_go _astray _of heart they and_they not they _know ways _of_my.

OET-LV PSA 95:11

11 That I _swore _an _oath in_anger _of_my if they_will _go into rest _of_my.

Jump to OET GEN 14:7 section.

Jump to OET GEN 16:14 section.

Jump to OET NUM 20:1 section.

Jump to OET DEU 32:51 section.

Jump to OET EZE 47:19 section.

Jump to OET EZE 48:28 section.

Jump to OET PSA 95:8–11 section.

Because of the water, pasture, and agricultural lands, plus its proximity to Canaan, the Israelites found this area the best spot in which to spend most of their time prior to entering the Promised Land.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary