Meribah-kadesh — Bible place

Holy, or Kadesh-Barnea, sacred desert of wandering, a place on the south-eastern border of Palestine, about 165 miles from Horeb. It lay in the “wilderness” or “desert of Zin” (Gen. 14:7; Num. 13:3-26; 14:29-33; 20:1; 27:14), on the border of Edom (20:16). From this place, in compliance with the desire of the people, Moses sent forth “twelve spies” to spy the land. After examining it in all its districts, the spies brought back an evil report, Joshua and Caleb alone giving a good report of the land (13:18-31). Influenced by the discouraging report, the people abandoned all hope of entering into the Promised Land. They remained a considerable time at Kadesh. Because of their unbelief, they were condemned by God to wander for thirty-eight years in the wilderness. They took their journey from Kadesh into the deserts of Paran, “by way of the Red Sea” (Deut. 2:1). (One theory is that during these thirty-eight years they remained in and about Kadesh.)

At the end of these years of wanderings, the tribes were a second time gathered together at Kadesh. During their stay here at this time Miriam died and was buried. Here the people murmured for want of water, as their forefathers had done formerly at Rephidim; and Moses, irritated by their chidings, “with his rod smote the rock twice,” instead of “speaking to the rock before their eyes,” as the Lord had commanded him (comp. Num. 27:14; Deut. 9:23; Ps. 106:32, 33). Because of this act of his, in which Aaron too was involved, neither of them was to be permitted to set foot within the Promised Land (Num. 20:12, 24). The king of Edom would not permit them to pass on through his territory, and therefore they commenced an eastward march, and “came unto Mount Hor” (20:22).

This place has been identified with ‘Ain el-Kadeis, about 12 miles east-south-east of Beersheba.

Recorded scripture occurrences (3)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

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 Tsin (Zin) wilderness, 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: EZK 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: EZK 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.

Jump to OET DEU 32:51 section.

Jump to OET EZE 47:19 section.

Jump to OET EZE 48:28 section.