Kadesh-barnea

Location

Kadesh-barnea is usually identified with the oasis of ‘Ein el-Qudeirat in north-eastern Sinai — the largest spring in the region — with nearby ‘Ein Qadeis preserving the name. Following Rashi, the ArtScroll Chumash map treats Kadesh as Rithmah, station 15 of Numbers 33, and as station 33, where Israel returns in the fortieth year. Kibroth-hattaavah and Hazeroth are drawn on the way north from Sinai, as on that map; neither is located.

• Kadesh-barnea (Rithmah)קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ · רִתְמָה — ʿEin el-Qudeirat (probable)Probable identification 30.65° N, 34.42° ETwelve spies go out; Israel’s longest encampment — stations 15 and 33.

Related sites

• ‘Ein QadeisScholarly proposalA smaller spring that preserves the name Qadesh.
• Kibroth-hattaavah (?)Tradition · ArtScroll Chumash mapStation 13 (Num. 11:34; 33:16), “the graves of craving,” where the quail came. Drawn north of Sinai; position approximate, unlocated.
• Hazeroth (?)Tradition · ArtScroll Chumash mapStation 14 (Num. 11:35; 33:17), where Miriam is shut out of the camp for seven days. Drawn south-west of Kadesh; position approximate, unlocated.
• ‘Ain Hudra (Hazeroth?)Scholarly proposalA spring in eastern Sinai often proposed for Hazeroth, on a route by the Gulf of Aqaba.

The journey

• Sinai → Kibroth-hattaavah → Hazeroth → Kadesh≈ 250 km

  North across the Sinai plateau to Kadesh (Rithmah), as on the ArtScroll map; Kibroth-hattaavah and Hazeroth are unlocated. Roughly 14–26 days at the pace of a people on the move. Route conjectural.

• The spies, as far as Rehob≈ 500 km

  North through the hill country to Lebo-hamath. Roughly 14–19 days on foot. Route conjectural.

Distances are estimates along plausible ancient corridors, not measured routes.

Biblical Narrative

The spies go up “into the South, and came unto Hebron” (13:22) and bring back grapes, pomegranates and figs (13:23–25). Only Caleb and Joshua urge the people on (14:6–9). An attempt to invade without God’s blessing ends in defeat at Hormah (14:40–45). At Kadesh Miriam dies, and Moses strikes the rock at Meribah (20:1–13).

Geography

Kadesh lies where the Sinai desert meets the Negev highlands, on routes leading north to Beersheba and Hebron and east to the Arabah. Its springs could sustain a long encampment. The spies’ circuit to Rehob near Lebo-hamath and back, “at the end of forty days” (13:25), is on the order of 900–1,000 km.

Historical Context

Much of the wilderness period centres on Kadesh — “ye abode in Kadesh many days” (Deut. 1:46). Numbers 33 lists seventeen stations for the intervening years (33:19–36): Rimmon-perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelath, Mount Shepher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithkah, Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene-jaakan, Hor-haggidgad, Jotbathah, Abronah and Ezion-geber. Traditional maps such as ArtScroll’s list them as the years of wandering without placing them, and none can be located. Israel then comes back to Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin (33:36).

Archaeology

Rudolph Cohen’s excavations at Tell el-Qudeirat (1976–1982) uncovered a series of Iron Age fortresses (10th–6th centuries BCE) but no Late Bronze Age remains — the period often proposed for the Exodus. Supporters of the identification note that nomadic encampments leave few traces; critics see the absence as significant.

Identification

What the text says

Kadesh(-barnea) in the wilderness of Paran (Num. 13:26) and of Zin (20:1), on the border of Edom (20:16), eleven days from Horeb (Deut. 1:2).

Traditional identification

Rashi: Kadesh is the Rithmah of Num. 33:18; the ArtScroll Chumash map accordingly labels it “Kadesh-barnea / Rithmah,” stations 15 and 33. Eusebius (Onomasticon) associated Kadesh with the region of Petra.

Scholarly proposals

‘Ein el-Qudeirat (probable); ‘Ein Qadeis preserves the name. Hazeroth has often been sought at ‘Ain Hudra in eastern Sinai, on a route along the Gulf of Aqaba.

What remains uncertain

The absence of Late Bronze Age remains is debated; the long encampment may have spread over a wider oasis region.