When did Israel depart from Horeb?
Moses writes that Israel departed from Horeb, which is Mount Sinai, after the tabernacle had been constructed and taken down. The cloud then moved them, and they journeyed through the great and terrible wilderness on the way to Kadesh Barnea.
Les explains that Horeb is Mount Sinai, and the departure occurred after the tabernacle was constructed and taken down. The cloud moved them, and they traveled through the Sinai Peninsula, described as a great and terrible wilderness of tremendous mountains and canyons, not flat desert. Les notes that God miraculously kept track of three to seven million people and their livestock. Moses records they came to Kadesh Barnea, on the border of the promised land, and God told them to go up and possess it.
And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.
What happened right before Israel left Mount Sinai in Deuteronomy 1?
According to Moses' synopsis in Deuteronomy 1:19, before Israel departed from Horeb, that is Mount Sinai, the tabernacle had been constructed and then taken down, and the cloud moved them. After that they went through the great and terrible wilderness and came to Kadesh Barnea.
What is the terrain of the Sinai Peninsula like where Israel wandered?
The Sinai Peninsula is not flat desert. Scripture describes it as a great and terrible wilderness, and the region is marked by tremendous mountains and canyons. It is called the most awesome geographical area imaginable, rugged terrain that made God's care for millions of people and livestock miraculous.
More Questions
Why does Deuteronomy chapter 1 retell the journey from Horeb instead of just listing new laws?
Moses wrote Deuteronomy after the fact as a synopsis or rehearsal of everything that had gone on before, which is why chapter 1 opens with the departure from Horeb.