Kadesh, sacred, or Kadesh-barnea (kâ'desh-bär'ne-ah). A place on the southern frontier of Canaan. It was "eleven days," or about 165 miles, distant from Horeb, Deuteronomy 1:2 : on the border of Edom, Numbers 20:16; not far from Gerar, Genesis 20:1; to the east of Bered, Genesis 16:14; in the desert of Zin, Numbers 20:1, Numbers 27:14, Numbers 33:36, Deuteronomy 32:51; and the point to which Chedorlaomer returned, having driven the Horites over the Arabah into the Et Tih region, and then going northward. Genesis 14:7. In Scripture it is sometimes called Kadesh alone, and sometimes Kadesh-barnea, and is identical with Meribah-kadesh, Ezekiel 47:19, Joshua 15:3, Joshua 15:23; with En-Mishpat = the fountain of judgment, Genesis 14:7; and with Rithmah = the broom, Numbers 33:18, thus called from a shrub growing in the desert. Spies were sent into the land of Canaan. The people rebelled, and were condemned to 40 years sojourn in the wilderness, Numbers 13:14, during which time Kadesh seems to have been their chief centre. At the end of 40 years they encamped again at Kadesh for a march to Canaan. Numbers 20:1. Here Miriam died and was buried, and the rock was smitten for water. Numbers 1:20-21. It was 40 to 50 miles directly south of Beer-sheba.


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