Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(holy). Halting place of Israelites near borders of Canaan, and scene of Miriam’s death (Num. 13:26; 20:1). Kadesh-barnea (Deut. 2:14; Josh. 15:3). Enmishpat (Gen. 14:7).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This place is first mentioned in connection with the battle of the kings, when Lot was taken captive. They “came to EN-MISHPAT, which is Kadesh” (Gen. 14:7). It was one of the halting places of the Israelites, and where they made a prolonged stay, and from where the twelve spies were sent into the land. At the end of the thirty-eight years’ wandering they returned to Kadesh, and Miriam died and was buried there. It was here also that Moses smote the rock when the people murmured for water. The water thus obtained is spoken of as both the “water of MERIBAH,” or “strife” (Num. 20:13; Num. 27:14; Psalm 81:7), and the “waters of strife in Kadesh” (Ezek. 47:19; Ezek. 48:28). It was in the wilderness of Paran, and is known to be situated in the extreme south of the land, from whence Joshua smote the inhabitants, and it became the border of Judah’s possession (Num. 13:26; Num. 20:1-22; Num. 32:8; Deut. 1:2,19,46; Deut. 9:23; Deut. 32:51 (Meribah-Kadesh); Josh. 10:41; Josh. 15:3). Identified by some with Ain Kadis, 30° 33' N, 34° 32' E.
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
from the same as 6946 and an otherwise unused word (apparently compounded of a correspondent to 1251 and a derivative of 5128) meaning desert of a fugitive; Kadesh of (the) Wilderness of Wandering; Kadesh-Barnea, a place in the Desert
Potts’ Bible Proper Names:
Holy; desert of wandering:―a place in the desert [KADESH], Num. 34:4. {Sacer; desertum vagationis}