Forty years in the wilderness
Numbers 14:33–35; 33; Deuteronomy 2:14; 8:2–4; Psalm 90
For 38 more years Israel wandered in the wilderness until the unbelieving generation had died, while God kept feeding and guiding them.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. Before the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
Psalm 90:1–2 (World English Bible)
Numbers records little from these years except a list of camps (chapter 33). Yet God never left: the manna kept falling, and Moses later reminded Israel that their clothes didn't wear out and their feet didn't swell for forty years (Deuteronomy 8:4).
Many see Psalm 90, titled “a prayer by Moses” as a reflection on these years of watching a generation die.
Places
EgyptJordanMoabEdomCanaanJerichoNegebKadesh-barneaRed SeaWilderness of SinaiMoabDibonMount HorZinEzion-geberNeboHazerothAbarimKibroth-hattaavahMarahRamesesRephidimBeth-jeshimothElimObothPi-hahirothSinSuccothAradBaal-zephonHor-haggidgadIye-abarimJotbathahMoserothRed SeaAlmon-diblathaimBene-jaakanDophkahHaradahHashmonahKehelathahLibnahMakhelothMigdolMithkahMount ShepherPunonRimmon-perezRissahRithmahTahathTerahZalmonahZeredAbel-shittim
Dating notes
Deuteronomy 2:14 counts 38 years from Kadesh Barnea to crossing the Zered brook. Ussher places the return to Kadesh in the first month of the 40th year (1452 BC).