Numbers 11:31-35

Quail in the Camp

31 A wind sent by the Lord [a] came up and blew quail in from the sea; it dropped [them] at the camp all around, three feet[b] off[c] the ground, about a day's journey in every direction.[d]
32 The people were up all that day and night and all the next day gathering the quail-the one who took the least gathered 33 bushels[e]-and they spread them out all around the camp.[f]
33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord's anger burned[g] against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague.[h]
34 So they named that place Kibroth-hattaavah,[i] because there they buried the people who had craved [the meat].
35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people moved on to Hazeroth[j] and remained there.

Numbers 11:31-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 11

This chapter informs us of the complaints of the people of Israel, which brought the fire of the Lord upon them, and consumed many of them; and which, at the intercession of Moses, was quenched, and the place from thence called Taberah, Nu 11:1-3; and of the lusting of the mixed multitude after flesh, to increase which, they called to mind their food in Egypt; and to show their folly and ingratitude in so doing, the manna is described, Nu 11:4-9; and of the uneasiness of Moses, and his complaints of the heavy burden of the people upon him, Nu 11:10-15; and to make him easy, it is promised, that seventy of the elders of Israel should partake of his spirit, and assist in bearing the burden, Nu 11:16,17; and that the people should have flesh to serve them a whole month, Nu 11:18-20; at which last Moses expressed some degree of unbelief, Nu 11:21-23; however God fulfilled his promise with respect to both. Some of the spirit of Moses was taken and given to seventy elders, who prophesied, and two men are particularly taken notice of, who did so, Nu 11:24-30; quails in great numbers were brought by a wind to the people; but while they were eating them wrath came upon them, and they were smitten with a plague, whence the place was called Kibrothhattaavah, Nu 11:31-34; and from thence they removed to Hazeroth, Nu 11:35.

Footnotes 10

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.