I'm confused regarding several apparently contradictory verses:
Bamidbar 14:33 says that B;nai Yisra'el will wander the desert for 40 years.
In Devarim 1:19 - 22, Moshe says that they arrived at Kadesh Barne'ah, Moshe says "Go inherit the land", and B'nai Yisra'el requests to send spies to spy the land. The verses following that review the story of what happened.
Devarim 2:13-14 says that they arrived at Nachal Zered, and from the time they arrived at Kadesh Barne'a until Nachal Zered was 38 years.
Several questions:
- Does this "contradict" G-d's original statement / punishment? It seems to imply that people would die during 40 years in the desert, not 38?
- Where are the other 2 years? Were these 2 years at the beginning of the travels meaning the spies were sent in the 2nd year, so the 40 years included 2 years that had passed?
- Weren't B'nai Yisra'el supposed to enter Israel immediately after receiving the Torah? Why did they spend 2 years in the desert (assuming answer to prev. question is correct)?
- If everyone died within only 38 years, it seems that the "punishment" finished early, as Devarim 2:14 implies. So, were the new generation still supposed to wander for another 2 years?