במדבר, פרק ל״ג, פסוק י״ט

The journey through the desert reached a historical turning point following a major national failure. The departure from their previous encampment was a direct result of the sin of the spies. In the aftermath of that event, the Israelites received a command to change course and travel toward the desert along the route of the Red Sea.

From this pivotal location onward, a new phase of wandering began. The Israelites started to circle Mount Seir, moving continuously through a series of stops until they finally set up camp in the desert of Zin, which is also known as Kadesh [חזקוני].

The specific site where they halted next carries a name that hints at a notable event. It is likely that some sort of breach or downfall occurred at this location, and the encampment was named to reflect that occurrence [ביאור שטיינזלץ].