[Cedric]

I would be shocked if it took a huge contingent of Hebrews 40 years to traverse a desert which can be walked aross in a handful of days.

[Alter Kaker]

I would be shocked if it took a huge contingent of Hebrews 40 years to traverse a desert which can be walked aross in a handful of days.

Wrong book, that'd be Exodus and Deuteronomy not Genesis. But point taken. I've walked across the Sinai twice, and with Arabs shooting at me. It was hot. But the walking wasn't too much of a problem -- definitely didn't take 40 years.