Numbers 11:4-15

Complaints about Food

4 Contemptible people[a] among them[b] had a strong craving[c] [for other food]. The Israelites cried again and said, "Who will feed us meat?
5 We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt,[d] along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
6 But now our appetite is gone;[e] there's nothing to look at but this manna!"
7 The manna[f] resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of bdellium.[g]
8 The people walked around and gathered [it]. They ground [it] on a pair of grinding stones or crushed [it] in a mortar, then boiled [it] in a cooking pot and shaped it into cakes. It tasted like a pastry cooked with the finest oil.
9 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.[h]
10 Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents. The Lord was very angry;[i] Moses was also provoked.[j]
11 So Moses asked the Lord, "Why have You brought such trouble on Your servant? Why are You angry with me, and why do You burden me with all these people?[k]
12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth so You should tell me, 'Carry them at your breast, as a nursing woman carries a baby,'[l] to the land that You[m] swore to [give] their fathers?[n]
13 Where can I get meat to give all these people? For they are crying to me: 'Give us meat to eat!'
14 "I can't carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me.
15 If You are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now.[o] If You are pleased with me,[p] don't let me see my misery [any more]."

Numbers 11:4-15 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 16

  • [a]. Or The mixed multitude; Hb obscure
  • [b]. Ex 12:38
  • [c]. Nm 11:34; Ps 78:29-31; 106:14-15; 1 Co 10:5-6
  • [d]. Ex 16:3
  • [e]. Or our lives are wasting away, or our throat is dry
  • [f]. Ex 16:4-35; Dt 8:3,16; Jos 5:12; Neh 9:20; Ps 78:24; Jn 6:48-51; Rv 2:17
  • [g]. Probably a gum resin of yellowish, transparent color
  • [h]. Ex 16:13-14
  • [i]. Nm 11:1,33; 32:13; Ex 22:24; 32:10-11; Dt 6:15
  • [j]. Lit and it was evil in the eyes of Moses
  • [k]. Ex 5:22; Dt 1:9-13
  • [l]. Isa 40:11; 66:11-12
  • [m]. One Hb ms, Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg read I
  • [n]. Nm 14:16,23; Gn 12:7; 26:3-4; Dt 6:10,23
  • [o]. Ex 32:32; Jb 6:9; 7:15-16
  • [p]. Gn 6:8; Ex 33:12-17; Ru 2:2,10,13
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