1And when the peopleH5971 complainedH596, it displeasedH7451 H241 the LORDH3068: and the LORDH3068 heardH8085 it; and his angerH639 was kindledH2734 ; and the fireH784 of the LORDH3068 burntH1197 among them, and consumedH398 them that were in the uttermost partsH7097 of the campH4264. 2And the peopleH5971 criedH6817 unto MosesH4872; and when MosesH4872 prayedH6419 unto the LORDH3068, the fireH784 was quenchedH8257 . 3And he calledH7121 the nameH8034 of theH1931 placeH4725 TaberahH8404: because the fireH784 of the LORDH3068 burntH1197 among them. 4And the mixt multitudeH628 that was amongH7130 them fell a lustingH183 H8378: and the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 also weptH1058 againH7725, and saidH559, Who shall give us fleshH1320 to eatH398 ? 5We rememberH2142 the fishH1710, which we did eatH398 in EgyptH4714 freelyH2600; the cucumbersH7180, and the melonsH20, and the leeksH2682, and the onionsH1211, and the garlickH7762: 6But now our soulH5315 is dried awayH3002: there is nothing at all, besideH1115 this mannaH4478, before our eyesH5869. 7And the mannaH4478 was as corianderH1407 seedH2233, and the colourH5869 thereof as the colourH5869 of bdelliumH916. 8And the peopleH5971 went aboutH7751, and gatheredH3950 it, and groundH2912 it in millsH7347, or beatH1743 it in a mortarH4085, and bakedH1310 it in pansH6517, and madeH6213 cakesH5692 of it: and the tasteH2940 of it was as the tasteH2940 of freshH3955 oilH8081. 9And when the dewH2919 fellH3381 upon the campH4264 in the nightH3915, the mannaH4478 fellH3381 upon it. 10Then MosesH4872 heardH8085 the peopleH5971 weepH1058 throughout their familiesH4940, every manH376 in the doorH6607 of his tentH168: and the angerH639 of the LORDH3068 was kindledH2734 greatlyH3966; MosesH4872 also was displeasedH7489 H5869. 11And MosesH4872 saidH559 unto the LORDH3068, Wherefore hast thou afflictedH7489 thy servantH5650? and wherefore have I not foundH4672 favourH2580 in thy sightH5869, that thou layestH7760 the burdenH4853 of all this peopleH5971 upon me? 12Have I conceivedH2029 all this peopleH5971? have I begottenH3205 them, that thou shouldest sayH559 unto me, CarryH5375 them in thy bosomH2436, as a nursing fatherH539 bearethH5375 the sucking childH3243, unto the landH127 which thou swarestH7650 unto their fathersH1? 13WhenceH370 should I have fleshH1320 to giveH5414 unto all this peopleH5971? for they weepH1058 unto me, sayingH559, GiveH5414 us fleshH1320, that we may eatH398 . 14I am not ableH3201 to bearH5375 all this peopleH5971 aloneH905, because it is too heavyH3515 for me. 15And if thou dealH6213 thus with me, killH2026 me, I pray thee, out of handH2026, if I have foundH4672 favourH2580 in thy sightH5869; and let me not seeH7200 my wretchednessH7451. 16And the LORDH3068 saidH559 unto MosesH4872, GatherH622 unto me seventyH7657 menH376 of the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478, whom thou knowestH3045 to be the eldersH2205 of the peopleH5971, and officersH7860 over them; and bringH3947 them unto the tabernacleH168 of the congregationH4150, that they may standH3320 there with thee. 17And I will come downH3381 and talkH1696 with thee there: and I will takeH680 of the spiritH7307 which is upon thee, and will putH7760 it upon them; and they shall bearH5375 the burdenH4853 of the peopleH5971 with thee, that thou bearH5375 it not thyself alone. 18And sayH559 thou unto the peopleH5971, SanctifyH6942 yourselves against to morrowH4279, and ye shall eatH398 fleshH1320: for ye have weptH1058 in the earsH241 of the LORDH3068, sayingH559, Who shall give us fleshH1320 to eatH398 ? for it was wellH2895 with us in EgyptH4714: therefore the LORDH3068 will giveH5414 you fleshH1320, and ye shall eatH398 . 19Ye shall not eatH398 oneH259 dayH3117, nor two daysH3117, nor fiveH2568 daysH3117, neither tenH6235 daysH3117, nor twentyH6242 daysH3117; 20But even a whole monthH2320 H3117, until it come outH3318 at your nostrilsH639, and it be loathsomeH2214 unto you: becauseH3282 that ye have despisedH3988 the LORDH3068 which is amongH7130 you, and have weptH1058 beforeH6440 him, sayingH559, Why came we forthH3318 out of EgyptH4714? 21And MosesH4872 saidH559, The peopleH5971, amongH7130 whom I am, are sixH8337 hundredH3967 thousandH505 footmenH7273; and thou hast saidH559, I will giveH5414 them fleshH1320, that they may eatH398 a wholeH3117 monthH2320. 22Shall the flocksH6629 and the herdsH1241 be slainH7819 for them, to sufficeH4672 them? or shall all the fishH1709 of the seaH3220 be gathered togetherH622 for them, to sufficeH4672 them? 23And the LORDH3068 saidH559 unto MosesH4872, Is the LORD'SH3068 handH3027 waxed shortH7114 ? thou shalt seeH7200 now whether my wordH1697 shall come to passH7136 unto thee or not. 24And MosesH4872 went outH3318, and toldH1696 the peopleH5971 the wordsH1697 of the LORDH3068, and gatheredH622 the seventyH7657 menH376 of the eldersH2205 of the peopleH5971, and setH5975 them round aboutH5439 the tabernacleH168. 25And the LORDH3068 came downH3381 in a cloudH6051, and spakeH1696 unto him, and tookH680 of the spiritH7307 that was upon him, and gaveH5414 it unto the seventyH7657 eldersH2205 H376: and it came to pass, that, when the spiritH7307 restedH5117 upon them, they prophesiedH5012, and did not ceaseH3254 . 26But there remainedH7604 twoH8147 of the menH582 in the campH4264, the nameH8034 of the oneH259 was EldadH419, and the nameH8034 of the otherH8145 MedadH4312: and the spiritH7307 restedH5117 upon them; and they were of them that were writtenH3789, but went not outH3318 unto the tabernacleH168: and they prophesiedH5012 in the campH4264. 27And there ranH7323 a young manH5288, and toldH5046 MosesH4872, and saidH559, EldadH419 and MedadH4312 do prophesyH5012 in the campH4264. 28And JoshuaH3091 the sonH1121 of NunH5126, the servantH8334 of MosesH4872, one of his young menH979, answeredH6030 and saidH559, My lordH113 MosesH4872, forbidH3607 them. 29And MosesH4872 saidH559 unto him, EnviestH7065 thou for my sake? would God that all theH5414 LORD'SH3068 peopleH5971 were prophetsH5030, and that the LORDH3068 would putH5414 his spiritH7307 upon them! 30And MosesH4872 gatH622 him into the campH4264, he and the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478. 31And there went forthH5265 a windH7307 from the LORDH3068, and broughtH1468 quailsH7958 from the seaH3220, and let them fallH5203 by the campH4264, as it were a day'sH3117 journeyH1870 on this sideH3541, and as it were a day'sH3117 journeyH1870 on the other sideH3541, round aboutH5439 the campH4264, and as it were two cubitsH520 high upon the faceH6440 of the earthH776. 32And the peopleH5971 stood upH6965 all that dayH3117, and all that nightH3915, and all the nextH4283 dayH3117, and they gatheredH622 the quailsH7958: he that gathered leastH4591 gatheredH622 tenH6235 homersH2563: and they spreadH7849 them all abroadH7849 for themselves round aboutH5439 the campH4264. 33And while the fleshH1320 was yetH2962 between their teethH8127, ere it was chewedH3772, the wrathH639 of the LORDH3068 was kindledH2734 against the peopleH5971, and the LORDH3068 smoteH5221 the peopleH5971 with a veryH3966 greatH7227 plagueH4347. 34And he calledH7121 the nameH8034 of that placeH4725 KibrothhattaavahH6914: because there they buriedH6912 the peopleH5971 that lustedH183 . 35And the peopleH5971 journeyedH5265 from KibrothhattaavahH6914 unto HazerothH2698; and abode at HazerothH2698.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 MANNA LOATHED. (Num. 11:1-35)
When the people complained it displeased the Lord, &c.--Unaccustomed to the fatigues of travel and wandering into the depths of a desert, less mountainous but far more gloomy and desolate than that of Sinai, without any near prospect of the rich country that had been promised, they fell into a state of vehement discontent, which was vented at these irksome and fruitless journeyings. The displeasure of God was manifested against the ungrateful complainers by fire sent in an extraordinary manner. It is worthy of notice, however, that the discontent seems to have been confined to the extremities of the camp, where, in all likelihood, "the mixed multitude" [see on
Exod 12:38] had their station. At the intercession of Moses, the appalling judgment ceased [
Num 11:2], and the name given to the place, "Taberah" (a burning), remained ever after a monument of national sin and punishment. (See on
Num 11:34).
4 the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting--These consisted of Egyptians. [See on
Exod 12:38.] To dream of banquets and plenty of animal food in the desert becomes a disease of the imagination; and to this excitement of the appetite no people are more liable than the natives of Egypt. But the Israelites participated in the same feelings and expressed dissatisfaction with the manna on which they had hitherto been supported, in comparison with the vegetable luxuries with which they had been regaled in Egypt.
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely--(See on
Exod 7:17). The people of Egypt are accustomed to an almost exclusive diet of fish, either fresh or sun-dried, during the hot season in April and May--the very season when the Israelites were travelling in this desert. Lower Egypt, where were the brick-kilns in which they were employed, afforded great facilities for obtaining fish in the Mediterranean, the lakes, and the canals of the Nile.
cucumbers--The Egyptian species is smooth, of a cylindrical form, and about a foot in length. It is highly esteemed by the natives and when in season is liberally partaken of, being greatly mellowed by the influence of the sun.
melons--The watermelons are meant, which grow on the deep, loamy soil after the subsidence of the Nile; and as they afford a juicy and cooling fruit, all classes make use of them for food, drink, and medicine.
leeks--by some said to be a species of grass cresses, which is much relished as a kind of seasoning.
onions--the same as ours; but instead of being nauseous and affecting the eyes, they are sweet to the taste, good for the stomach, and form to a large extent the aliment of the laboring classes.
garlic--is now nearly if not altogether extinct in Egypt although it seems to have grown anciently in great abundance. The herbs now mentioned form a diet very grateful in warm countries where vegetables and other fruits of the season are much used. We can scarcely wonder that both the Egyptian hangers-on and the general body of the Israelites, incited by their clamors, complained bitterly of the want of the refreshing viands in their toilsome wanderings. But after all their experience of the bounty and care of God, their vehement longing for the luxuries of Egypt was an impeachment of the divine arrangements; and if it was the sin that beset them in the desert, it became them more strenuously to repress a rebellious spirit, as dishonoring to God and unbecoming their relation to Him as a chosen people.
6 But now . . . there is nothing . . . beside this manna--Daily familiarity had disgusted them with the sight and taste of the monotonous food; and, ungrateful for the heavenly gift, they longed for a change of fare. It may be noticed that the resemblance of the manna to coriander seed was not in the color, but in the size and figure; and from its comparison to bdellium, which is either a drop of white gum or a white pearl, we are enabled to form a better idea of it. Moreover, it is evident, from the process of baking into cakes, that it could not have been the natural manna of the Arabian desert, for that is too gummy or unctuous to admit of being ground into meal. In taste it is said to have been like "wafers made with honey" (
Exod 16:31), and here to have the taste of fresh oil. The discrepancy in these statements is only apparent; for in the latter the manna is described in its raw state; in the former, after it was ground and baked. The minute description given here of its nature and use was designed to show the great sinfulness of the people, in being dissatisfied with such excellent food, furnished so plentifully and gratuitously.
10 Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant, &c.--It is impossible not to sympathize with his feelings although the tone and language of his remonstrances to God cannot be justified. He was in a most distressing situation--having a mighty multitude under his care, with no means of satisfying their clamorous demands. Their conduct shows how deeply they had been debased and demoralized by long oppression: while his reveals a state of mind agonized and almost overwhelmed by a sense of the undivided responsibilities of his office.
16 the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders-- (
Exod 3:16;
Exod 5:6;
Exod 24:9;
Exod 18:21,
Exod 18:24;
Lev 4:15). An order of seventy was to be created, either by a selection from the existing staff of elders or by the appointment of new ones, empowered to assist him by their collective wisdom and experience in the onerous cares of government. The Jewish writers say that this was the origin of the Sanhedrin, or supreme appellate court of their nation. But there is every reason to believe that it was only a temporary expedient, adopted to meet a trying exigency.
17 I will come down--that is, not in a visible manner or by local descent, but by the tokens of the divine presence and operations.
and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee--"The spirit" means the gifts and influences of the Spirit (
Num 27:18;
Joel 2:28;
John 7:39;
1Cor 14:12), and by "taking the spirit of Moses, and putting it upon them," is not to be understood that the qualities of the great leader were to be in any degree impaired but that the elders would be endowed with a portion of the same gifts, especially of prophecy (
Num 11:25) --that is, an extraordinary penetration in discovering hidden and settling difficult things.
18 say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh--that is, "prepare yourselves," by repentance and submission, to receive to-morrow the flesh you clamor for. But it is evident that the tenor of the language implied a severe rebuke and that the blessing promised would prove a curse.
21 Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand . . . Shall the flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them?--The great leader, struck with a promise so astonishing as that of suddenly furnishing, in the midst of the desert, more than two millions of people with flesh for a whole month, betrayed an incredulous spirit, surprising in one who had witnessed so many stupendous miracles. But it is probable that it was only a feeling of the moment--at all events, the incredulous doubt was uttered only to himself--and not, as afterwards, publicly and to the scandal of the people. (See on
Num 20:10). It was, therefore, sharply reproved, but not punished.
24 Moses . . . gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, &c.--The tabernacle was chosen for the convocation, because, as it was there God manifested Himself, there His Spirit would be directly imparted--there the minds of the elders themselves would be inspired with reverential awe and their office invested with greater respect in the eyes of the people.
25 when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease--As those elders were constituted civil governors, their "prophesying" must be understood as meaning the performance of their civil and sacred duties by the help of those extraordinary endowments they had received; and by their not "ceasing" we understand, either that they continued to exercise their gifts uninterruptedly the first day (see
1Sam 19:24), or that these were permanent gifts, which qualified them in an eminent degree for discharging the duty of public magistrates.
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp--They did not repair with the rest to the tabernacle, either from modesty in shrinking from the assumption of a public office, or being prevented by some ceremonial defilement. They, however, received the gifts of the Spirit as well as their brethren. And when Moses was urged to forbid their prophesying, his answer displayed a noble disinterestedness as well as zeal for the glory of God akin to that of our Lord (
Mark 9:39).
31 There went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, &c.--These migratory birds (see on
Exod 16:13) were on their journey from Egypt, when "the wind from the Lord," an east wind (
Ps 78:26) forcing them to change their course, wafted them over the Red Sea to the camp of Israel.
let them fall a day's journey--If the journey of an individual is meant, this space might be thirty miles; if the inspired historian referred to the whole host, ten miles would be as far as they could march in one day in the sandy desert under a vertical sun. Assuming it to be twenty miles this immense cloud of quails (
Ps 78:27) covered a space of forty miles in diameter. Others reduce it to sixteen. But it is doubtful whether the measurement be from the center or the extremities of the camp. It is evident, however, that the language describes the countless number of these quails.
as it were two cubits high--Some have supposed that they fell on the ground above each other to that height--a supposition which would leave a vast quantity useless as food to the Israelites, who were forbidden to eat any animal that died of itself or from which the blood was not poured out. Others think that, being exhausted with a long flight, they could not fly more than three feet above the earth, and so were easily felled or caught. A more recent explanation applies the phrase, "two cubits high," not to the accumulation of the mass, but to the size of the individual birds. Flocks of large red-legged cranes, three feet high, measuring seven feet from tip to tip, have been frequently seen on the western shores of the Gulf of Akaba, or eastern arm of the Red Sea [STANLEY; SHUBERT].
32 people stood up--rose up in eager haste--some at one time, others at another; some, perhaps through avidity, both day and night.
ten homers--ten asses' loads; or, "homers" may be used indefinitely (as in
Exod 8:14;
Judg 15:16); and "ten" for many: so that the phrase "ten homers" is equivalent to "great heaps." The collectors were probably one or two from each family; and, being distrustful of God's goodness, they gathered not for immediate consumption only, but for future use. In eastern and southern seas, innumerable quails are often seen, which, when weary, fall down, covering every spot on the deck and rigging of vessels; and in Egypt they come in such myriads that the people knock them down with sticks.
spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp--salted and dried them for future use, by the simple process to which they had been accustomed in Egypt.
33 while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed--literally, "cut off"; that is, before the supply of quails, which lasted a month (
Num 11:20), was exhausted. The probability is, that their stomachs, having been long inured to manna (a light food), were not prepared for so sudden a change of regimen--a heavy, solid diet of animal food, of which they seem to have partaken to so intemperate a degree as to produce a general surfeit, and fatal consequences. On a former occasion their murmurings for flesh were raised (
Exod 16:1-
Exod 16:8) because they were in want of food. Here they proceeded, not from necessity, but wanton, lustful desire; and their sin, in the righteous judgment of God, was made to carry its own punishment.
34 called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah--literally, "The graves of lust," or "Those that lusted"; so that the name of the place proves that the mortality was confined to those who had indulged inordinately.
35 Hazeroth--The extreme southern station of this route was a watering-place in a spacious plain, now Ain-Haderah.
