Numbers 11:21-31

21 But Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 * * on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.'
22 "Should flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Or should all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?"
23 The LORD said to Moses, "Is 1the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether 2My word will come true for you or not."
24 So Moses went out and 3told the people the words of the LORD. Also, he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and stationed them around the tent.
25 4Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.
26 But two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad. And 5the Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent ), and they prophesied in the camp.
27 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."
28 Then 6Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, "7Moses, my lord, restrain them."
29 But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? 8Would * that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"
30 Then Moses returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Israel.

The Quail and the Plague

31 9Now there went forth a wind from the LORD and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground.

Numbers 11:21-31 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.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 59:1
  • 2. Ezekiel 12:25; Ezekiel 24:14
  • 3. Numbers 11:16
  • 4. Numbers 11:17; Numbers 12:5
  • 5. Numbers 24:2; 1 Samuel 10:6; 2 Chronicles 15:1; Nehemiah 9:30
  • 6. Exodus 33:11; Joshua 1:1
  • 7. Mark 9:38-40
  • 8. 1 Corinthians 14:5
  • 9. Exodus 16:13; Psalms 78:26-28; Psalms 105:40

Footnotes 6

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