Numbers 11:1

CHAPTER XI

The people complain, the Lord is displeased, and many of them

are consumed by fire, 1.

Moses intercedes for them, and the fire is quenched, 2.

The place is called Taberah, 3.

The mixed multitude long for flesh, and murmur, 4-6.

The manna described, 7-9.

The people weep in their tents, and the Lord is displeased, 10.

Moses deplores his lot in being obliged to hear and bear with

all their murmurings, 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, 16, 17.

He is also commanded to inform the people that they shall have

flesh for a whole month, 18-20.

Moses expresses his doubt of the possibility of this, 21, 22.

The Lord confirms his promise, 23.

The seventy men are brought to the tabernacle, 24;

and the spirit of prophecy rests upon them, 25.

Eldad and Medad stay in the camp and prophesy, 26, 27.

Joshua beseeches Moses to forbid them, 28.

Moses refuses, 29, 30.

A wind from the Lord brings quails to the camp, 31, 32.

While feeding on the flesh, a plague from the Lord falls upon

them, and many of them die, 33.

The place is called Kibroth-hattaavah, or the graves of lust, 34.

They journey to Hazeroth, 35.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI

Verse Numbers 11:1. And when the people complained] What the cause of this complaining was, we know not. The conjecture of St. Jerome is probable; they complained because of the length of the way. But surely no people had ever less cause for murmuring; they had God among them, and miracles of goodness were continually wrought in their behalf.

It displeased the Lord] For his extraordinary kindness was lost on such an ungrateful and rebellious people. And his anger was kindled - Divine justice was necessarily incensed against such inexcusable conduct.

And the fire of the Lord burnt among them] Either a supernatural fire was sent for this occasion, or the lightning was commissioned against them, or God smote them with one of those hot suffocating winds which are very common in those countries.

And consumed - in the uttermost parts of the camp.] It pervaded the whole camp, from the centre to the circumference, carrying death with it to all the murmurers; for we are not to suppose that it was confined to the uttermost parts of the camp, unless we could imagine that there were none culpable any where else. If this were the same with the case mentioned Numbers 11:4, then, as it is possible that the mixed multitude occupied the outermost parts of the camp, consequently the burning might have been confined to them.