1 The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger was kindled; and Yahweh's fire burnt among them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated. 3 The name of that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh's fire burnt among them. 4 The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, "Who will give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at." 7 The manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like the appearance of bdellium. 8 The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it. Its taste was like the taste of fresh oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it. 10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of Yahweh was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to Yahweh, "Why have you treated with your servant so badly? 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 nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers?' 13 Where could I get meat to give to all this people? For they weep to me, saying, 'Give us meat, 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 treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I have found favor in your sight; and don't let me see my wretchedness." 16 Yahweh said to Moses, "Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders 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. 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 to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and you will eat flesh; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, "Who will give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." Therefore Yahweh will give you flesh, and you will eat. 19 You will 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 is loathsome to you; because that you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?"'" 21 Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, 'I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.' 22 Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?" 23 Yahweh said to Moses, "Has Yahweh's hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not." 24 Moses went out, and told the people the words of Yahweh; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent. 25 Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. 26 But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!" 28 Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, "My lord Moses, forbid them!" 29 Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh's people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!" 30 Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31 A wind from Yahweh went out and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day's journey on this side, and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth. 32 The people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all abroad for themselves around the camp. 33 While the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague. 34 The name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted. 35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth; and they stayed at Hazeroth.
This and the following three chapters recount the successive rebellions of the Israelites after their departure from Sinai; culminating in that by which they brought upon themselves the sentence of personal exclusion from the land of promise.
The people complain, the Lord is displeased, and many of them are consumed by fire, Numbers 11:1. Moses intercedes for them, and the fire is quenched, Numbers 11:2. The place is called Taberah, Numbers 11:3. The mixed multitude long for flesh, and murmur, Numbers 11:4-6. The manna described, Numbers 11:7-9. The people weep in their tents, and the Lord is displeased, Numbers 11:10. Moses deplores his lot in being obliged to hear and bear with all their murmurings, Numbers 11:11-15. He is commanded to bring seventy of the elders to God that he may endue them with the same spirit, and cause them to divide the burden with him, Numbers 11:16, Numbers 11:17. He is also commanded to inform the people that they shall have flesh for a whole month, Numbers 11:18-20. Moses expresses his doubt of the possibility of this, Numbers 11:21, Numbers 11:22. The Lord confirms his promise, Numbers 11:23. The seventy men are brought to the tabernacle, Numbers 11:24; and the spirit of prophecy rests upon them, Numbers 11:25. Eldad and Medad stay in the camp and prophesy, Numbers 11:26, Numbers 11:27. Joshua beseeches Moses to forbid them, Numbers 11:28. Moses refuses, Numbers 11:29, Numbers 11:30. A wind from the Lord brings quails to the camp, Numbers 11:31, Numbers 11:32. While feeding on the flesh, a plague from the Lord falls upon them, and many of them die, Numbers 11:33. The place is called Kibroth-hattaavah, or the graves of lust, Numbers 11:34. They journey to Hazeroth, Numbers 11:35.
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, Numbers 11:1; 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, Numbers 11:4; and of the uneasiness of Moses, and his complaints of the heavy burden of the people upon him, Numbers 11:10; 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, Numbers 11:16; and that the people should have flesh to serve them a whole month, Numbers 11:18; at which last Moses expressed some degree of unbelief, Numbers 11:21; 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, Numbers 11:24; 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, Numbers 11:31; and from thence they removed to Hazeroth, Numbers 11:35.
(Numbers 11:1-3) The burning at Taberah.
(Numbers 11:4-9) The people lust for flesh, and loathe the manna.
(Numbers 11:10-15) Moses complains of his charge.
(Numbers 11:16-23) Elders appointed to divide the charge. Flesh meat promised.
(Numbers 11:24-30) The Spirit rests on the elders.
(Numbers 11:31-35) Quails are given.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.