From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

The Spies Report

Returning Spies Report to the Israelites

The returning spies report to Moses and the Israelite community that the land flows with milk and honey but it is occupied by powerful people living in large fortified settlements. Ten of the scouts spread a very bad report causing much fear and dispair among the assembled people. Num 13:25-33

Only Joshua and Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, argued that the people of Canaan were not to powerful to fight and overcome and warn the people not to rebel against the Lord. The people complain and cry out against Moses and Aaron, threaten to chose a new leader and return to Egypt. Num 14-6-9

As the whole community threatened to pelt Joshua and Caleb with stones, the Presence of the LORD appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me, and how long will they have no faith in Me despite all the signs that I have performed in their midst? Num 14: 10-11

Moses argues with the Lord that if he puts all the people to death for their sinful behavior, all the nations will hear that the Lord was not able to bring the Israelites into the land he promised them on oath, so God slaughtered the Israelites in the wilderness. Moses asks the Lord to forgive the sins of the people, just as he had pardoned them from the time they lieft Egypt. Num 14: 16-19

The Lord forgives the people but forbids every one, except Joshua and Caleb, of 20 years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against God from entering the promised land. The Lord tells Moses to instruct the Israelite community that their children will be shephards in the wilderness for 40 years, one year for each of the 40 days the spies scouted the land of Canaan, suffering for the unfaithfulness and sins of their elders. Num 14: 30-34

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Korah, Dathan and Abiram along with 250 well-known Israelite community leaders rose up against Moses/ They question why Moses' status is above others in the community. Moses tells Korah and his followers that the Levites have gone too far in their disrespect and protests. Moses tells Korah and his supporters to put burning coals with incense in their censers before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting and that the man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. Num: 6-7 Moses is told by the Lord to warn all the people to move away from the tents of the wicked Korah and his followers. Moses tells the people that if the Lord opens the earth and swallows the men who treated the Lord with contempt along with their families, their supporters and their belongings then the Israelite community will know that he, Moses, is the Lord's chosen one. Num: 25-29 The ground split open under Korah, Dathan, Abiram and all those associated with them and then the earth closed over them. Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who had followed Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Num: 31-35 The Lord in his anger spread plague among the Israelite community. Moses tells Aaron to put incense and burning coals from the altar in the censers and then run into the midst of the people to atone for the sins of the community to stop the plague. 14,700 people died from the plague in addition to those who had followed Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Num: 41-50

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

The budding of Aaron's staff

The Lord tells Moses to get a staff from each of the 12 leaders of the ancestral tribes, to write the name of each man on his staff and then place the staffs in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant. The Lord tells Moses that the staff of the chosen man will sprout on the next day. The next day, Moses found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had budded with almonds and blossoms, indicating that God had selected Aaron and his descendants as priests. Num 17: 1-10

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

1st day 5th month of the 40th year of the Exodus

Mount Hor

From Kadesh Barnea, Moses wanted to go east through Edom and north trough Moab toward Canaan. Being refused passage through both territories, Moses led the people south to Elath, then north and east, bypassing Edom and Moab. The community camped at Mount Hor on the border of Edom. At the Lord's command Aaron, the priest, went up Mount Hor, where he died on the ist day of the 5th month in the 40th year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor. Num 33: 35-39

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

Bronze Serpent

The Israelite community complain about the lack of food and water in the wilderness. God punishes the people who spoke once again against the Lord by sending venomous snakes among them. Moses prays for the people and at God's instruction makes a bronze serpent mounted on a pole. Moses tells the people that anyone who is bitten by a snake must look at the bronze serpent to live. Num 21 : 4-8

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

Campsites on the jouney to Moab

The Israelites camped at Oboth and then at Iye Abarim in the desert that faces Moab. From there the people moved through the Zered Valley before camping at Arnon on the border between Moab and the Amorites. At the next camp site, Beer, God told Moses to gather all the water and the Lord gave them water. From Beer, the people went from the desert to Mattanah, continued to Nahaliel, Bamoth and then to the valley in Moab where the top pf Pisgah overlooked the wasteland below. Num 21

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

Defeat of King Sihon and King Og

Israel asks Sihon King of the Amorites to pass through his territory. Sihon refused passage and sent his army into the the desert to slay the Israelites. Israel overcame Sihon's army at Jahaz and took over the land from Arnon to the Jabbok. Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them including Hesbon. The Israelites drove out the Amorites from the land. Num 21: 20-32 The Israelites went up the road toward Bashan fighting the army of King Og at Edrei. The Israelites destroyed Og and his entire army taking possession of the land.

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

Plains of Moab

The people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan River across from Jericho. Balak King of Moab saw what the Israelites had done to the Amorites and he sent for Balak to come and put a curse on Israel to protect his kingdom. Moses ascended Mount Nebo, the final wilderness encampment before crossing the Jordan River and sees that the people of Israel haven been seduced into immorality by Moab, worshipping the Baal of Peor and committing harlotry with the women of Moab. The Lord is very angry spreading a plague among the people of Israel. Phinehas the priest turned God's anger away from the people when he slaysa n Israelite man who took a Midianite woman into the tent of meeting. Num:25

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho

40th year after the Exodus from Egypt

Second Census before crossing the River Jordan

After the plague ends, the Lord tells Moses to take a second census by families of all the fighting men of Israel 20 years old or more. The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730. The Lord said to Moses, the land will be allocated as an inheritance based on the size of each ancestral family tribe. Num: 26

From Kadesh Barnea to Jericho