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.

The Burning at Taberah

1
The people were complaining in the ears of the LORD. When the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled; and the LORD’s fire burnt among 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 among them. ​

The Demand for Meat and Moses’ Despair

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 LORD’s anger was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. ​
11
Moses said to the LORD, “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 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 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.” ​

God Appoints Seventy Elders

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 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 the LORD, saying, “Who will give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD 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 the LORD 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
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.” ​

The Spirit Rests on the Elders

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; 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 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.

Quail Sent and Judgment at Kibrothhattaavah

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 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 LORD’s anger was kindled 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 traveled to Hazeroth; and they stayed 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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