Numbers 11:4-14

4 Some troublemakers among them wanted better food, and soon all the Israelites began complaining. They said, "We want meat!

5 We remember the fish we ate for free in Egypt. We also had cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.

6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

7 The manna was like small white seeds.

8 The people would go to gather it, and then grind it in handmills, or crush it between stones. After they cooked it in a pot or made cakes with it, it tasted like bread baked with olive oil.

9 When the dew fell on the camp each night, so did the manna.

10 Moses heard every family crying as they stood in the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses got upset.

11 He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought me, your servant, this trouble? What have I done wrong that you made me responsible for all these people?

12 I am not the father of all these people, and I didn't give birth to them. So why do you make me carry them to the land you promised to our ancestors? Must I carry them in my arms as a nurse carries a baby?

13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep crying to me, 'We want meat!'

14 I can't take care of all these people alone. It is too much for me.

Numbers 11:4-14 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.