The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Sin, Zin, or Tsin, nearer to Judea than the desert, where the Hebrews encamped before. Exodus 16:1. Bible.—Moses informs us of very little from the time when the people murmured at Cades-barne, in the second year, till the beginning of the 40th year of their sojournment.—In Cades. The Rabbins assert, they remained there the first time twenty-nine years, (Calmet. 14:45,) and the second, ten. Genebrard, A.Menochius. 2670. But we do not believe they continued there above a year the first time.—Mary. Saint Gregory of Nyssa, and Saint Ambrose, suppose she was always a virgin, in which respect she was a figure of our blessed Lady, as well as in her name. She was probably 130 years old, as she was very discreet at the time of the birth of Moses, and employed by Providence in preserving his life, as the blessed Virgin screened our Saviour from the fury of Herod. She had the superintendence over the Hebrew women; (Exodus 15:20. Theod. in Mic. vi. 4,) and hence many apply to her and her brothers those words of Zacharias, (11:8,) I cut off three shepherds in one month. Mary died without being permitted to enter the promised land, on account of her murmuring, Calmet. 12. Thus the synagogue, though proud of her prerogatives, cannot enter the land of rest. Calmet.—There. Some place this Cades not far from the Red Sea, (verse 20,) south of Idumea, while the other was to the north, and nearer Chanaan, being generally called Cades-barne. Bonfrere and Calmet. a Lapide. Calmet. 20:16.—In this place Mary died, four months before Aaron. Menochius.