Egypt – Palestine – The Holy Land – The Forty Years Travels Of The Children Of Israel Out Of Egypt

Cartographer: Richard Blome
Publisher: Richard Blome
Price: £175 including postage in the UK
Publication Date: 1687
Edition: Not stated
Sheet Size: 51.3cm x 42.3cm
Condition: Near fine

Condition:

‘Through The Red Sea And The Wildernesse In To Canaan Or The Land Of Promise’. Original copper engraved map. Not dated but 1687. Sheet size: 51.3cm x 42.3cm. A map of Palestine with west at the top of the page, also shows part of Egypt and Phoenicia. The shoreline running from the Nile Delta to Biblium. Probably published in an English Bible at the end of the 17th century. A reduced version of Nicholas Visscher’s map without decoration and engraved by Richard Palmer. Very slight age-toning and blemishes but in near fine condition overall.

The Forty Years’ Travels: A Brief Overview

The forty years of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness form one of the central narrative arcs of the Hebrew Bible. Beginning with the departure from Egypt and ending with the arrival at the borders of Canaan, the journey encompasses moments of crisis, covenant, judgement and renewal. The narrative is both historical tradition and theological drama, depicting a people transformed from enslaved labourers into a covenant-bearing nation.

The account below follows the best-known sequence of events and regional movements.

1. Departure from Egypt and the Crossing of the Sea

Escape from Slavery

Israel leaves Rameses in the Nile Delta under Moses’ leadership. The initial route proceeds to Succoth and then to Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. The movement is hasty and communal, marking the birth of the nation.

Crossing of the Sea

Pharaoh’s pursuit forces the Israelites into a dramatic escape across what the biblical text calls the Sea of Reeds. The crossing demonstrates divine deliverance and marks a decisive break with Egypt.

The people then enter the Wilderness of Shur, beginning the long period of desert life.

2. Early Wilderness Encounters: Marah, Elim and Rephidim

Marah

Shortly after the crossing, the Israelites reach Marah, where the waters are bitter. The episode introduces the themes of:

• Complaint and testing
• Provision and divine instruction

Elim

A fertile oasis with “twelve springs and seventy palm trees”, Elim provides temporary rest and sustenance.

Rephidim

Before reaching Sinai, the people encounter severe water shortages at Rephidim. Moses strikes the rock to bring water. Here they also face their first external conflict, the battle with Amalek, which Moses oversees from a hilltop while Joshua commands the forces.

This period reveals the emerging organisation of the nation and Moses’ central leadership role.

3. Arrival at Mount Sinai and the Covenant

The Ascent to Sinai

The Israelites reach Mount Sinai (Horeb) in the Wilderness of Sinai. This is the theological and structural centre of the forty-year journey.

Covenant Formation

Key events include:

• The giving of the Ten Commandments
• The establishment of laws governing society, worship and justice
• Construction of the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary
• The ordination of priests
• The golden calf incident, demonstrating the fragility of obedience

The people remain at Sinai for almost a year. They leave not as a disorganised multitude but as a nation with institutions, tribal structures and a defined relationship with God.

4. March Toward Canaan: Paran, Kibroth-Hattaavah and Hazeroth

Departure from Sinai

The tribes march in an ordered formation, with the Ark of the Covenant leading them and the Levites carrying the Tabernacle components.

Kibroth-Hattaavah

At this site the people grumble about manna and demand meat. Quail are provided in abundance, followed by a severe plague. This location becomes symbolic of unchecked desire.

Hazeroth

Here, Moses faces internal challenge from Miriam and Aaron. Miriam’s temporary leprosy underscores Moses’ unique prophetic role.

5. The Wilderness of Paran and the Crisis of the Spies

Approach to Canaan

The Israelites reach Kadesh-Barnea in the Wilderness of Paran, near the southern border of Canaan. This marks the first opportunity to enter the promised land.

The Twelve Spies

Twelve men are sent to scout Canaan. Their report emphasises both the fertility of the land and the perceived strength of its inhabitants. Only Joshua and Caleb advocate immediate entry.

Judgement and Delay

The people refuse to advance. As a result:

• The current adult generation is condemned to die in the wilderness
• The journey becomes a forty-year wandering
• Only Joshua and Caleb will see the land

This moment is the turning point of the entire narrative.

6. The Years of Wandering

The biblical text describes this period sparsely; its significance is theological rather than logistical. The people move through regions including:

• The Wilderness of Paran
• The Wilderness of Zin

This period includes:

• Repeated cycles of complaint and correction
• Growth of the new generation
• Development of legal, ritual and cultural identity

A new community emerges, shaped not by Egyptian oppression but by wilderness discipline.

7. Return to Kadesh and the Death of Miriam

Toward the end of the forty years, the Israelites return to Kadesh. Here significant events unfold:

• Miriam dies and is buried
• The people once again suffer from lack of water
• Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it, which leads to his exclusion from entering Canaan

This incident reflects both the challenges of leadership and the narrative theme of accountability.

8. The Journey Around Edom and Through the Arabah

Refusal of Passage

Edom denies Israel passage through its territory. The Israelites must travel southwards and then turn east, skirting Edom’s borders. This detour deepens the hardship of the journey.

The Bronze Serpent

During this phase, the people complain again and suffer a plague of serpents. Moses raises a bronze serpent as a means of healing, symbolising both judgement and mercy.

Arnon and the Transjordan

The Israelites continue north through the Arabah and enter regions east of the Dead Sea.

9. Victories in the Transjordan: Sihon and Og

In the Transjordan (modern Jordan), the Israelites engage in major conflicts:

• King Sihon of the Amorites is defeated
• King Og of Bashan is also defeated

These victories give Israel control over extensive lands east of the Jordan, later allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh.

The wins also signal a shift from wandering to territorial settlement.

10. Arrival at the Plains of Moab

Encampment Opposite Jericho

The Israelites camp on the plains of Moab, overlooking the Jordan River and the city of Jericho. This is the staging point for entry into Canaan under Joshua.

The Balaam Narrative

Balak, king of Moab, summons the seer Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam instead delivers blessings, affirming Israel’s future success.

Renewal and Final Instructions

The final phase includes:

• A census of the new generation
• Laws regarding inheritance, sacrifice and leadership
• Commissioning of Joshua
• Moses’ farewell speeches in Deuteronomy

11. Moses’ Death and the End of the Journey

Moses ascends Mount Nebo, views the promised land and dies there. The narrative ends with Israel poised to cross the Jordan under Joshua’s leadership.

The wandering is complete; the people stand on the threshold of a new national identity.

Conclusion: Meaning of the Forty Years’ Journey

The forty years in the wilderness were not merely a geographical trek but a spiritual formation, producing:

• A covenant-bound nation
• A disciplined and unified community
• A people prepared to inhabit a land and uphold its laws

Themes of faith, obedience, leadership, testing and renewal permeate the narrative. The journey stands as one of the most influential foundational myths in world religious history, shaping Jewish, Christian and Islamic understandings of identity and divine purpose.

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