Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

20:1-21:35 Marching from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab. After a long time (nearly 40 years) of aimless wandering in the wilderness, Israel is ready to move and enter the Land of Promise. In this section one may see parallels with the earlier journeys from the Red Sea to Sinai and from Sinai to Kadesh (Exodus 13-19; Numbers 11-12). Most of the older generation have died out, and the younger ones are now taking over. Though not perfect, the younger generation are not so harsh in their complaints, nor do they show their fathers' readiness to contend against the leaders of the nation. Now it is those leaders--Moses and Aaron--who make the most serious mistakes.

20:1 Regrouping at Kadesh. Kadesh was last mentioned in 13:26, when the spies returned. The wilderness of Zin was the area first traversed by the spies (13:21), so it is just north of Kadesh. in the first month. The year is not mentioned, but according to 33:38, Aaron died in the fortieth year after the exodus, and this would fit here. The death of Miriam is a watershed. She was the sister of Moses, the preserver of his life (Ex. 2:4-8), and a prophetess (Ex. 15:20-21). She was clearly the leading woman of Israel (Numbers 12). It has often been noted that the leading woman of the NT was also called Miriam (English, "Mary").