MISCONCEPTIONS

"They wandered in the desert for 40 years" – not quite!

 

After the Exodus from Egypt, the Jewish people ended up in the Sinai Peninsula for forty years.

 The standard phrasing as long told to young children and in story books is:     

 

 "They wandered in the desert for 40 years".

 

This is taken from Numbers 14:33, repeated in Numbers 32:13 and again mentioned in Joshua 5:6 (texts will be discussed and quoted later on).

 

I am not questioning the 40 year duration as it is attested often in the Chumash and book of Joshua.   (See above verses as well as Numbers 33:38 and Deut. 1:3, Deut: 8:4 and  Deut. 29:4)

   [NOTE: all Hebrew-English texts below are from http://www.mechon-mamre.org]

 

Numbers Chapter 33 בְּמִדְבַּר

	לח  וַיַּעַל אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן אֶל-הֹר הָהָר, עַל-פִּי יְהוָה--וַיָּמָת שָׁם:  בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים, לְצֵאת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי, בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ.	38 And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.
Deuteronomy Chapter 1 דְּבָרִים א  אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים, אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּעֵבֶר, הַיַּרְדֵּן:  בַּמִּדְבָּר בָּעֲרָבָה מוֹל סוּף בֵּין-פָּארָן וּבֵין-תֹּפֶל, וְלָבָן וַחֲצֵרֹת--וְדִי זָהָב. 1 These are the words which Moses spoke unto all Israel beyond the Jordan; in the wilderness, in the Arabah, over against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. ב  אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם מֵחֹרֵב, דֶּרֶךְ הַר-שֵׂעִיר, עַד, קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ. 2 It is eleven days journey from Horeb unto Kadesh-barnea by the way of mount Seir. ג  וַיְהִי בְּאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, בְּעַשְׁתֵּי-עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ; דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה, אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֹתוֹ, אֲלֵהֶם. 3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;
Desert   But using the word ‘desert’ for the Sinai peninsula of that time is misleading. We associate warm climate 'desert' with endless hot sand and sand dunes.  but it is quite clear from the Bible this was not the state of the Sinai then, and though the Jewish outreach group, Aish HaTorah still uses “desert” (see http://www.aish.com/h/9av/ju/48945386.html.) as do some Christian translations,  most modern translations instead use the term ‘wilderness’.  (See Hertz, Art Scroll and below mechon-mamre.org  Jewish translations and Christian ones at  http://biblehub.com/joshua/5-6.htm; http://biblehub.com/numbers/32-13; htmhttp://biblehub.com/numbers/14-33.htm).      Moses was tending his father-in-law’s sheep near Mt Sinai -- in the heart of the Sinai peninsula when he saw the burning bush and approached the mountain.   Exodus Chapter 3 שְׁמוֹת א  וּמֹשֶׁה, הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת-צֹאן יִתְרוֹ חֹתְנוֹ--כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן; וַיִּנְהַג אֶת-הַצֹּאן אַחַר הַמִּדְבָּר, וַיָּבֹא אֶל-הַר הָאֱלֹהִים חֹרֵבָה. 1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the farthest end of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. Shepherds to not take their sheep for grazing in sand covered wastelands. Nor would the sheep and goats and cattle the Jews brought forth with them from Egypt have coped with long treks over empty, hot sand. Only rare water is ever noted as a problem for these animals.
Exodus Chapter 17 שְׁמוֹת א  וַיִּסְעוּ כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּדְבַּר-סִין, לְמַסְעֵיהֶם--עַל-פִּי יְהוָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בִּרְפִידִים, וְאֵין מַיִם, לִשְׁתֹּת הָעָם. 1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and encamped in Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink. ב  וַיָּרֶב הָעָם, עִם-מֹשֶׁה, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, תְּנוּ-לָנוּ מַיִם וְנִשְׁתֶּה; וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם, מֹשֶׁה, מַה-תְּרִיבוּן עִמָּדִי, מַה-תְּנַסּוּן אֶת-יְהוָה. 2 Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said: 'Give us water that we may drink.' And Moses said unto them: 'Why strive ye with me? wherefore do ye try the LORD?' ג  וַיִּצְמָא שָׁם הָעָם לַמַּיִם, וַיָּלֶן הָעָם עַל-מֹשֶׁה; וַיֹּאמֶר, לָמָּה זֶּה הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, לְהָמִית אֹתִי וְאֶת-בָּנַי וְאֶת-מִקְנַי, בַּצָּמָא. 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said: 'Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?'     Numbers Chapter 20 בְּמִדְבַּר א  וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל-הָעֵדָה מִדְבַּר-צִן, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן, וַיֵּשֶׁב הָעָם, בְּקָדֵשׁ; וַתָּמָת שָׁם מִרְיָם, וַתִּקָּבֵר שָׁם. 1 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
ב  וְלֹא-הָיָה מַיִם, לָעֵדָה; וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ, עַל-מֹשֶׁה וְעַל-אַהֲרֹן. 2 And there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. ג  וַיָּרֶב הָעָם, עִם-מֹשֶׁה; וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֵאמֹר, וְלוּ גָוַעְנוּ בִּגְוַע אַחֵינוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה. 3 And the people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying: 'Would that we had perished when our brethren perished before the LORD! ד  וְלָמָה הֲבֵאתֶם אֶת-קְהַל יְהוָה, אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה, לָמוּת שָׁם, אֲנַחְנוּ וּבְעִירֵנוּ. 4 And why have ye brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, to die there, we and our cattle?
What then was the Sinai?   An area which is called the “savannah” in Africa, the “open range” in the early U.S. west and the Russian “steppe”:  land that was grassy and with some shrubs and bushes, but which does not belong to any one owner nor to any tribe or peoples.     Literally,  "open grazing range".   The term "wilderness" which is often used by English translations (as noted above) is more appropriate under the circumstances compared to ‘desert’ and its associations.  But “wilderness” too has its own associations at least for Europeans and North and South Americans: wild animals and forests , so maybe  using “open range” would be clearest.   Wandering   The second misconception is that the Jews were constantly --- almost aimlessly -- wandered this open range as if lost and confused.     42 encampments and rest stops   Yes, Numbers ch. 33 lists some 42 locations and rest stops, but the large size of the group and open range heat required frequent stops -- even when on a straight path between location A to location B. Between leaving Ramses in Egypt there were at least 13 stops until the people reached Mount Sinai (Numbers 33: 1-15) in that initial, 60 day trip, and another 10 or so between their leaving Kaddesh until reaching the Jordan (numbers 33: 16-49) in that last year. More importantly, according to the Bible,  the Jews settled and stayed at Mount Sinai for almost a year – 11 months and 5 days – until the Mishkan (mobile temple), its furnishings and the silver trumpets were completed Exodus 19 and Numbers 10 below.).     Exodus Chapter 19 שְׁמוֹת א  בַּחֹדֶשׁ, הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, לְצֵאת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם--בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, בָּאוּ מִדְבַּר סִינָי. 1 In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. ב  וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרְפִידִים, וַיָּבֹאוּ מִדְבַּר סִינַי, וַיַּחֲנוּ, בַּמִּדְבָּר; וַיִּחַן-שָׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל, נֶגֶד הָהָר. 2 And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount. ג  וּמֹשֶׁה עָלָה, אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים; וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה, מִן-הָהָר לֵאמֹר, כֹּה תֹאמַר לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב, וְתַגֵּיד לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: Numbers Chapter 10 בְּמִדְבַּר א  וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר. 1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: ב  עֲשֵׂה לְךָ, שְׁתֵּי חֲצוֹצְרֹת כֶּסֶף--מִקְשָׁה, תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם; וְהָיוּ לְךָ לְמִקְרָא הָעֵדָה, וּלְמַסַּע אֶת-הַמַּחֲנוֹת. 2 'Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall be unto thee for the calling of the congregation, and for causing the camps to set forward. ג  וְתָקְעוּ, בָּהֵן--וְנוֹעֲדוּ אֵלֶיךָ כָּל-הָעֵדָה, אֶל-פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. 3 And when they shall blow with them, all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at the door of the tent of meeting. ד  וְאִם-בְּאַחַת, יִתְקָעוּ--וְנוֹעֲדוּ אֵלֶיךָ הַנְּשִׂיאִים, רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. 4 And if they blow but with one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. יא  וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי--בְּעֶשְׂרִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ; נַעֲלָה, הֶעָנָן, מֵעַל, מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת. 11 And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. יב  וַיִּסְעוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַסְעֵיהֶם, מִמִּדְבַּר סִינָי; וַיִּשְׁכֹּן הֶעָנָן, בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן. 12 And the children of Israel set forward by their stages out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran.           Thereafter, according to Deut. 1:2, the people travelled 11 days to reach Kadesh barnea, where the fiasco of the Spies occurred and they were barred from entering the Holy Land.   Depending on your reading and interpretation of the combined Deut. 1;46 and Deut. 2:14 they stayed at Kadesh barnea for 38 years or half thereof – i.e., the last 19 years – as Rashi explains  (citing Seder Olam ch.8) the odd phrasing of Deut. 1: 46 “So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there” (accepted by Art Scroll and noted by Hertz.) and  which also fits the odd opening of Deut. 2:14 “And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight years;”   According to this reading, the Sin of the Spies took place at Kaddesh, called Rithmah in Numbers 33:18 (Art Scroll commentary), and the people were then ordered by God to leave and travel southward toward the Red Sea. During these 19 years, the Jewish people encamped at some 17 places (Numbers 33:19- 35) before returning to Kadesh (Numbers 33: 36).    As these extra 17 or so encampments where spread out over 19 years according to this interpretation, then, the Jewish people lived a full year on average at each location. Combined with the minimum of 19 years at Kadesh barnea, this is not exactly constant wandering.       Deuteronomy Chapter 1 דְּבָרִים ב  אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם מֵחֹרֵב, דֶּרֶךְ הַר-שֵׂעִיר, עַד, קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ. 2 It is eleven days journey from Horeb unto Kadesh-barnea by the way of mount Seir.   ג  וַיְהִי בְּאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, בְּעַשְׁתֵּי-עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ; דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה, אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֹתוֹ, אֲלֵהֶם. 3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; יט  וַנִּסַּע מֵחֹרֵב, וַנֵּלֶךְ אֵת כָּל-הַמִּדְבָּר הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם דֶּרֶךְ הַר הָאֱמֹרִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, אֹתָנוּ; וַנָּבֹא, עַד קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ. 19 And we journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and dreadful wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea. כ  וָאֹמַר, אֲלֵכֶם:  בָּאתֶם עַד-הַר הָאֱמֹרִי, אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נֹתֵן לָנוּ. 20 And I said unto you: 'Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God giveth unto us. כא  רְאֵה נָתַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לְפָנֶיךָ--אֶת-הָאָרֶץ:  עֲלֵה רֵשׁ, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֶיךָ לָךְ--אַל-תִּירָא, וְאַל-תֵּחָת. 21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee; go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.' כב  וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי, כֻּלְּכֶם, וַתֹּאמְרוּ נִשְׁלְחָה אֲנָשִׁים לְפָנֵינוּ, וְיַחְפְּרוּ-לָנוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ; וְיָשִׁבוּ אֹתָנוּ, דָּבָר--אֶת-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר נַעֲלֶה-בָּהּ, וְאֵת הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר נָבֹא אֲלֵיהֶן. 22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said: 'Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us back word of the way by which we must go up, and the cities unto which we shall come.' כג  וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי, הַדָּבָר; וָאֶקַּח מִכֶּם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲנָשִׁים, אִישׁ אֶחָד לַשָּׁבֶט. 23 And the thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe; כד  וַיִּפְנוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ הָהָרָה, וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-נַחַל אֶשְׁכֹּל; וַיְרַגְּלוּ, אֹתָהּ. 24 and they turned and went up into the mountains, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. כה  וַיִּקְחוּ בְיָדָם מִפְּרִי הָאָרֶץ, וַיּוֹרִדוּ אֵלֵינוּ; וַיָּשִׁבוּ אֹתָנוּ דָבָר, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, טוֹבָה הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נֹתֵן לָנוּ. 25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us back word, and said: 'Good is the land which the LORD our God giveth unto us.' כו  וְלֹא אֲבִיתֶם, לַעֲלֹת; וַתַּמְרוּ, אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. 26 Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God; כז  וַתֵּרָגְנוּ בְאָהֳלֵיכֶם, וַתֹּאמְרוּ, בְּשִׂנְאַת יְהוָה אֹתָנוּ, הוֹצִיאָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם--לָתֵת אֹתָנוּ בְּיַד הָאֱמֹרִי, לְהַשְׁמִידֵנוּ. 27 and ye murmured in your tents, and said: 'Because the LORD hated us, He hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. כח  אָנָה אֲנַחְנוּ עֹלִים, אַחֵינוּ הֵמַסּוּ אֶת-לְבָבֵנוּ לֵאמֹר עַם גָּדוֹל וָרָם מִמֶּנּוּ, עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וּבְצוּרֹת, בַּשָּׁמָיִם; וְגַם-בְּנֵי עֲנָקִים, רָאִינוּ שָׁם. 28 Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying: The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.' כט  וָאֹמַר, אֲלֵכֶם:  לֹא-תַעַרְצוּן וְלֹא-תִירְאוּן, מֵהֶם. 29 Then I said unto you: 'Dread not, neither be afraid of them. ל  יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם, הוּא יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם:  כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אִתְּכֶם, בְּמִצְרַיִם--לְעֵינֵיכֶם. 30 The LORD your God who goeth before you, He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes; לא  וּבַמִּדְבָּר, אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ, אֲשֶׁר נְשָׂאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא-אִישׁ אֶת-בְּנוֹ--בְּכָל-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הֲלַכְתֶּם, עַד-בֹּאֲכֶם עַד-הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה. 31 and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bore thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place. לב  וּבַדָּבָר, הַזֶּה--אֵינְכֶם, מַאֲמִינִם, בַּיהוָה, אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. 32 Yet in this thing ye do not believe the LORD your God, לג  הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ, לָתוּר לָכֶם מָקוֹם--לַחֲנֹתְכֶם:  בָּאֵשׁ לַיְלָה, לַרְאֹתְכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ-בָהּ, וּבֶעָנָן, יוֹמָם. 33 Who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in: in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.' לד  וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה, אֶת-קוֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶם; וַיִּקְצֹף, וַיִּשָּׁבַע לֵאמֹר. 34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and swore, saying: לה  אִם-יִרְאֶה אִישׁ בָּאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה, הַדּוֹר הָרָע הַזֶּה--אֵת, הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי, לָתֵת לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם. 35 'Surely there shall not one of these men, even this evil generation, see the good land, which I swore to give unto your fathers, לו  זוּלָתִי כָּלֵב בֶּן-יְפֻנֶּה, הוּא יִרְאֶנָּה, וְלוֹ-אֶתֵּן אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר דָּרַךְ-בָּהּ, וּלְבָנָיו--יַעַן, אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה. 36 save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children; because he hath wholly followed the LORD.' לז  גַּם-בִּי הִתְאַנַּף יְהוָה, בִּגְלַלְכֶם לֵאמֹר:  גַּם-אַתָּה, לֹא-תָבֹא שָׁם. 37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying: Thou also shalt not go in thither; לח  יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן הָעֹמֵד לְפָנֶיךָ, הוּא יָבֹא שָׁמָּה; אֹתוֹ חַזֵּק, כִּי-הוּא יַנְחִלֶנָּה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל. 38 Joshua the son of Nun, who standeth before thee, he shall go in thither; encourage thou him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. לט  וְטַפְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם לָבַז יִהְיֶה, וּבְנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּ הַיּוֹם טוֹב וָרָע--הֵמָּה, יָבֹאוּ שָׁמָּה; וְלָהֶם אֶתְּנֶנָּה, וְהֵם יִירָשׁוּהָ. 39 Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. מ  וְאַתֶּם, פְּנוּ לָכֶם; וּסְעוּ הַמִּדְבָּרָה, דֶּרֶךְ יַם-סוּף. 40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.' מא  וַתַּעֲנוּ וַתֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי, חָטָאנוּ לַיהוָה--אֲנַחְנוּ נַעֲלֶה וְנִלְחַמְנוּ, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּנוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ; וַתַּחְגְּרוּ, אִישׁ אֶת-כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתּוֹ, וַתָּהִינוּ, לַעֲלֹת הָהָרָה. 41 Then ye answered and said unto me: 'We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us.' And ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and deemed it a light thing to go up into the hill-country. מב  וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי, אֱמֹר לָהֶם לֹא תַעֲלוּ וְלֹא-תִלָּחֲמוּ--כִּי אֵינֶנִּי, בְּקִרְבְּכֶם; וְלֹא, תִּנָּגְפוּ, לִפְנֵי, אֹיְבֵיכֶם. 42 And the LORD said unto me: 'Say unto them: Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.' מג  וָאֲדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם, וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם; וַתַּמְרוּ אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה, וַתָּזִדוּ וַתַּעֲלוּ הָהָרָה. 43 So I spoke unto you, and ye hearkened not; but ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country. מד  וַיֵּצֵא הָאֱמֹרִי הַיֹּשֵׁב בָּהָר הַהוּא, לִקְרַאתְכֶם, וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אֶתְכֶם, כַּאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂינָה הַדְּבֹרִים; וַיַּכְּתוּ אֶתְכֶם בְּשֵׂעִיר, עַד-חָרְמָה. 44 And the Amorites, that dwell in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even unto Hormah. מה  וַתָּשֻׁבוּ וַתִּבְכּוּ, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה; וְלֹא-שָׁמַע יְהוָה בְּקֹלְכֶם, וְלֹא הֶאֱזִין אֲלֵיכֶם. 45 And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD hearkened not to your voice, nor gave ear unto you. מו  וַתֵּשְׁבוּ בְקָדֵשׁ, יָמִים רַבִּים, כַּיָּמִים, אֲשֶׁר יְשַׁבְתֶּם. 46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.   Deuteronomy Chapter 2 דְּבָרִים יד  וְהַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר-הָלַכְנוּ מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ, עַד אֲשֶׁר-עָבַרְנוּ אֶת-נַחַל זֶרֶד, שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁמֹנֶה, שָׁנָה--עַד-תֹּם כָּל-הַדּוֹר אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה, מִקֶּרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה, לָהֶם. 14 And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight years; until all the generation, even the men of war, were consumed from the midst of the camp, as the LORD swore unto them   The second problem with the term “wandering” for the 40 years, which is almost exclusively used by all translations each time the idea appears in the Bible, is that the Hebrew texts used a variety of verbs with different connotations.    “Wandering” as a translation suggests aimless and futile travel.  But this is not what the original Hebrew says:   Numbers 14:33 uses יִהְיוּ רֹעִים – “you will be shepherds”;  and Joshua 5:6 says  , הָלְכוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל – correctly translates below as “The children of Israel walked”.   It is only Numbers 32: 13 with its וַיְנִעֵם which is translates following the Aramaic translation of Onkelos as “wander to and fro”(used below) or simply “wander” in most Hebrew and Christian translations.   Strong’s concordance for וַיְנִעֵם coded as H5128 cites the root appears 42 times in 36 verses and means to shake, tremble, move back and forth and wander”.  It appears among other texts in Hannah’s prayer for a son (1 Samuel 1: 13 )--  with her lips “moving” silently or “shaking”,  and in Cain’s dialogue with God where homeless “wanderer”  is the intent. (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5128&t=KJV&ss=1)   And it is also the Hebrew word used for “shaking the lulav” - “na’anuim”  on Succot.   So, the common English translation of “wandered’ is a ‘stretch’ from the 3 different Hebrew choices, and although with Cain the root נע is a used as a negative, pejorative term, it is not so with Hannah or the shaking of the lulav.     1 Samuel Chapter 1 שְׁמוּאֵל א ט  וַתָּקָם חַנָּה, אַחֲרֵי אָכְלָה בְשִׁלֹה וְאַחֲרֵי שָׁתֹה; וְעֵלִי הַכֹּהֵן, יֹשֵׁב עַל-הַכִּסֵּא, עַל-מְזוּזַת, הֵיכַל יְהוָה. 9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk--now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of the LORD; י  וְהִיא, מָרַת נָפֶשׁ; וַתִּתְפַּלֵּל עַל-יְהוָה, וּבָכֹה תִבְכֶּה. 10 and she was in bitterness of soul--and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. יא  וַתִּדֹּר נֶדֶר וַתֹּאמַר, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אִם-רָאֹה תִרְאֶה בָּעֳנִי אֲמָתֶךָ וּזְכַרְתַּנִי וְלֹא-תִשְׁכַּח אֶת-אֲמָתֶךָ, וְנָתַתָּה לַאֲמָתְךָ, זֶרַע אֲנָשִׁים--וּנְתַתִּיו לַיהוָה כָּל-יְמֵי חַיָּיו, וּמוֹרָה לֹא-יַעֲלֶה עַל-רֹאשׁוֹ. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said: 'O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thy handmaid, but wilt give unto Thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.' יב  וְהָיָה כִּי הִרְבְּתָה, לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי יְהוָה; וְעֵלִי, שֹׁמֵר אֶת-פִּיהָ. 12 And it came to pass, as she prayed long before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. יג  וְחַנָּה, הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל-לִבָּהּ--רַק שְׂפָתֶיהָ נָּעוֹת, וְקוֹלָהּ לֹא יִשָּׁמֵעַ; וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ עֵלִי, לְשִׁכֹּרָה. 13 Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard; therefore, Eli thought she had been drunken.   Genesis Chapter 4 בְּרֵאשִׁית ט  וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-קַיִן, אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹכִי. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said: 'I know not; am I my brother's keeper?' י  וַיֹּאמֶר, מֶה עָשִׂיתָ; קוֹל דְּמֵי אָחִיךָ, צֹעֲקִים אֵלַי מִן-הָאֲדָמָה. 10 And He said: 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground. יא  וְעַתָּה, אָרוּר אָתָּה, מִן-הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר פָּצְתָה אֶת-פִּיהָ, לָקַחַת אֶת-דְּמֵי אָחִיךָ מִיָּדֶךָ. 11 And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. יב  כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת-הָאֲדָמָה, לֹא-תֹסֵף תֵּת-כֹּחָהּ לָךְ; וָנָד, תִּהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ. 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.' יג  וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן, אֶל-יְהוָה:  גָּדוֹל עֲו‍ֹנִי, מִנְּשֹׂא. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD: 'My punishment is greater than I can bear. יד  הֵן גֵּרַשְׁתָּ אֹתִי הַיּוֹם, מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, וּמִפָּנֶיךָ, אֶסָּתֵר; וְהָיִיתִי נָע וָנָד, בָּאָרֶץ, וְהָיָה כָל-מֹצְאִי, יַהַרְגֵנִי. 14 Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me.'   Numbers Chapter 14 בְּמִדְבַּר לג  וּבְנֵיכֶם יִהְיוּ רֹעִים בַּמִּדְבָּר, אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, וְנָשְׂאוּ, אֶת-זְנוּתֵיכֶם--עַד-תֹּם פִּגְרֵיכֶם, בַּמִּדְבָּר. 33 And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your strayings, until your carcasses be consumed in the wilderness. לד  בְּמִסְפַּר הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר-תַּרְתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם--יוֹם לַשָּׁנָה יוֹם לַשָּׁנָה תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת-עֲו‍ֹנֹתֵיכֶם, אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה; וִידַעְתֶּם, אֶת-תְּנוּאָתִי. 34 After the number of the days in which ye spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know My displeasure.     Numbers Chapter 32 בְּמִדְבַּר יג  וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיְנִעֵם בַּמִּדְבָּר, אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה--עַד-תֹּם, כָּל-הַדּוֹר, הָעֹשֶׂה הָרַע, בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה. 13 And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and He made them wander to and fro in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.       Joshua Chapter 5 יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ה  כִּי-מֻלִים הָיוּ, כָּל-הָעָם הַיֹּצְאִים; וְכָל-הָעָם הַיִּלֹּדִים בַּמִּדְבָּר בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בְּצֵאתָם מִמִּצְרַיִם--לֹא-מָלוּ. 5 For all the people that came out were circumcised; but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, had not been circumcised. ו  כִּי אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, הָלְכוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, עַד-תֹּם כָּל-הַגּוֹי אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַיֹּצְאִים מִמִּצְרַיִם, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-שָׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹל יְהוָה:  אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה, לָהֶם, לְבִלְתִּי הַרְאוֹתָם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לַאֲבוֹתָם לָתֶת לָנוּ, אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD; unto whom the LORD swore that He would not let them see the land which the LORD swore unto their fathers that He would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey

So, what then was the punishment and penalty if they did not wander constantly in a sandy wasteland for forty years as suggested by "They wandered in the desert for 40 years"?

 

If there was always grass for the sheep and goats and cattle to eat, and nearly all the time of the 40 years was spent at fixed locations: a year at Mount Sinai and either 38 years at Kadesh or a minimum of 19 years there and on average a year at some 17 other locations, what was the severe penalty and punishment?

 

Moses, in Deuteronomy 8: 1-10, gives the answer:

 

 

Deuteronomy Chapter 8 דְּבָרִים

א  כָּל-הַמִּצְוָה, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם--תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת:  לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן וּרְבִיתֶם, וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה, לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם.	1 All the commandment which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers.
ב  וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת-כָּל-הַדֶּרֶךְ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹלִיכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ זֶה אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה--בַּמִּדְבָּר:  לְמַעַן עַנֹּתְךָ לְנַסֹּתְךָ, לָדַעַת אֶת-אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ הֲתִשְׁמֹר מִצְו‍ֹתָו--אִם-לֹא.	2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might afflict thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.
ג  וַיְעַנְּךָ, וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ, וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ אֶת-הַמָּן אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדַעְתָּ, וְלֹא יָדְעוּן אֲבֹתֶיךָ:  לְמַעַן הוֹדִיעֲךָ, כִּי לֹא עַל-הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם--כִּי עַל-כָּל-מוֹצָא פִי-יְהוָה, יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם.	3 And He afflicted thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
ד  שִׂמְלָתְךָ לֹא בָלְתָה, מֵעָלֶיךָ, וְרַגְלְךָ, לֹא בָצֵקָה--זֶה, אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה.	4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
ה  וְיָדַעְתָּ, עִם-לְבָבֶךָ:  כִּי, כַּאֲשֶׁר יְיַסֵּר אִישׁ אֶת-בְּנוֹ, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, מְיַסְּרֶךָּ.	5 And thou shalt consider in thy heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
ו  וְשָׁמַרְתָּ, אֶת-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו, וּלְיִרְאָה אֹתוֹ.	6 And thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.
ז  כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, מְבִיאֲךָ אֶל-אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה:  אֶרֶץ, נַחֲלֵי מָיִם--עֲיָנֹת וּתְהֹמֹת, יֹצְאִים בַּבִּקְעָה וּבָהָר.	7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths, springing forth in valleys and hills;
ח  אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה, וְגֶפֶן וּתְאֵנָה וְרִמּוֹן; אֶרֶץ-זֵית שֶׁמֶן, וּדְבָשׁ.	8 a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey;
ט  אֶרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר לֹא בְמִסְכֵּנֻת תֹּאכַל-בָּהּ לֶחֶם--לֹא-תֶחְסַר כֹּל, בָּהּ; אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲבָנֶיהָ בַרְזֶל, וּמֵהֲרָרֶיהָ תַּחְצֹב נְחֹשֶׁת.	9 a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
י  וְאָכַלְתָּ, וְשָׂבָעְתָּ--וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, עַל-הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן-לָךְ.	10 And thou shalt eat and be satisfied, and bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He hath given thee.

The punishment was twofold:

 

Firstly, for 40 years the people were denied normal food and lived on manna as a substitute (see verse 3 above).

Their complaints, after all, usually centered on water or the absence of fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic  (numbers 11: 6), fowl – i.e., quail  -- twice: Exodus 16: 3 and 13, and Numbers 11: 31-33) and even once settled in Kadesh barnea, after Miriam’s death, they complained (Numbers 20:5):

⁵ Why have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!”

 

The second punishment and the more significant one was the denial of entering Canaan and making it their homeland, of fulfilling the Divine promise that began with Abraham over 400 years before (above verse 1) and which was only now to be completed: for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their offspring travelled the land but were always alien ‘residents’.

 

The two consequences are in the eyes of Moses -- as quoted above --  one and the same. For God chose the Promised Land because it was so bountiful with rivers and fertile soil:

 

8 a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey;

9 a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.   10 And thou shalt eat and be satisfied, and bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He hath given thee.