Numbers Chapter 11
1 The people were complaining in the ears of the LORD. When the LORD heard it, his anger burnt; and the LORD's fire burnt amongst them, and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
2 The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire abated.
3 The name of that place was called Taberah, because the LORD's fire burnt amongst them.
4 The mixed multitude that was amongst them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, "Who will give us meat 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 it looked like 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 LORD's anger burnt greatly; and Moses was displeased.
11 Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven't I found favour 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 out, 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 all these people? For they weep before 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 favour in your sight; and don't let me see my wretchedness."
16 The LORD 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 don't bear it yourself alone.
18 "Say to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat.
19 You will not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,
20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected the LORD who is amongst you, and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?" ' "
21 Moses said, "The people, amongst whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, 'I will give them meat, 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 The LORD said to Moses, "Has the LORD'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 LORD's words; and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tent.
25 The LORD 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. 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. 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 the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!"
30 Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
31 A wind from the LORD 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 of that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all out for themselves around the camp.
33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the LORD's anger burnt against the people, and the LORD 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 travelled to Hazeroth; and they stayed at Hazeroth.
Footnotes
- Verse 3 (Taberah)
- Taberah means "burning"
- Verse 7 (Bdellium)
- Bdellium is a resin extracted from certain African trees.
- Verse 31 (Cubit)
- A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man's arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimetres.
- Verse 32 (Homer)
- 1 homer is about 220 litres or 6 bushels
- Verse 34 (Kibroth Hattaavah)
- Kibroth Hattaavah means "graves of lust"
Version: World English Bible
- About World English Bible (WEB)
- WEB Glossary
- WEB Web Site (source documents)
- Bible on one web page
- Download WEB (for MS Word)
Audio
To Listen to this Chapter
The mp3 Audio File should start to play in a new Tab. Then return to this Tab to follow the text whilst listening.
Numbers Chapter 11 Guide
Here we enter upon the second section in the Book of Numbers, in which is revealed the failure of man. The first evidence was discontent, resulting unquestionably from the hardship of life.
This was immediately rebuked by the burning of the fire of the Lord. Moses became an intercessor and the fire abated.
The next incident was more pronounced rebellion. The occasion was the mixed multitude. The explanation of the presence of these people is found in Exodus 12:38. These people hankered after things left behind in Egypt and the people of God were infected by this discontent. Moses, in perplexity, poured out his complaint into the listening ear of Jehovah. The answer of Jehovah to Moses was to appoint elders to assist him in oversight and their equipment by the Spirit. To the people He gave quails. An added comment by a psalmist on this story long after was:
And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their souls.
Here a principle emerges which is of perpetual application and importance. It is that there are times when God grants an unwarranted request in order that men may learn through experience the folly of their desires.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Numbers Chapter 11 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The burning at Taberah. -- (1-3)
- The people lust for flesh, and loathe the manna. -- (4-9)
- Moses complains of his charge. -- (10-15)
- Elders appointed to divide the charge. Flesh meat promised. -- (16-23)
- The Spirit rests on the elders. -- (24-30)
- Quails are given. -- (31-35)
Verses 1-3
Here is the people's sin; they complained. See the sinfulness of sin, which takes occasion from the commandment to be provoking. The weakness of the law discovered sin, but could not destroy it; checked, but could not conquer it. They complained. Those who are of a discontented spirit, will always find something to quarrel or fret about, though the circumstances of their outward condition be ever so favourable. The Lord heard it, though Moses did not. God knows the secret frettings and murmurings of the heart, though concealed from men. What he noticed, he was much displeased with, and he chastised them for this sin. The fire of their wrath against God burned in their minds; justly did the fire of God's wrath fasten on their bodies; but God's judgments came on them gradually, that they might take warning. It appeared that God delights not in punishing; when he begins, he is soon prevailed with to let it fall.
Verses 4-9
Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service! While they lived on manna, they seemed exempt from the curse sin has brought on man, that in the sweat of his face he should eat bread; yet they speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too good for them. Those who might be happy, often make themselves miserable by discontent. They could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. It is evidence of the dominion of the carnal mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction of sense. We should not indulge in any desire which we cannot in faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust. What is lawful of itself becomes evil, when God does not allot it to us, yet we desire it.
Verses 10-15
The provocation was very great; yet Moses expressed himself otherwise than became him. He undervalued the honour God had put upon him. He magnified his own performances, while he had the Divine wisdom to direct him, and Almighty power to dispense rewards and punishments. He speaks distrustfully of the Divine grace. Had the work been much less he could not have gone through it in his own strength; but had it been much greater, through God strengthening him, he might have done it. Let us pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation.
Verses 16-23
Moses is to choose such as he knew to be elders, that is, wise and experienced men. God promises to qualify them. If they were not found fit for the employ, they should be made fit. Even the discontented people shall be gratified too, that every mouth may be stopped. See here, I. The vanity of all the delights of sense; they will cloy, but they will not satisfy. Spiritual pleasures alone will satisfy and last. As the world passes away, so do the lusts of it.
Verses 24-30
We have here the fulfilment of God's word to Moses, that he should have help in the government of Israel. He gave of his Spirit to the seventy elders. They discoursed to the people of the things of God, so that all who heard them might say, that God was with them of a truth. Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, went not out unto the tabernacle, as the rest, being sensible of their own weakness and unworthiness. But the Spirit of God found them in the camp, and there they exercised their gift of praying, preaching, and praising God; they spake as moved by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God is not confined to the tabernacle, but, like the wind, blows where He listeth. And they that humble themselves shall be exalted; and those who are most fit for government, are least ambitious of it. Joshua does not desire that they should be punished, but only restrained for the future. This motion he made out of zeal for what he thought to be the unity of the church. He would have them silenced, lest they should occasion a schism, or should rival Moses; but Moses was not afraid of any such effects from that Spirit which God had put upon them. Shall we reject those whom Christ has owned, or restrain any from doing good, because they are not in every thing of our mind? Moses wishes all the Lord's people were prophets, that he would put his Spirit upon all of them. Let the testimony of Moses be believed by those who desire to be in power; that government is a burden. It is a burden of care and trouble to those who make conscience of the duty of it; and to those who do not, it will prove a heavier burden in the day of account. Let the example of Moses be followed by those in power; let them not despise the advice and assistance of others, but desire it, and be thankful for it. If all the present number of the Lord's people were rendered prophets, or ministers, by the Spirit of Christ, though not all agreed in outward matters, there is work enough for all, in calling sinners to repentance, and faith in our Lord Jesus.
Verses 31-35
God performed his promise to the people, in giving them flesh. How much more diligent men are in collecting the meat that perishes, than in labouring for meat which endures to everlasting life! We are quick-sighted in the affairs of time; but stupidity blinds us as to the concerns of eternity. To pursue worldly advantages, we need no arguments; but when we are to secure the true riches, then we are all forgetfulness. Those who are under the power of a carnal mind, will have their lusts fulfilled, though it be to the certain damage and ruin of their precious souls. They paid dearly for their feasts. God often grants the desires of sinners in wrath, while he denies the desires of his own people in love. What we unduly desire, if we obtain it, we have reason to fear, will be some way or other a grief and cross to us. And what multitudes there are in all places, who shorten their lives by excess of one kind or other! Let us seek for those pleasures which satisfy, but never surfeit; and which will endure for evermore.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.