Numbers 11:10-20

10 Moshe heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; and Moshe was displeased.

11 Moshe said to the LORD, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? and why haven't I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

12 Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that you should tell me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nursing-father carries the sucking child, to the land which you swore to their fathers?

13 Whence should I have flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15 If you deal thus with me, please kill me out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

16 The LORD said to Moshe, Gather to me seventy men of the Zakenim of Yisra'el, whom you know to be the Zakenim of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.

17 I will come down and talk with you there: and I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you not bear it yourself alone.

18 Say you to the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Mitzrayim: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and you shall eat.

19 You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days,

20 but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome to you; because that you have rejected the LORD who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Mitzrayim?

Numbers 11:10-20 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.