Numbers 11:33

33 The flesh was yet between their teeth, before it failed, when the Lord was wroth with the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.

Numbers 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 11:33

And while the flesh [was] yet between their teeth
When they had just got it into their mouths, and were about to bite it: ere it was chewed;
or "cut off"; or cut into pieces by the "incisores", or fore teeth, and then ground by the "molares", or grinders, and so became fit to be swallowed. Both quails and locusts were eaten as food; the former is a fat and delicious fowl, and the latter, some sorts of them, at least, were allowed clean food for the Jews, and were fed on by many people: the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people;
for their lusting after flesh, and despising the manna: and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague;
the pestilence, as Aben Ezra; or with fire, as Bochart ^F5, who gives the following reasons why the people were so severely punished now, and not before, when they murmured on a like account; because their sin's were greater, and more aggravated, they falling again into the same sin which had been forgiven them; and besides, they were before pressed with famine, now they had a plenty of manna every day; and also were better instructed, having received the law, which was not yet given when they were just come out of Egypt. Sulpitius ^F6 the historian says, 23,000 perished at this time.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Ut supra, (Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 1. c. 15.) col. 109.

Numbers 11:33 In-Context

31 And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails over from the sea; and it brought them down upon the camp a day's journey on this side, and a day's journey on that side, round about the camp, as it were two cubits from the earth.

32 And the people rose up all the day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered quails; he that gathered least, gathered ten measures; and they refreshed themselves round about the camp.

33 The flesh was yet between their teeth, before it failed, when the Lord was wroth with the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.

34 And the name of that place was called the Graves of Lust; for there they buried the people that lusted.

35 The people departed from the Graves of Lust to Aseroth; and the people halted at Aseroth.