God was reprimanding them after the events when the Scouts were sent to scout out the Holy Land. The Israelites did not exhibit complete trust in God (Deuteronomy ch.1). See Numbers ch.13-14.
Deuteronomy 29:4, "I have led you in the wilderness for forty years".
According to the Bible, the journey through the wilderness took forty years. According to more than 90 per cent of scholars, the Exodus never really happened and there was no journey through the wilderness.
Daniel Boone's blazing of the Wilderness Road led to settlers finding their way west. This, in turn, led to a massive westward expansion.
The battle of Wilderness led to the battle of Spotsylvania.
He led the Hebrews out of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea (after God parted it) and took refuge in the wilderness. (for 40 years)
No factories. The agricultural revolution happened thousands of years before machines.
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A pillar of fire (Exodus ch.13).
Sacagawea and her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, led Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Sacagawea acted as an interpreter as well as a guide.
Scholars calculate the Israelites to have wandered in the wilderness for 38 or 39 years; tradition holds it was "40 years" although that number may be an ancient metaphor for a generally large number and hence simply meaning, a long time although an actual forty years would still be pretty accurate. According the the Old Testament, Moses led them out of bondage from Egypt, Joshua helped lead them into the promised land.
It continued on for another 150 years until taken over by Macedonia led by Alexander the Great.
Moses (Exodus 32:34), by the guidance of God (Numbers ch.9).