Numbers11

The Israelites complained about their hardships and the lack of meat, despising the manna provided by God. The LORD's anger was kindled, first with fire, then by promising meat for a month as a judgment. Moses, overwhelmed by the people's demands, received divine assistance as the Spirit was placed upon seventy elders to help bear the burden. Ultimately, the LORD sent vast quantities of quails, but while the people consumed them, a severe plague struck them for their lusting and complaining.

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The Burning at Taberah

And the people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears of Jehovah: and when Jehovah heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Jehovah burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.

And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto Jehovah, and the fire abated.

And the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of Jehovah burnt among them.

The Demand for Meat and Moses’ Despair

And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.

And the manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium.

The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.

And Moses said unto Jehovah, Wherefore hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

God Appoints Seventy Elders

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with thee.

And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of Jehovah, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore Jehovah will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days,

but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected Jehovah who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

Shall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Is Jehovah’s hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

The Spirit Rests on the Elders

And Moses went out, and told the people the words of Jehovah: and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tent.

And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.

But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.

And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all Jehovah’s people were prophets, that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!

And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

Quail Sent and Judgment at Kibrothhattaavah

And there went forth a wind from Jehovah, 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, round about the camp, and about two cubits above the face of the earth.

And the people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.

While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague.

And the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people that lusted.

From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed unto Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.

Study Notes for Numbers 11

Verse 1

The initial complaint was general, indicating a pervasive lack of faith and resilience shortly after leaving Sinai. The 'fire of the LORD' is a manifestation of divine judgment against their discontent.

Verse 3

“Taberah” means “burning.” This incident establishes a pattern where murmuring against God's provision leads to immediate, severe consequence, serving as a powerful warning to the community.

Verse 4

The 'mixt multitude' (non-Israelites who joined the Exodus) often instigated trouble. Their demand for meat highlights a fundamental lack of trust in God's current sustenance (manna).

Verse 5

This detailed list of desirable Egyptian foods reveals the people's craving for variety and luxury. They romanticized their bondage, prioritizing fleshly desire over the miraculous, though plain, manna.

Verse 7

This description emphasizes the miraculous nature and consistency of the manna. Despite its divine origin, it was rejected due to boredom and ingratitude.

Verse 10

Moses’ displeasure mirrors God’s anger, showing the emotional toll of leadership. The weeping at the tent doors signifies a collective, public act of complaint and rebellion against God and His appointed leader.

Verse 11

Moses expresses extreme frustration, feeling abandoned and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the people's leadership burden. This is a moment of profound human vulnerability and questioning.

Verse 14

This confession confirms the inadequacy of human strength for divine tasks. Moses’ realization that he cannot bear the burden alone necessitates God's intervention and the establishment of shared leadership.

Verse 15

Moses’ prayer for death echoes similar despair found in other prophets (like Elijah and Jonah), revealing the intense pressure and hopelessness felt when leading a persistently rebellious people.

Verse 16

This institutionalizes a mechanism of shared governance, transitioning from Moses as the sole intermediary to a system supported by appointed leaders. This structure foreshadows the later Sanhedrin.

Verse 17

God does not diminish Moses’ spirit but shares it, demonstrating that divine empowerment is transferable and sufficient for multiple leaders. This is a foundational text regarding the distribution of the Holy Spirit for service.

Verse 20

The provision of meat becomes a judgment: they will eat until it is loathsome. This symbolizes God giving them over to the consequences of their selfish desires because they 'despised the LORD' who was present among them.

Verse 21

Moses’ calculation highlights the logistical impossibility of feeding such a massive population naturally, focusing his doubt on the sheer scale of the required miracle.

Verse 23

This rhetorical question challenges Moses' limited human perspective, serving as a powerful affirmation of God's limitless power and faithfulness to His word, regardless of human difficulty.

Verse 25

The elders ‘prophesied,’ meaning they spoke inspired words or ecstatic utterances, confirming the Spirit's presence and their divinely sanctioned authority to the community.

Verse 26

Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp shows that the Spirit is not restricted by location or ritual adherence, emphasizing God's sovereignty in choosing whom to empower.

Verse 28

Joshua, Moses’ loyal attendant, attempts to protect Moses’ unique authority, fearing a challenge to the established leadership structure.

Verse 29

Moses demonstrates profound humility and selfless leadership, expressing the ideal that God’s empowering Spirit should be poured out upon the entire community—a hope later fulfilled in the New Testament (Acts 2).

Verse 31

The quails were provided supernaturally, carried by a wind. The abundance, piling up 'two cubits high' (approx. three feet), emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the provision, which was too much to handle.

Verse 33

The judgment was immediate, punishing the people not merely for eating meat, but for their faithless lust (craving) and contempt for God's sustained provision.

Verse 34

“Kibrothhattaavah” means “graves of craving” or “graves of lust.” This name permanently memorializes the consequences of prioritizing fleshly desire over trust and obedience to God.

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Numbers11

The Burning at Taberah

The Demand for Meat and Moses’ Despair

God Appoints Seventy Elders

The Spirit Rests on the Elders

Quail Sent and Judgment at Kibrothhattaavah

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