The Jews spent 40 years in the wilderness.
Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness.
The trip could have been done in a month.
A:In the Old Testament, 40 days was not so much significant as convenient. Many of the Old Testament stories were handed down orally by storytellers, until finally written down during the first millennium BCE, and the number 40 was easy to remember. In Noah's Flood, it rained for forty days and forty nights, Moses spent 40 days on the mountain and Elijah also spent 40 days in the wilderness. The forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness can be seen as significant at both a theological and a literary level.Mark 1:13 tells the story of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days immediately after his baptism by John. He was ministered by angels, an allusion to Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-7) who was ministered by an angel and in the wilderness forty days. There is no actual suggestion that Jesus fasted for this time, but those familiar with the story of Elijah are likely to have assumed he did do so. This brings into play another allusion, to Moses when (Exodus 34:28) he fasted for 40 days while he wrote the words of the Ten Commandments on tablets. Matthew and Lukefollow the allusion to Elijah in a subtly different way, taking the angel out of the gospel story and instead having Jesus fast for forty days, just as Elijah did after the angel ministered to him. In this version, the further allusion to Exodus 34:28 is more readily recognised.
Moses lived 120 years, so 40years were spent in Egypt, another 40 years were spent with his family in Midian and the last 40 years were spent leading the people in the wilderness.
Wilderness Years
It was the forty-year period (Numbers ch.14) that the Israelites spent in the wilderness before entering Canaan.
40 days and nights. But at the time and place the Bible was written 40 just meant "a lot" eg Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness.
He was 120 years old , and he spent 40 years in the wilderness, not a nice place to stay with angry people, so he was weary.
The Israelites spent almost the entire time in the wilderness studying the newly-given Torah, since they had no other occupation at the time. Thus the Torah became deeply embedded in the national conscious. They were assisted by the officers of tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands, who were leaders not only in battle (Numbers ch.31) but also in teaching and applying the Torah-laws (Exodus ch.18).Though there were some complaints, there was also a thirty-seven year stretch in which not a single complaint was made. The nation was guided by God (Numbers 9:15-23), who protected them from much of the wear and tear that would have normally occurred (Deuteronomy 29:4). In the center of their encampment was the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in which God's presence dwelt (Exodus 40:34).See also:TimelineThe Exodus
1) As a very young child, Moses was nursed and educated in the home of his parents (see Exodus ch.2). 2) Until he was a young adult, Moses lived in Pharaoh's palace under the adoption of Pharaoh's daughter (ibid). 3) Later, Moses lived in Midian in the household of Jethro (ibid). 4) At the age of 80, Moses returned to Egypt at God's command (Exodus ch.4) and remained there during the one year in which the Ten Plagues were brought upon the Egyptians by God (Exodus ch.5-12). 5) Moses spent the final forty years of his life in the Wilderness with the Israelites.
Lent is the 40 day period which Jesus spent in the Wilderness resisting temptation from the Devil. During this time, Jesus had no food whatsoever.
Meriwether Lewis spent most of his childhood living in the wilderness. He enjoyed exploring and hunting. His father also died during his childhood.