Very interesting question, I’d already discussed it with my friends. Even if the journey took some 1500 miles, if they covered just 3 miles per day (due to women and children), the total would be 500 days, i.e. a year and half. What did they do the remaining 38,5 years? One answer was they practiced black magic there (sic!), the other they attended pubs frequently. Any better idea?
When you look up the etymology of “mosey,” the suggestion is that it comes from “vamose.” I have always thought this silly as the meanings are so different. I believe Earl’s suggestion is more likely. Back in the 50s, my father would say “come on Moses” to anyone who was taking too long, particularly slow drivers.
Actually, it only took them a couple of months to reach Canaan. The ten spies who reported that there was no way they could defeat the people of Canaan, were the ones who caused them to wander for 40 years. One year for every day they were wandering the land of Canaan.
After reading all the comments ……. I had to go back to refresh my memory as to what Earl was going to do in the first place ….. going to the mailbox ……….. :)
40 years of wandering in the wilderness as consequences for failing to believe God—because of the 40 days of scouting (Numbers 13:25; 14:34). Moses’ life was in three chunks of 40 years: raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, in Midian, shepherding his father-in-law’s flock (name Reuel; Jethro means “his excellence” and is likely a title), and then rescuing and leading the “flock” of Israel, mostly in the wilderness. God forbid him from entering the Promised Land after he disobeyed and did not believe God by striking the rock a second time (Numbers 20:7-13; the first time was Exodus 17) instead of speaking to it as commanded.
allen@home about 1 year ago
Earl that makes sense.
C about 1 year ago
Close but no cigar
If you back up one step, it may have come from the British slang mose
sirbadger about 1 year ago
39 of those years were waiting for God to part the Red Sea.
dadoctah about 1 year ago
What’s it called when it’s supposed to take twice that long, Janewaying?
carlsonbob about 1 year ago
It took almost 40 years for someone to invent the GPS first. After that, it was much easier.
SWCarter about 1 year ago
Just where is their mailbox anyway? It looks like they’re walking across town.
David Huie Green AmericaIsGreatItHasUs about 1 year ago
And it was a short distance, much of it just across a shallow river or around a salty lake.
akiprev04 about 1 year ago
Very interesting question, I’d already discussed it with my friends. Even if the journey took some 1500 miles, if they covered just 3 miles per day (due to women and children), the total would be 500 days, i.e. a year and half. What did they do the remaining 38,5 years? One answer was they practiced black magic there (sic!), the other they attended pubs frequently. Any better idea?
ricknielsen55 about 1 year ago
That actually kind of makes sense!
silberdistel about 1 year ago
Ah, “schlendern”. My Granddad used to say and do that a lot.
californiamonty about 1 year ago
And Moses didn’t even make it to the destination!
iggyman about 1 year ago
You have been watching old cowboy movies again Earl!
iggyman about 1 year ago
Much better than “sashaying” though!
jagedlo about 1 year ago
If nothing else, a chance for Earl and Nelson to get out of the house, away from you know who…
Darryl Heine about 1 year ago
Mosey on up!
brick10 about 1 year ago
Moses could see where he was leading his people, but he never got there.
chris_o42 about 1 year ago
Well that makes sense! Learn something new every day.
ANIMAL about 1 year ago
Wow – that’s quite a HISTORY lesson.
ThreeDogDad Premium Member about 1 year ago
Moses: “Yeah, we’re lost, but we’re making good time.”
sandpiper about 1 year ago
Very likely
goboboyd about 1 year ago
And never got there after all. No problem, it’s the journey.
Dougo about 1 year ago
Today’s The Argyle Sweater explains it all.
assrdood about 1 year ago
Moseying is like “easing on down” but different.
allangary about 1 year ago
When you look up the etymology of “mosey,” the suggestion is that it comes from “vamose.” I have always thought this silly as the meanings are so different. I believe Earl’s suggestion is more likely. Back in the 50s, my father would say “come on Moses” to anyone who was taking too long, particularly slow drivers.
Zebrastripes about 1 year ago
LOL! Good one!
eced52 about 1 year ago
Actually, it only took them a couple of months to reach Canaan. The ten spies who reported that there was no way they could defeat the people of Canaan, were the ones who caused them to wander for 40 years. One year for every day they were wandering the land of Canaan.
monya_43 about 1 year ago
Moseying gives one time to ponder.
anomalous4 about 1 year ago
I heard that the reason why Moses wandered in the desert for 40 years is that men won’t stop to ask for directions.
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 1 year ago
Nice that Nelson is getting a religious upbringing learning about Moses.
MuddyUSA Premium Member about 1 year ago
Yes Earl…that explains it……………?
bwswolf about 1 year ago
After reading all the comments ……. I had to go back to refresh my memory as to what Earl was going to do in the first place ….. going to the mailbox ……….. :)
zeexenon about 1 year ago
The flame he followed must have been far away and moving, like the Canadian out of control forest fires to we Wisconsinites. Cough-cough!
zeexenon about 1 year ago
Also, God’s stiff-necked children were very unhappy, as usual, with Mo.
pamela welch Premium Member about 1 year ago
Good one Earl! LOLOL
nancyb creator about 1 year ago
That is the best definition of ‘mosey’ I’ve ever seen. Hilarious.
stamps about 1 year ago
Moses’ GPS kept telling him “in 10,000 feet make a u-turn.”
elgrecousa Premium Member about 1 year ago
Nathan is too young to jump from “Mosey down” to “Moseying”.
StevePappas about 1 year ago
Amusing.
Taracinablue about 1 year ago
40 years of wandering in the wilderness as consequences for failing to believe God—because of the 40 days of scouting (Numbers 13:25; 14:34). Moses’ life was in three chunks of 40 years: raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, in Midian, shepherding his father-in-law’s flock (name Reuel; Jethro means “his excellence” and is likely a title), and then rescuing and leading the “flock” of Israel, mostly in the wilderness. God forbid him from entering the Promised Land after he disobeyed and did not believe God by striking the rock a second time (Numbers 20:7-13; the first time was Exodus 17) instead of speaking to it as commanded.
jimmeh about 1 year ago
Moses never did make it to where he was going, if you read the story.