Bani Israel: The reason for the captivity in the wilderness.

 On the twentieth day of the second month the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. Then the children of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sinai. This was the first time they set out on their journey, as God had commanded them. They continued on their journey until the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.

The Israelites on their way from Egypt to Palestine (route map).

Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out. Wherever the cloud settled, they would camp. Whenever the cloud lifted, they would set out, whether by day or by night. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, whether it was two days or a month or more, the Israelites would camp and not set out. 

Whenever the Israelites set out with the ark of the covenant, Moses would say, ‘O God, let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee from before you.’ And whenever the cloud stopped, he would say, ‘O God, return to us.’

The Israelites' journey was northward and ended at Kadesh Barnea, on the southern border of Canaan. Upon arriving there, Moses was instructed to enter the Holy Land of Canaan (in Syria) and was foretold that God had written their destiny for the possession of this Holy Land - which would come true. 

So after Moses had set up camp, he sent twelve leaders, one from each tribe, to the land of Canaan to bring back useful information about the land. The real purpose was to learn about the land, its fertility and crops, the cities of the land, the nature of the people, etc. Before they set out, Moses had told them, 'Whatever you see there, tell me first. Do not tell anyone anything without my permission.'

The delegation set out and went to the very northern border of the country and returned by another route. The journey took forty days, which was enough to see this small country. On the way, at one point outside the city, they met a man named Awz bin Unuq, a man from the Amalekite tribe. After talking to them, Awz realized that they had come to fight them. Then he became angry and took twelve of them prisoner alone and presented them to the royal court and informed the king of their intentions. So they were detained and the court consulted about them. Some of the advisors said, 'Let them be killed.' 

Some others said, 'Let them be released.' 

Finally, it was decided that they would be released so that they could return to their communities and tell them about the physical form and strength of the Amalekites, and so that their desire for war would be completely satisfied. 

They are free.

When this group was returning from their freedom, Allah commanded them to enter the city with good manners in action and speech, saying, "Enter this city and go wherever you wish and eat whatever you wish, and enter with your heads bowed down" (good manners in action) and say, "I seek forgiveness" (good manners in speech). I will forgive you and increase My bounty for those who do good." 

The verse of the Quran related to this is : "When We said, 'Enter this town and go wherever you wish and eat whatever you wish, and enter it humbly and say, 'I seek forgiveness.' I will forgive you and increase My bounty for those who do good." (2:58)

They brought a bunch of grapes along with a branch of grapes.

To illustrate the fertility of the country on their return from liberation, the delegation brought back from the school a branch of grapes with some bunches, which they had hung on a stick. They also brought some pomegranates and figs. 

The delegation returned and told Moses everything. They said, "The land truly flows with milk and honey; there is no lack of anything in it. This is the fruit of it (they placed bunches of clean grapes, pomegranates, figs, and other fruits before Moses.)" 

They said, "But the people who live there are strong, and their cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak there." 

"The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan River."

The 12 representatives and the results they brought.

But even though he heard the words of the powerful people, it had no effect on Moses. Because Allah had previously told him through revelations of victory and success. So he was sure that the strength and greatness of the Amalekites would be of no use. He decided to confront them and ordered everyone to prepare for war. 

The Israelites would not agree to fight if they learned of the great strength and physical prowess of the rival tribe, because they had suffered from inferiority complex after centuries of slavery and had lost even a shred of self-confidence. This fear arose in Moses' mind. So he warned the twelve members of the delegation not to tell the Israelites about the physical strength and prowess of the Amalekites under any circumstances - to keep it a complete secret. 

But, in the end, the work was contrary to Moses' instructions. Although they did not tell anyone openly, each one secretly told his friend about the strength of the Amalekites, except for two. They were Joshua ibn Nun (husband of Moses' sister Miriam) and Caleb ibn Juqna. Gradually, all the Israelites became aware of this and began to talk about the physical strength and size of the Amalekites. People spread exaggerated information about them. Some said, 'They are each one a hundred cubits long and sixty cubits wide.'

Some said, 'If one of them went into the sea, the water would be up to his knees.'

The common Israelites were discouraged. They did not want to think about the war. They said to each other, 'What is the point of crossing the Red Sea and now dying in battle at their hands?' 

However, all twelve of the delegates agreed that the country was good and they wanted it for themselves. So when the question of occupying the country arose, they split into two groups. 

Yushaya ibn Nun and Caleb ibn Yukena.

Ten of the delegation trespassed. Instead of what they were told, they said something else. They said, 'The cities are walled and the people are mighty warriors, so it is not possible to conquer the land.'

Two of the group, Caleb and Joshua, said, "The land is possible to conquer. We will believe and rely on Allah. We will meet them at the entrance. Then we will enter repenting, repenting. Victory will be ours. For Allah has said, 'Enter this town and go wherever you wish and eat whatever you wish,' and enter with your heads bowed down, and say, 'I seek forgiveness.' I will forgive you; and I will increase My bounty for those who do good.'" 

When the Israelites heard that they were asked to say 'Hittatun' - sorry - upon entering the city, they mockingly said 'Hintatun' - wheat, wheat. Allah was displeased with them for this verbal and semantic distortion of the divine law. Moreover, there were ten transgressors among the delegation. For this reason, He sent punishment from heaven.  

These ten were killed by lightning, along with several other unfaithful Israelites. 

The verse of the Quran regarding this is: "But they (the ten representatives) transgressed and said other than what they were told. So We sent down upon the transgressors a punishment from the sky, because they were disbelievers." (2:59)

Despite the great efforts of Caleb and Joshua, most of the Israelites refused to take possession of the land. Then Moses said to his people, "O my people! Remember the favor of Allah, when He raised up prophets from among you, made you rulers of the kingdom, and gave you that which He had not given to anyone else in the world. O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah has appointed for you, and do not turn back, for if you turn back, you will be losers." 

They said, 'O Moses! There is a great people there, and we will never enter it until they leave it. When they leave it, we will enter.' 

The verses of the Quran regarding this are: 'Moses said to his people, "O my people! Remember the favor of Allah, when He raised up prophets from among you, made you inheritors of the kingdom, and gave you that which He had not given to anyone else in the world. O my people! Enter the sacred land which Allah has appointed for you, and do not turn back, lest you be losers.' 

They said, 'O Moses! There is a great people there, and we will not enter it until they leave it. When they leave it, we will enter. ' (5:20-23)

Caleb and Joshua, seeing the weak spirit of the Israelites, encouraged them by saying, "The entire world is in the hands of Allah. No one can harm or benefit anyone without His permission. Therefore, the great body and strength of the Amalekites will be of no use, since the promise of Allah's help is with us." 

But how can the Children of Israel believe in their words when they do not believe in the words of their Prophet Moses? They made it clear to Moses, 'O Moses, we will not enter it as long as they remain there. So go, you and your Lord, and fight.' 

What else could Moses do in such a situation? He said to God, 'My Lord! I have no authority over anyone except myself and my brother; so judge between us and the people who disbelieve.' 

Allah said, "But these forty years will be forbidden to them. They will wander in the land like wanderers. So do not grieve for the people who reject the truth."    

"Now turn back and head towards the desert via the Gulf of Aqaba." 

The Israelites advanced as instructed and reached the wilderness of the Sinai Valley. 

The verses of the Quran related to this are: 'Two of those who feared Allah, upon whom Allah had bestowed His favor, said, "Confront them at the gate. If you enter, you will be victorious. And upon Allah you have believed and put your trust." 

They said, 'O Moses, we will not enter it as long as they remain therein. So go, you and your Lord, and fight.' 

He said, "My Lord! I have no authority over anyone except myself and my brother. So judge between us and the disbelieving people." 

Allah said, "But forty years will be forbidden to them. They will wander in the land like wanderers. So do not grieve for the people who reject the truth." (5:20-26)

God confined the Israelites to the wilderness of the Sinai Valley. Not only that, but humiliation and destitution were imposed on them. This was because they did not obey God's laws and were disobedient and transgressors. Now from here they will not be able to go to the land of the Amalekites, nor will they be able to return to Egypt if they wish. 

The Israelites wandered around, falling under divine wrath. 

The verses of the Quran related to this - And they were made to suffer humiliation and poverty. They wandered around, incurring the wrath of Allah. That was because they disobeyed Allah and killed the prophets unjustly. That was because they were disobedient and transgressors. (2:61)

There is something in the Psalms about this:

"Then your fathers tested me, 

He judged me, he also saw my actions.

For forty years I was angry with that nation,

I said, "These are misguided; they do not know my ways."

So I swore in my anger, 

             They shall not enter my rest.' (95:9-11)

It means to wander astray. For forty years, one year for each of the forty days it took to see the land of Canaan, the Israelites were in this wilderness. They wanted to get out of here and return to Egypt. After wandering around all day, they found themselves in the evening at the same place from which they had set out in the morning. This wilderness was thirty farseks, or ninety miles, long and nine farseks, or twenty-seven miles, wide.

Finished.

Images:  bible.ca, gardenofpraise, jameswilkins .