Kadesh (Israel)

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This article is about Kadesh in the South of Israel, see also Kadesh or Kedesh.

Kadesh (Hebrew: קָדֵשׁ), also known as Kadesh-Barnea (קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ), was a place in the south of Ancient Israel.

The name "Kadesh" means holy. The name "Barnea" may mean desert of wandering.

Kadesh was the farthest point which the Israelites reached in their initial journey to Canaan. At Kadesh, spies were sent to survey the Land of Israel, and they brought back a generally evil report, Joshua and Caleb alone giving a good report of the land (Numbers 13:18-31). Because of the Israelites' lack of trust in God, He sentenced them to wander for forty years in the wilderness. (Numbers 13:3, Numbers 13:26) They travelled from Kadesh into the deserts of Paran, turning back "towards the Red Sea" (Deuteronomy 2:1).

At the end of these years of wandering, the tribes were a second time gathered together at Kadesh. At that time, Miriam died and was buried. Following Miriam's death, the Israelites complained to Moses about the lack of water. God commanded Moses to bring forth water from a rock, which he did. Due to a certain sin of his in doing so (he struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God had commanded him (Numbers 20:8-12), he was punished that he would not be allowed to bring the people into the Land. From that time, the spring there was called "the waters of Meribah" (meaning quarrel) because the Israelites contended with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy. (Numbers 20:2-13).

Moses subsequently sent envoys to the King of Edom from Kadesh (Numbers 20:14), asking for permission to let the Israelites pass through his terrain. The Edomite king denied this request.

Kadesh-Barnea has been identified with a number of oases scattered throughout the Sinai and Negev deserts.

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