Numbers 11:31-35

Listen to Numbers 11:31-35

The Quail and the Plague

31 Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, [a] for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp.
32 All that day and night, and all the next day, the people stayed up gathering the quail. No one gathered less than ten homers, [b] and they spread them out all around the camp.
33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague.
34 So they called that place Kibroth-hattaavah, [c] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.
35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people moved on to Hazeroth, where they remained for some time.

Numbers 11:31-35 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.

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Footnotes 3

  • [a] Or up to two cubits deep; that is, approximately 3 feet or 91.4 centimeters
  • [b] 10 homers is approximately 62.4 bushels or 2,200 liters.
  • [c] Kibroth-hattaavah means graves of craving.
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