What opportunity did Israel have when they reached Kadesh from Sinai?
At Kadesh, Israel had the opportunity to enter the promised land directly. They could have possessed the whole land without losing a single young son and without lifting a sword. That opportunity was forfeited because of unbelief—they did not believe God meant what He said, so they were turned back into the wilderness for forty years.
Les explains that when Israel went up from Sinai to Kadesh, they could have gone right in and had the whole thing without losing a single young son or having to lift a sword. But because of their unbelief, they did not believe that God meant what He said. So God, in His wrath, turned them back into the wilderness for that 40 years of wandering. Thus, almost 40 years later, as they are about ready to go in, they will not have the easy go they could have had at Kadesh. The context also notes that after crossing Jordan they will stop for Passover, exactly 40 years from the Passover in Egypt, showing God’s meticulous timing.