Israelitish wanderings cannot be doubted. The name Kadesh means "holy" or "sacred," and we must suppose that there was ordinarily an abundant supply of water giving a claim of sanctity to the spot. Owing, however, to some cause not stated, but probably that of a prolonged drought, the flow of water failed during the second visit of the Israelites, previous to their march to the Promised Land; and the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to assemble the people before the rock facing the camp, and to speak to the rock, that it might give forth water for the people and their cattle.[1] Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it with his staff twice, and having failed to sanctify the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel, he and Aaron were condemned to die before entering the Promised Land. The account here seems to agree with the topographical features of the Wâdy Kadeis, as given in rather glowing language by Dr. Trumbull. From the base of a limestone cliff jutting out into the valley, a stream of water bursts forth which spreads fertility over a considerable area till gradually absorbed into the porous bed of the valley. Mr. Holland has also described the place, stating that there are three springs: two on the hillside, and one in the bed of the valley, and from the sketch he has left it may be inferred that at the junction of the Wâdies Kadeis and Jaifeh there is extensive camping ground.[2] (Fig. 19.)
On leaving Kadesh the Israelites marched eastwards towards the borders of Edom, and encamped at the base of Mount Hor, while awaiting the reply of the King of Edom to the request of Moses for permission to pass through his country on the way towards the Land of Promise. This route was circuitous; but it may be presumed that the Israelites, having thirty-eight years previously been smitten before the Amalekites and Canaanites,[3] were permitted to circumvent their enemies by the way of Edom, Moab, and the Jordan Valley. They, therefore, appear to have marched eastward to the head of the W. Kadeis, crossed the limestone plain, and descended into the great valley of the Arabah, by the W. Ghamr, or one of the other branches. Having crossed the Arabah, here about ten miles wide, they continued their course toward the base of Mount Hor, and camped at the western base of the mount, in the wide valley called W. Abu Kuseibeh, which was the site of our own camp
