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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Numbers 11:16–23. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We have here God's gracious answer to both the foregoing complaints, wherein his goodness takes occasion from man's badness to appear so much the more illustrious.
I.Provision is made for the redress of the grievances Moses complains of.
If he find the weight of government lie too heavy upon him, though he was a little too passionate in his remonstrance, yet he shall be eased, not by being discarded from the government himself, as he justly might have been if God had been extreme to mark what he said amiss, but by having assistants appointed him, who should be, as the apostle speaks (Co1 12:28), helps, governments (that is, helps in government), not at all to lesson or eclipse his honour, but to make the work more easy to him, and to bear the burden of the people with him. And that this provision might be both agreeable and really serviceable,
1.Moses is directed to nominate the persons, Num 11:16. The people were too hot and heady and tumultuous to be entrusted with the election; Moses must please himself in the choice, that he may not afterwards complain. The number he is to choose is seventy men, according to the number of the souls that went down into Egypt. He must choose such as he knew to be elders, that is, wise and experienced men. Those that had acquitted themselves best, as rulers of thousands and hundreds (Exo 18:25), purchase to themselves now this good degree. "Choose such as thou knowest to be elders indeed, and not in name only, officers that execute their office." We read of the same number of elders (Exo 24:1) that went up with Moses to Mount Sinai, but they were distinguished only for that occasion, these for a perpetuity; and, according to this constitution, the Sanhedrim, or great council of the Jews, which in after ages sat at Jerusalem, and was the highest court of judgment among them, consisted of seventy men. Our Saviour seems to have had an eye to it in the choice of seventy disciples, who were to be assistants to the apostles, Lu. 10.
2.God promises to qualify them. If they were not found fit for the employ, they should be made fit, else they might prove more a hindrance than a help to Moses, Num 11:17. Though Moses had talked too boldly with God, yet God does not therefore break off communion with him; he bears a great deal with us, and we must with one another: I will come down (said God) and talk with thee, when thou art more calm and composed; and I will take of the same spirit of wisdom, and piety, and courage, that is upon thee, and put it upon them. Not that Moses had the less of the Spirit for their sharing, nor that they were hereby made equal with him; Moses was still unequalled (Deu 34:10), but they were clothed with a spirit of government proportionable to their place, and with a spirit of prophecy to prove their divine call to it, the government being a Theocracy. Note,
(1.)Those whom God employs in any service he qualifies for it, and those that are not in some measure qualified cannot think themselves duly called.
(2.)All good qualifications are from God; every perfect gift is from the Father of lights.
II.Even the humour of the discontented people shall be gratified too, that every mouth may be stopped.
They are ordered to sanctify themselves (Num 11:18), that is, to put themselves into a posture to receive such a proof of God's power as should be a token both of mercy and judgment. Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel, Amo 4:12.
1.God promises (shall I say?) - he threatens rather, that they shall have their fill of flesh, that for a month together they shall not only be fed, but feasted, with flesh, besides their daily manna; and, if they have not a better government of their appetites than now it appears they have they shall be surfeited with it (Num 11:19, Num 11:20): You shall eat till it come out at your nostrils, and become loathsome to you. See here,
(1.)The vanity of all the delights of sense; they will cloy, but not satisfy: spiritual pleasures are the contrary. As the world passes away, so do the lusts of it, Jo1 2:17. What was greedily coveted in a little time comes to be nauseated.
(2.)What brutish sins (and worse than brutish) gluttony and drunkenness are; they put a force upon nature, and make that the sickness of the body which should be its health; they are sins that are their own punishments, and yet not the worst that attend them.
(3.)What a righteous thing it is with God to make that loathsome to men which they have inordinately lusted after. God could make them despise flesh as much as they had despised manna.
2.Moses objects the improbability of making good this word, Num 11:21, Num 11:22. It is an objection like that which the disciples made, Mar 8:4, Whence can a man satisfy these men? Some excuse Moses here, and construe what he says as only a modest enquiry which way the supply must be expected; but it savours too much of diffidence and distrust of God to be justified. He objects the number of the people, as if he that provided bread for them all could not, by the same unlimited power, provide flesh too. He reckons it must be the flesh either of beasts or fishes, because they are the most bulky animals, little thinking that the flesh of birds, little birds, should serve the purpose. God sees not as man sees, but his thoughts are above ours. He objects the greediness of the people's desires in that word, to suffice them. Note, Even true and great believers sometimes find it hard to trust God under the discouragements of second causes, and against hope to believe in hope. Moses himself could scarcely forbear saying, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? when this had become the common cry. No doubt this was his infirmity.
3.God gives a short but sufficient answer to the objection in that question, Has the Lord's hand waxed short? Num 11:23. If Moses had remembered the years of the right hand of the Most High, he would not have started all these difficulties; therefore God reminds him of them, intimating that this objection reflected upon the divine power, of which he himself had been so often, not only the witness, but the instrument. Had he forgotten what wonders the divine power had wrought for that people, when it inflicted the plagues of Egypt, divided the sea, broached the rock, and rained bread from heaven? Had that power abated? Was God weaker than he used to be? Or was he tired with what he had done? Whatever our unbelieving hearts may suggest to the contrary, it is certain,
(1.)That God's hand is not short; his power cannot be restrained in the exerting of itself by any thing but his own will; with him nothing is impossible. That hand is not short which measures the waters, metes out the heavens (Isa 40:12), and grasps the winds, Pro 30:4.
(2.)That it has not waxed short. He is as strong as ever he was, fainteth not, neither is weary. And this is sufficient to silence all our distrusts when means fail us, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? God here brings Moses to this first principle, sets him back in his lesson, to learn the ancient name of God, The Lord God Almighty, and puts the proof upon the issue: Thou shalt see whether my word shall come to pass or not. This magnifies God's word above all his name, that his works never come short of it. If he speaks, it is done.
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Summary
Numbers 11:19 stands as a profound divine declaration, not of blessing, but of an impending, overwhelming, and protracted provision of meat, delivered as a punitive response to the Israelites' persistent and ungrateful grumbling for flesh in the wilderness. This verse starkly outlines the inescapable duration of an excessive consumption that will ultimately lead to loathing, sickness, and judgment, vividly illustrating the severe consequences of rebellious desire and a lack of contentment with God's perfect provision.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is intricately woven into the dramatic and tumultuous narrative of Numbers 11, which details a significant crisis of faith and leadership during Israel's wilderness journey. It immediately follows the Israelites' intense lamentations and weeping for meat, a clear expression of their profound dissatisfaction with the miraculous manna and a nostalgic yearning for the diverse diet they enjoyed in Egypt, as detailed in Numbers 11:4-6. Moses himself, burdened by the people's incessant complaints and the immense weight of leading them, pours out his despair to God in Numbers 11:10-15. In response to this insatiable craving, God promises an abundance of meat, but with a palpable undertone of judgment. Numbers 11:19, with its escalating enumeration of days, precisely establishes the prolonged and inescapable nature of this forthcoming "provision," foreshadowing that the meat will not be a fleeting indulgence but a burdensome experience culminating in divine judgment, as explicitly stated in Numbers 11:20.
Historical & Cultural Context: The Israelites found themselves in the harsh, desolate wilderness, having been miraculously delivered from centuries of Egyptian bondage. For years, God had faithfully sustained them with manna, a supernatural, daily provision that met their every nutritional need, as recorded in Exodus 16. Their intense craving for meat, a longing that harked back to their varied diet in Egypt—including fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic, recalled in Numbers 11:5—reveals a profound spiritual amnesia and a deep-seated distrust in God's ongoing, faithful care. This grumbling for food was not an isolated incident but a recurring pattern of rebellion throughout their wilderness journey, reflecting a pervasive unbelief and ingratitude despite overwhelming evidence of God's power and faithfulness. The memory of Egyptian "flesh" stood in stark contrast to the spiritual discipline of the wilderness and the humble, yet miraculous, provision of manna.
Key Themes:
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This fundamental verb, typically signifying sustenance and nourishment, acquires a sinister and punitive nuance in this context. While normally a life-sustaining act, here it implies consumption to the point of excess, satiety, and ultimately, disgust and judgment. The divine decree suggests an eating experience that will be inescapable and overwhelming, serving as a form of divine discipline rather than a blessing of provision.
A simple unit of time, but its escalating repetition ("one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days") is crucial to the verse's rhetorical power. It emphasizes the prolonged and inescapable nature of the coming "provision." This progression builds dramatic anticipation for the "whole month" mentioned in the subsequent verse, Numbers 11:20, highlighting that the consumption will be drawn out, relentless, and ultimately burdensome.
As one of the specific numerical increments in the escalating sequence (one, two, five, ten, twenty), "five" serves to concretize the increasing duration. Its inclusion, along with the other numbers, underscores the methodical and determined nature of God's response. It is not a random or fleeting period, but a precisely measured and extended time frame, emphasizing the divine resolve to make the Israelites experience the full weight of their ungrateful craving.
Verse Breakdown
"Ye shall not eat one day"
This initial clause immediately negates any expectation that the impending provision of meat will be a brief, fleeting gratification. It sets a stern tone of divine resolve, indicating that this is not a temporary indulgence but something far more enduring.
"nor two days"
Reinforcing the previous statement, this clause further dismisses the idea of a short-lived treat, emphasizing that the period of consumption will extend beyond a mere couple of days, building anticipation for a longer duration.
"nor five days"
The duration continues to escalate in a non-linear fashion, creating a sense of growing suspense and making it abundantly clear that this is no ordinary meal or passing desire that God intends to satisfy. It underscores the severity and extraordinary nature of the coming "provision."
"neither ten days"
This clause further extends the period, making it undeniably clear that the Israelites will be subjected to an extraordinary and prolonged experience of eating meat, far beyond any typical feast or celebration.
"nor twenty days;"
This final, culminating phrase in the sequence dramatically extends the timeframe, leading directly into the "whole month" mentioned in Numbers 11:20. It signifies an overwhelming, inescapable, and burdensome period of consumption, designed not for pleasure but as a severe consequence of their persistent, ungrateful craving.
Literary Devices
Numbers 11:19 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with striking force. Repetition is prominently featured in the escalating sequence of "days" ("one day, nor two days... twenty days"). This numerical progression creates a compelling sense of increasing duration and inevitability, building rhetorical force and emphasizing the inescapable nature of the coming, prolonged provision. This very repetition also contributes to profound Foreshadowing, as the verse directly hints at the overwhelming quantity of quail and the burdensome, drawn-out period of eating described in the subsequent verses (Numbers 11:20-22), ultimately culminating in the devastating plague in Numbers 11:33). Furthermore, a deep Irony pervades the passage: the Israelites desperately desired meat as a blessing and a relief from the manna, but God's granting of their request, as vividly hinted by the prolonged duration, transforms into a severe form of judgment. They receive precisely what they craved, yet it becomes a curse, powerfully demonstrating the perilous consequences of sinful desires when they supersede grateful trust in divine provision.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Numbers 11:19 powerfully illustrates a severe, yet profoundly instructive, aspect of divine discipline: God sometimes gives people over to the very desires that consume them, allowing the object of their craving to become their punishment and teacher. This is not a blessing, but a judgment, demonstrating that true satisfaction and spiritual flourishing do not come from fulfilling every carnal desire, especially when those desires stem from a place of ingratitude, unbelief, and rebellion against God's perfect and sufficient provision. The Israelites' experience serves as a sobering reminder that God's patience has limits, and His responses to persistent unfaithfulness can be devastating, even when He appears to grant a request. It underscores the profound principle that what we think we want may ultimately be detrimental to our spiritual well-being, leading to spiritual and even physical ruin.
Reflection and Application
Numbers 11:19 serves as a profound and enduring warning for believers today, urging us to cultivate a deep spirit of contentment and gratitude for God's daily provisions, rather than succumbing to the alluring and often destructive pull of ungodly desires. It challenges us to critically examine the true motives behind our cravings: are they rooted in genuine need and humble trust in God's wisdom, or in discontent, covetousness, and a fundamental lack of faith in His perfect goodness? This passage forcefully reminds us that God's discipline is real and can manifest in unexpected and often uncomfortable ways, sometimes by allowing us to experience the full, bitter consequences of our own choices, even when those choices stem from seemingly innocent desires that are, in fact, deeply rooted in rebellion against His sovereign plan. True spiritual health and lasting satisfaction come not from the fleeting pleasures of the world or the fulfillment of every carnal whim, but from finding our deepest contentment and joy in Christ alone.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does God give them meat if He's angry with their grumbling?
God's provision of meat in this context is not a blessing or a sign of His approval, but rather a severe form of punitive judgment. He gives them precisely what they demand, but in such an overwhelming quantity and for such a prolonged period that it becomes a curse rather than a blessing. This act demonstrates His righteous anger against their persistent ingratitude, rebellion, and profound lack of faith. It's a "giving over" to their own sinful desires, allowing the object of their craving to become the very instrument of their discipline and suffering, ultimately leading to a devastating plague and death, as recorded in Numbers 11:33.
What is the significance of the escalating days (1, 2, 5, 10, 20) in this verse?
The escalating enumeration of days in Numbers 11:19 emphasizes the prolonged and inescapable nature of the impending provision of meat. It serves as a powerful rhetorical device, building dramatic anticipation for the "whole month" mentioned in Numbers 11:20. This sequence highlights that this will be no fleeting treat or temporary gratification. Instead, it underscores that the Israelites will be subjected to an overwhelming and drawn-out experience of consumption, designed to make them loathe the very thing they so desperately craved, thereby revealing the bitter and destructive consequences of their ungodly desires and discontent.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The Israelites' insatiable craving for meat in Numbers 11:19, despite God's miraculous and faithful provision of manna, vividly portrays humanity's persistent spiritual hunger and the inherent futility of seeking ultimate satisfaction in fleeting earthly provisions. This episode powerfully foreshadows the deeper spiritual discontent and longing that only Christ can truly address and fulfill. While the Israelites received meat in judgment, leading to disgust and death, Jesus offers Himself as the ultimate, life-giving provision. He declares, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). Unlike the quail that brought only temporary satisfaction followed by loathing and death, Christ provides spiritual nourishment that truly satisfies the soul eternally, promising that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will have eternal life (John 6:51). He is the ultimate Lamb of God, whose perfect sacrifice takes away the sin of the world, offering a spiritual feast that transcends all carnal cravings and leads to everlasting life, not judgment (John 1:29). The wilderness experience of Israel, marked by their craving for flesh, ultimately points to our desperate and universal need for the spiritual sustenance found only in Christ, the true manna from heaven and the ultimate fulfillment of all righteous desire.